Dress Codes. 700 Years of Fashion History in Details

Seven hundred years of fashion history in one book! An encyclopedia by cultural researcher and fashion historian Richard Thompson Ford – a fascinating study of fashion and its influence on society over the centuries. The author cleverly narrates how, for centuries, strict dress codes were one of the effective means of maintaining political control by monarchs and aristocracy. Fashion has always played an important role in the struggle for rights and social transformations, never limiting itself to merely reflecting cultural and aesthetic preferences. Even in our time, when dress codes have become less strict, clothing can convey numerous messages. It can tell about our beliefs, aspirations, and values, what is important to us, and which social group we belong to. This book will reveal all fashion secrets and help decipher the unwritten rules of dress codes. After all, to break fashion laws, one must first know them!