Key Moments in Fashion: The Evolution of Style

by Nigel Cawthorne (Editor)

Become fashion forward by flashing back to the major figures, crucial moments, and items of clothing that not only influenced the way we dressed, but helped define the mood of the times and changed the course of style forever. Marvel over dozens of stunning garments on page after page of superb photographs and drawings as you go beyond the glossy facade of the industry to uncover what it is about this distinguished list that has shaped attitudes and fashion through the 20th century. The house of Worth, the fathers of couture; Vogue magazine; Chanel and sunbathing; women in trousers; photographer May Ray; Dior's "New Look"; Mary Quant and the miniskirt; Studio 54 and club chic; the trainer as fashion footwear -- all have made a mark on the way we dress today.

176 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1999

About the author

Nigel Cawthorne is an Anglo-American writer of fiction and non-fiction, and an editor. He has written more than 80 books on a wide range of subjects and has contributed to The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph Daily Mail and The New York Times. He has appeared on television and BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Many of Nigel Cawthorne's books are compilations of popular history, without footnotes, references or bibliographies. His own web site refers to a description of his home as a "book-writing factory" and says, "More than half my books were commissioned by publishers and packagers for a flat fee or for a for a reduced royalty".

One of his most notable works was Taking Back My Name, an autobiography of Ike Turner, with whom he spent a number of weeks working with him on, taking up residence in Turner's house. The book caused much controversy, resulting in court cases for three years following its release.

Cawthorne currently lives in Bloomsbury, London with his girlfriend and son, Colin (born 1982).

Reviews

[breck · Rating 3 out of 5]

decent enough for informational purposes, just reading for research. good general knowledge but some chapters and authors seem a bit more biased and hateful towards new ideas, though this was written in 1998. I found a lot of the views on feminism to be very aggressively one note and was surprised to find they were written by a woman.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that completely and unexpectedly piqued my interest in couture, steering me to my current viewpoint that 20th Century dress and apparel is not only "cool" to look at, but is as nuanced, meticulously-researched, and artistically crucial to popular culture as professional sports the automobile industry. Each section of this book describes a watershed moment in modern dress, from Christian Dior's once-shocking hourglass cuts, (the "New Look," which became the inspiration for the 50's silhouette,) to the leather-laden cool dudes of the Elvis Presley and James Dean-loving era of teenage rebellion. This book, besides being thorough, is written to embrace both fashion-lovers and newcomers to the topic. Dozens of colored photos bring to life iconic eras (punk of the 70s, "anything goes" of the 90s,) to cultural icons like Twiggy.