Costume & Fashion: A Concise History, By James Laver

 

Christopher Hirst
Saturday 01 December 2012 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Covering a culture where yesterday is old hat, this lively, engagingly detailed work displays impressive equilibrium in its treatment of the past.

On page 90, we reach the Elizabethans and learn that cheap bombast (stuffing made of bran) could bring social disaster by trickling out if a doublet got torn.

In 1850, "excitement, ridicule and vituperation" greeted the attempt of American Mrs Bloomer to introduce her eponymous underwear.

A new post-millennium chapter for this fifth edition notes the boom in "fast fashion", ie Primark.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in