Customer Reviews

History of Men's Fashion

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This weighty book is a wonderful source of primary research-- paintings, drawings, period designs & photographs, even political cartoons of the time. Unmarred by drawings-of-paintings or other unhelpful secondhand images, it details Western European and American fashions, with a well-written emphasis on the connections to status, politics, & other issues of the day.

While you understandably won't see exhaustive material devoted to each of the 230 years, the coverage is consistent and connectable. There are also substantial forays into fun things like Zoot Suits & pinstriped gangster chic, yet there's room for esoterica; buttoning up one's gloves to indicate anger fashionably, why striped shirts were low-class & shirt ruffles were not, & the late-Victorian way of exhibiting a gentlemanly manner (gently wrinkled clothing, little signs of wear, & a stammer!)

Rather touchingly, it also shows that nothing is truly new under the sun...did you know that bell-bottoms, called "Oxford bags", were a hot look in 1925?

This is a great depiction of men's fashion evolution, broad without being simple.

This is a masterpiece of social history. Wonderful illustrations, by paintings, drawings, and photographs. I actually read the text cover to cover because the socio historic context of the clothing was so fascinating, and well written. Until I read this book I had no idea that men's clothes had so much meaning. Also, kudos to the author for being expansive and inclusive about the class context and the class consciousness of clothing, and covering what working men wore.

My only regret that there isn't something as well written about women's fashion. The only books seem to be about haute couture, about what the top 1 or 2% wealthy society women wore (Chanel, Vionnet, Charles David, ad nauseum) at a given time in history. Who cares. What did real women wear, and what were the class differences, that is what I would like to know. Mr. Chenoune, it's up to you, if you are interested at all in women's fashion.

If you can only afford one really good book on Men's Wear, this is it. To accurately cover the vast span of American and Western European Men's Wear in one volume is a monumental achievement. While some things are omitted, I am in awe at how much is in this book. The details of style and subcultures are explored, though briefly. The text is intelligently written, and the photos are clear and abundant. I can't recommend this enough!

Although I did not purchase this book, I checked it out for a project I was doing in History class. This book contains hundreds of pictures, along with them there are details on the history of them. I would suggest this book to anyone interested in fashion and in need of a book for a project!