Books like Fashion at the edge by Caroline Edwards

Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible: A Comprehensive History of Western Fashion

Explores how iconic fashion pieces and designers shaped cultural identities and social change across history.

A comprehensive survey of twentieth‑century fashion, charting its stylistic phases, key designers, and influential personalities.

"Although it is appealing to think that fashion turns away from conventions, is this really the case? Or are "pioneering" designs simply part of a cyclical revival of forgotten fashions? Looking at some of the most influential designers of the twentieth century--from Yamamoto to Gaultier to Lagerfeld--Vinken considers the politics and philosophies that have been the driving force directing their sense of style. Vinken shows how fashion trends are informed by the past. Chanel, under the direction of Karl Lagerfeld, is viewed as the only fashion house to have remained fresh after one hundred years, yet is this success essentially proof of the self-referential qualities fashion has adopted? What inspired the fetish for labels at the end of the twentieth century? Answering these questions and many more, this thought-provoking book shows how beauty, gender, sexuality, commerce, and dandyism have persisted in defining the fashion system." http://www.loc.gov/catdir/description/hol053/2004020615.html.

An authoritative survey of Italian fashion from 1945 to the present, detailing its rise, the Italian Look, and key designers. The book also serves as the catalogue for the 2003 Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology exhibition.

Nancy J. Troy examines how French designer Paul Poiret bridged haute couture and mass production, revealing the intertwined links between fashion, art, theater, and the broader consumer market in early twentieth‑century Europe.

A comprehensive history of fashion from 150 years ago to the present day.

An engaging guide to the enduring fashion staples of women's clothing history, featuring ten iconic pieces and their significance.