The most comprehensive and detailed history available of women's fashion in the modern era.

From the styles of the early 1900s to those of the twenty-first century, John Peacock charts the development of women's fashion in all its aspects: couture wear, leisure wear, day wear, evening wear, bridal wear, underwear, and accessories. Fashion's greatest designers and designs are all here: from Worth's visiting dress, Chanel's suits, Balenciaga's classic gowns, Dior's New Look, and Mary Quant's mini-dresses to recent designs from the collections of Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and others.

Photography could never capture so faithfully the dazzling variety of these designs. Indeed, many that predate the advent of color photography have never been shown in their original colors. John Peacock's wide-ranging research, using paintings, photographs, and the garments themselves, has allowed him to reproduce in meticulous detail lines, shapes, weaves, patterns, and colors. Arranged by decade, the drawings are accompanied by complete descriptions of each garment and accessory, including the fabric, cut, and pattern.

In this revised edition of Peacock's standard book, 155 new drawings have been added, together with detailed descriptions. The updated reference section includes a time chart summarizing the development of fashion, biographies of couturiers and designers, and a bibliography. 1,250+ color illustrations.