Histoire du costume en occident

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François Boucher

Flammarion, Paris, 1991; originally published 1965, French

Nonfiction, Fashion Design

A study of the evolution of fashion from the costumes of the Middle Ages to the clothing of modern times. This book is not just a history of clothing but also a cross-sectional analysis of the complicated phenomenon that is fashion. Boucher explores the evolution of forms and function, the use of fashion as a symbol of class, profession, and status, yet also its use as a mode of personal expression.

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Christian Lacroix

On Christian Lacroix’s Book List

A book (“History of Western Dress”) I bought with my meager savings when I was young. It’s one of those volumes I keep handy on my desk at all times.

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