From the momentus invention of the needle some 40,000 years ago to the development of blue denim, from Neolithic weavers to the biggest names in the fashion industry today - this classic guide covers the landmarks of costume history, the forms and materials used through the ages, the underlying motives of fashion and the ways in which clothes have been used to protect, to express identity, and to attract or to influence others. This sixth edition features a new foreword and concluding chapter by Amy de la Haye. The book is brought right up to date with a discussion about the major political shifts within the fashion industry, highlighting how it has responded to issues surrounding racism and sexism; LGBTQI rights; mental health awareness; body and age diversity and global sustainability.

The new fifth edition of this classic guide to clothing throughout history now extends into the second decade of the 21st century. James Laver's classic study of clothing, from the invention of the needle to the dawn of denim, neolithic weavers to catwalk creations, has been updated once again to cover the latest trends, from vintage to high street chic and the spectacular reinvention of haute couture. Featuring designers such as Alexander McQueen and Marc Jacobs, and style leaders Kate Moss and the Duchess of Cambridge, a new final chapter explains the forces shaping fashion today, including Internet technology, celebrity influence, 'fast fashion', the recession and global markets. With eight new pages, six new illustrations and an entirely new final chapter, this book reclaims its position as the definitive concise history of the subject, and remains essential reading for all students of art, costume and fashion.