A Concise History of Costume

The vagaries of fashion throughout the ages are a source of endless interest, not only as an indication of man´s infinite capacity for invention but because of the relationship of costume to shifting cultural patterns. James Laver, an unrivalled authority in the field, presents in this book the underlying motives of fashion as well as a survey of the history of costume. He sets out to describe the means which have been adopted to satisfy the three urges which led mankind to wear clothes: the desire for protection against cold, heat, insects and the evil eye; the desire to enhance the personality by sartorial display; and attractiveness to others.

The invention of the needle (some 40,000 years ago) made possible the sewing together of pelts. The introduction of weaving launched the development of costume as we know it. The expansion of the Roman empire eastwards and, in the Middle Ages, the Crusades, brought oriental luxury to western clothing. The Renaissance caused the spread of Italian fashions north of the Alps. The French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution both heralded the decline of luxury in dress which has continued up to our own day. During the present century, the form of our clothes has been affected by such diverse factors as the Ballets Russes, the growing popularity of sports, the social upheaval caused by two world wars - perhaps most of all - the emancipation of women. The illustrations have been selected from from an enormous variety of sources to represent the major changes that have occurred throughout the history of costume - from prehistoric times to the miniskirt of the 1960s.