Following 150 years of fashion; Christopher Breward offers a catholic view of this colorful and flamboyant universe; describing its trends; products; and inhabitants. From Haute Couture; High Street; and developing fabric technology to such stars of the fashion heavens as Coco Chanel; Giorgio Armani; and Alexander McQueen; Breward explores territories far beyond style and function. He sees more than just an industry; giving voice to the larger cultural phenomenon fashion has become.Brewards discerning view captures the glamorous world of Vogue and advertising; the relationship between fashion and film; and fashion as a business; and goes beyond the surface to consider individual interaction with fashion. How have ideas about hygiene and comfort influenced the direction of style? How does dress create identity and status? Framing details of dandies; flappers; and punks within a clear overview of their respective periods; Breward takes a second look and casts everyday wear in a much different light. In addition to all the glitz and glamour; the book includes suggestions for further reading; a timeline marking important events in fashion; and a list of relevant museums and galleries. In all; it is the most valuable; accessible; and modern text on fashion today.
#442362 in eBooks 2009-05-28 2009-06-02File Name: B002BD2V10
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A story of looted antiquities and how Italian authorities recovered them.By Matthew RapaportThe first half of this book is a narrative tale of post world-war II tomb robbing in Italy. In particular it is the story of a particular team of tomb robbers and the various antiquities dealers and museum curators who moved the stolen loot around in and out of various collections. It focuses on two particular items. a chalice and bowl created in ancient Greece and painted and signed by the most famous decorator (Euphronious) of such items in ancient times. It is also the story of how Italian authorities got a handle on the thriving business of illegitimate dealings in antiquities and recovered the two items that are the focus of the story. a process requiring decades of work. The second part of the book tells the story of how the author. acting as investigative reporter. went about uncovering the mystery of the two lost items and their recovery by Italian authorities. A good tale if one is interested in the modern story of the antiquities trade.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Unfortunately. this book is not well organized.By Wendy KIm hesitant to say this. but I had a really hard time reading this book. The book meanders a lot. The whole thing seems like it could have been a long magazine piece. but not a book. I gave it 4 chapters but then I deleted it from my Kindle without reading the balance. just because there are too many peoples perspectives going on here. . He didnt organize this book right. He should have done it with more focus on each person involved in the mystery. and not jumped around in time as much. Its extremely hard to follow. This would have strongly benefited from any editorial input from a third person. Its like the author knows all the (interesting) bits and pieces really well. but couldnt get out of all that high enough to weave a good story. Really sorry. but this was my experience of what could have been a great book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Really loved this bookBy CustomerReally loved this book. It had all the backstage dirt and gossip that adds color to what might have been a mundane tale of looters and old pottery. Instead. it was a chance to think and rethink about what we see in museums every day. How did it get there? Who found it. identified it and then sold it half way across the planet to be placed in a glass case for foreigners to gaze at? Is it important to export at least some of your culture. so that others might learn from it and appreciate the past of the whole human race? Or should it always remain with those who originiated it. or at least wound up living in the same country as the the recovered artifact? A very good read and one that has created a good bit of dinner table debate.
