Iconic Fashion: 20 Items That Changed the History of Style

This extraordinary book, a visual and intellectual feast of historical illustrations, cult advertising, and beautiful still-life shots, narrates the history of 20 iconic fashion items, ranging from Levi's jeans to Hermès scarves and Tiffany pearls.

Sometimes a single garment can change the course of fashion forever. Consider the Burberry trench coat or Givenchy's little black dress--milestones that transformed everything. Some of these are even known by their original name, like the Kelly bag, Church's shoes, and Borsalino hats. Others, over the years, have also gained sociopolitical connotations (Levi's jeans, for example, which were once workwear, became a symbol of the Sixties youth revolution), while others, such as Hermès scarves and Chanel No. 5 perfume, continue to be status symbols. This reissue of A Matter of Fashion recounts the history and anecdotes and tells of the famous people and intrinsic values relating to these must-have fashion items.