The Evolution of Fashion

A historical survey traces Western costume from antiquity to the late nineteenth century, examining how climate, materials, trade and social customs shaped garments and accessories. It surveys Egyptian, Assyrian, Greek and Roman dress and silk and linen use, then treats curious headgear, gloves, footwear, bridal and mourning attire, masculine eccentricities, children's clothes, and fancy, stage and floral costume. The book combines descriptions of fabrics, trims and construction with illustrative examples and period engravings, notes changing conventions of color and ornament, and highlights practical and ceremonial functions of dress while explaining how cultural exchange and technology influenced evolving styles.