A Dressed Guide to Dressed, Part I

Lydia Edwards' "How to Read a Dress" offers a comprehensive exploration of the evolution of women's dress from the 16th to the 21st century. The book analyzes dresses across various social classes, highlighting the interplay between fashion, social norms, and historical events. Edwards uses detailed visual analysis to reveal the stories embedded within garments, demonstrating how dresses reflect cultural shifts and individual experiences. The book challenges traditional fashion history narratives by including working-class garments and exploring the impact of globalization and gender fluidity. It serves as a valuable resource for fashion enthusiasts, historians, and anyone interested in the social and cultural significance of clothing.

In 'Fashion Victims: The Dangers of Dress Past and Present,' Alison Matthews David delves into the shadowy underside of the fashion world, revealing how historical and contemporary fashion trends have endangered both the makers and wearers of garments. The book chronicles various instances where fashion choices led to severe health risks and fatal outcomes, such as the use of arsenic-laden fabrics, mercury in hat-making, and highly combustible crinolines. It also connects these historical hazards to modern-day concerns related to health, environment, and social justice in the fashion industry. The author provides a compelling critique of early industrial capitalism and its ongoing impact on the fashion industry, urging readers to consider the true cost of their sartorial choices.

The book chronicles the event where five American designers—Bill Blass, Oscar de la Renta, Anne Klein, Halston, and Stephen Burrows—competed against five French couture houses at the Palace of Versailles. The event, conceived by Eleanor Lambert to raise funds for the palace's restoration, highlighted the changing landscape of fashion, including the rise of American designers, the integration of black models, and the impact on social and cultural norms. Givhan provides detailed histories of the designers involved and explores the broader implications of this pivotal moment in fashion history.