The history of the handbag - its design, how it has been made, used, and worn - reveals something essential about women's lives lived over the last 500 years. Perhaps the most universal item of fashionable adornment, it can also be elusive, an object of desire, secrecy and even fear. "Handbags" expl[...]
From Belle Epoque tea gowns to Diors 1947 New Look and fashion blogs in the 2000s, this comprehensive, international survey explores all the significant developments in fashion from 1900 to the present day. Formerly published as the internationally successful "20th Century Fashion", the survey is no[...]
The new fifth edition of this classic guide to clothing throughout history now extends into the second decade of the 21st century. James Lavers classic study of clothing, from the invention of the needle to the dawn of denim, neolithic weavers to catwalk creations, has been updated once again to cov[...]
For almost a century, the name of Chanel has been inextricably linked to elegance, modernity and fashion innovation. It was Chanel who single-handedly made striped jerseys and loose trousers chic, costume jewellery desirable, the little black dress the height of sophistication, and tweed suits a sta[...]
Profusely illustrated, this monograph explores the House of Worth's success in the realms of haute couture after 1890. Hundreds of photographs selected from the V&A's unique archive of over 7,000 official house records capture the Worth style and offer fascinating insights into the daily routine at [...]