«Fashion since 1900» is a detailed yet broad historical overview of one of the most dynamic forms of cultural production of the tumultuous 20th century: from refined outfits for «every» occasion, whether it be a tea dress or a suit for driving an open car, requiring lengthy making, wearing, and admiring, to the fast, global, and universal hype fashion. Changes in the economic and cultural climate, means of communication, technology, and production, as well as the increasingly influential institution of celebrity, instantly take shape in the styles, fabrics, palettes, and other components of the outfits by leading couturiers and designers such as Gabrielle Chanel, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Vivienne Westwood, Dries Van Noten, and many others. The narrative of British fashion historians Valerie D. Mendes and Amy de la Haye focuses on the fashion centers of France, the UK, the USA, and Italy, but also addresses other regions of the world. The text is complemented by numerous illustrations with detailed commentary and an extensive bibliography.
