Includes bibliographical references (p. 299-307) and index.

How it all began -- Greeks and Romans -- Early Europe -- The Renaissance and the sixteenth century -- The seventeenth century -- The eighteenth century -- From 1800 to 1850 -- From 1850 to 1900 -- From 1900 to 1939 -- Rationed fashion to pluralistic style -- Fashion in the twenty-first century.

From the momentous invention of the needle some 40,000 years ago to the development of blue denim, this classic guide covers the landmarks of costume history, the forms and materials used through the ages, as well as the ways in which clothes have been used to protect, to express identity, and to attract or influence others. For the fifth edition, Amy de la Haye, former Curator of Twentieth-Century Dress at the Victoria and Albert Museum, has revised the final chapter and included a new section addressing the fashion industry in the twenty-first century. She discusses the expansion of the Asian luxury market; the rise of "fast fashion," stylists, and celebrity endorsements; and the influence of the Internet.