How to Read a Suit: A Guide to Changing Men's Fashion from the 17th to the 20th Century

Description

Fashion is ever-changing, and while some styles mark a dramatic departure from the past, many exhibit subtle differences from year to year that are not always easily identifiable. With overviews of each key period and detailed illustrations for each new style, How to Read a Suit is an authoritative visual guide to the under-explored area of men's fashion across four centuries. Each entry includes annotated color images of historical garments, outlining important features and highlighting how styles have developed over time, whether in shape, fabric choice, trimming, or undergarments. Readers will learn how garments were constructed and where their inspiration stemmed from at key points in history - as well as how menswear has varied in type, cut, detailing and popularity according to the occasion and the class, age and social status of the wearer. This lavishly illustrated book is the ideal tool for anyone who has ever wanted to know their Chesterfield from their Ulster coat. Equipping the reader with all the information they need to 'read' menswear, this is the ultimate guide for students, researchers, and anyone interested in historical fashion.

Lydia Edwards is a Lecturer at Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.

A reminder that even the most devil-may-care of modern male dressers is out-fopped by his antecedents. * Anna Murphy, The Times * Another excellent resource from Lydia Edwards, indispensable both to the fashion history novice and expert alike. * Amber Butchart, fashion historian, author and broadcaster * Lavishly illustrated wonderfully researched ... the 'How to Read' series of books are perfect research guides for students, researchers and anyone with an interest in historical fashion. * Costume Society UK * A fascinating tome that examines changes in men's fashion in a vibrant and visually striking way ... From the styles of political movements in the French Revolution to the famous 'Palm Beach' suits of America in the 1930s, this is a rich and extensive study of the suit and men's fashion. * All About History * Fans of historical fiction and period dramas will gain new insights into their favorite characters by learning how "clothes make the man" ... Collections covering Western culture, fashion, and costume design will want to add this title to this season's collections. * Booklist * What I enjoyed most was the range of examples included in the book. I thought Edwards did an amazing job selecting and managing disparate sources of inspiration ... this was a terrific book and would serve as an excellent reference for anyone studying or designing menswear and as well as anyone interested in the history of menswear. * Critical Studies in Men's Fashion * How to Read a Suit provides an easy-to-read guide to the history behind subject that is glazed over most of the Edwards, walks the reader chronologically through the history of seventeenth to twentieth century. * The Journal of Dress History * Fun to read. * Hasty Book List * Once again, Lydia Edwards refines centuries of costume history into its most essential elements, capturing the subtle markers of masculinity in an accessible and engaging manner. This book is not only a delightful sequel to How to Read a Dress, but an essential text for any library and also makes a helpful companion to The Dress Detective. * Ingrid Mida, Curator, Dress Historian and Author * Lydia Edwards' superb choice of illustrations, and excellent analysis, make this book an essential complement to How to Read a Dress. Men's clothing, so often ignored, is here given its rightful place in costume history. * Jean Druesedow, Kent State University Museum, USA * The idea that men ever renounced fashion is eloquently disproved by this book. Packed with images of sartorial splendour, it is an invaluable resource to anyone interested in the male wardrobe. * Cally Blackman, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, UK *