Adorned in Dreams: Fashion and Modernity

When Adorned in Dreams was first published in 1985, Angela Carter described the book as ‘the best I have read on the subject, bar none’. From haute-couture to haberdashery, ‘deviant’ dress to Dior, Elizabeth Wilson traces the social history of fashion and its complex relationship to modernity. She also discusses fashion’s vociferous opponents, from the ‘dress reform’ movement to certain strands of feminism. Wilson delights in the power of fashion to mark out identity or to subvert it and this brand new edition traces recent developments to bring the story of fashionable dress - and its enormous cultural impact – bang up to date. ‘Elizabeth Wilson is internationally recognised as an authority on fashion, and this is her masterpiece.’ - Valerie Steele When Adorned in Dreams was first published in 1985, Angela Carter described the book as ‘the best I have read on the subject, bar none.’ Elizabeth Wilson traces the social and cultural history of fashion and its complex relationship to modernity. Wilson delights in the power of fashion to mark out identity or to subvert it and this brand new edition of her book follows recent developments to bring the story of fashionable dress up to date, exploring the grunge look inspired by bands like Nirvana, the ‘boho chic’ of the mid 90’s, retro-dressing and the meanings of dress from the veil to Beck’s pink-varnished toenails.