Richard Thompson FordDress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History

Top read! I really appreciate how much time and research went into this. I ended up looking up the word "sartorial" pretty quickly because it is used a bunch. :) A very, very interesting read. I learned a lot that I didn't know, about menswear especially. I particularly appreciated the author's ability to put words to a lot of social subtleties regarding norms of clothing and dress that are difficult to verbalize or even realize consciously at times. This really helped me clarify some of my own thoughts about clothing and social expectations. I would love to see more books like this, since the nuances of clothing and people's responses to it is such a broad topic, and a more important one than most people realize it is, as the author so articulately and convincingly observes. Excellent read!!

as advertised. quick and in good condition

I bought this book because, as a former fashion design professor, the topic naturally intrigued me. It is well researched, full of cultural and historical references, and offers great insights about why we dress the way we do. It is not a quick read because it feels a bit more like a textbook and reference guide, but it is well worth the time and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is an entertaining and thorough examination of dress, body, and hair throughout the centuries . the evolution seems logical but maybe not . it does make me wonder what comes next . what Will we all be wearing 50 years from now? what sort of hairdos? Thanks for this book Richard Ford.

This was a very interesting history of fashion and how it has shaped our society. I learned a lot about how fashion is used to control people and restrict what they can do. I also learned that fashion is freedom and how people truly express themselves. Definitely recommend this book for anyone interested in history and self-expression

I've just started this book and already know I'll finish it quickly. It's smart, insightful, and Richard's language is easy and engaging. My one caveat is that I have already run into four parenthetical phrases that read: (Insert, Image #__). The phrases are in bold and seem to suggest a draft that called for images that were never placed in the text but appear instead in separate collections of color plates. Again, an incredibly small issue and I blame the folks at Simon & Schuster for letting this mixup get to print. Richard's excellent book deserved a better proofreader.

I purchased for hubby who was in the clothing business. I thought there would be more pictures. It was almost entirely text. Back it went.

I love the content of this book. Checked out twice from library and it is chock full of interesting observations. It is fascinating-- However, the paperback edition that was delivered to me had NONE of the 8 pages of colored image plates, which are heavily and amusingly referenced in the text. If you love the book-- but the Hardcover with the color plates. Returning and repurchasing -- Anyway-- a fabulous read, I just couldn't get enough of this.