Encyclopedia Of World Dress And Fashion

Taking a global, multicultural, social, and economic perspective, this work explores the diverse and colourful history of human attire. From prehistoric times to the age of globalization, articles cover the evolution of clothing utility, style, production, and commerce, including accessories (shoes, hats, gloves, handbags, and jewellery) for men, women, and children. Dress for different climates, occupations, recreational activities, religious observances, rites of passages, and other human needs and purposes - from hunting and warfare to sports and space exploration - are examined in depth and detail. Fashion and design trends in diverse historical periods, regions and countries, and social and ethnic groups constitute a major area of coverage, as does the evolution of materials (from animal fur to textiles to synthetic fabrics) and production methods (from sewing and weaving to industrial manufacturing and computer-aided design). Dress as a reflection of social status, intellectual and artistic trends, economic conditions, cultural exchange, and modern media marketing are recurring themes. Influential figures and institutions in fashion design, industry and manufacturing, retail sales, production technologies, and related fields are also covered.

This two-volume set presents information and images of the varied clothing and textiles of cultures around the world, allowing readers to better appreciate the richness and diversity of human culture and history. The contributors to Encyclopedia of National Dress: Traditional Clothing around the World examine clothing that is symbolic of the people who live in regions all over the world, providing a historical and geographic perspective that illustrates how people dress and explains the reasons behind the material, design, and style. The encyclopedia features a preface and introduction to its contents. Each entry in the encyclopedia includes a short historical and geographical background for the topic before discussing the clothing of people in that country or region of the world. This work will be of great interest to high school students researching fashion, fashion history, or history as well as to undergraduate students and general readers interested in anthropology, textiles, fashion, ethnology, history, or ethnic dress.

Contains 640 alphabetized, cross-referenced entries on clothing and fashion, covering such disciplines as fashion design, anthropology, sociology, business, history, and art history.

This authoritative resource presents a comprehensive history of clothing and accessories. "A mine of information" (Choice), the book covers every world culture with 650-plus entries, more than 2,100 black-and-white drawings, and eight pages of color illustrations. A detailed index makes it easy to locate garments from any era.

The United States and Canada provides a comprehensive overview of North American dress. This volume explores the region's varied terrains and climates and how they have contributed to the emergence of vastly different sartorial styles, from cowboy dress and blue jeans to snowgoggles and carnival costume. The splendid dress cultures and heritages of First Nation Peoples and African Americans are covered in depth, together with their influence on mainstream fashion. Hispanic and Jewish cultural traditions are also fully explored, while "Snapshots" provide briefer overviews of the dress practices of a surprising range of cultural and social groups in the region, from the Amish to drag queens. The importance of the North American fashion industry, both past and present, is highlighted, as are major influences that continue to shape trends worldwide, such as the Hollywood film industry and rock music.

Originally published: Australia: Penguin Group, 2010.

The first 9 volumes of the 10-volume 'Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion' explore the dressed and adorned body across the cultures of a specific geographical area such as Africa or East Asia throughout history. The 10th volume takes a global perspective.

Presents a decade-by-decade guide to the most influential looks of the past century, matching red-carpet gowns to famous celebrities while providing original designer sketches, photos of rare couture, and interviews with a range of authorities.