Through 100 groundbreaking dresses, The Dress traces the past and present influences and reinterpretations in clothing design. From the Victorian crinoline to Vivienne Westwood’s mini-crini of 1985, from Herve Leger’s 1985 bandage dress to Christopher Kane’s 2006 neon version, each landmark dress gives examples of how fashion ideas have been reborn and referenced throughout time by designers.

By making connections between designers and across decades, the book allows the reader to discover the breadth of influence in this field, the magic of inspired originality from fashion designers and an overview of fashion history. From beaded and bias-cut to frou-frou to corseted, Chanel to Yves Saint Laurent, laced to bustled, each dress tells a fashion story through anecdotes and analysis, with historic and crosscultural references, beautiful imagery, and immaculate referencing.