In America: A Lexicon of Fashion

Articulating eight decades of American style through the emotive language of clothing-from celebrated designers that established the modern legacy of sportswear to emerging creatives shaping the future of fashion in the United States

In America: A Lexicon of Fashion establishes a modern vocabulary of American dress based on its expressive rather than practical qualities. Using the patchwork quilt as a metaphor for the country’s diverse aesthetic and cultural identities, this publication features over 100 garments from the 1940s to the present. Stunning new photography presents works by pioneers of American fashion, such as Claire McCardell and Charles James, as well as a range of established and emerging designers, including Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Kerby Jean Raymond of Pyer Moss, Christopher John Rogers, and Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta of Eckhaus Latta. Each ensemble represents an emotion that corresponds to one of twelve chapters outlining essential emotional qualities of American-designed garments: Nostalgia, Belonging, Delight, Joy, Wonder, Affinity, Confidence, Strength, Desire, Assurance, Comfort, and Consciousness. Offering a vibrant perspective on the United States’ sartorial legacy, this catalogue also illuminates its multifaceted present and the diverse creative forces shaping the nation’s future.