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The Classic Ten: The True Story of the Little Black Dress and Nine Other Fashion Favorites

by Nancy Macdonell Smith

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How ten wardrobe staples became cultural icons

$23.14 USD
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Paperback New English

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AlbakiReads Editorial

How ten wardrobe staples became cultural icons

Nancy MacDonell Smith uses ten familiar items—from blue jeans and sneakers to pearls, lipstick, and the trench coat—to examine how women’s fashion staples accumulated meaning over time. Organized item by item, the book follows each piece from its beginnings to its established place in modern dress, connecting clothing and accessories to ideas of status, danger, death, and social identity. Historical, literary, magazine, and film sources frame the discussion, while the selection itself offers a compact history of the garments and objects that continue to shape the classic wardrobe.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Fashion-history readers interested in the cultural life of everyday wardrobe pieces
  • Design and style enthusiasts curious about the origins of iconic garments and accessories
  • Readers interested in clothing, status, and social meaning

Themes

Fashion historyWardrobe staplesSocial statusCultural symbolismWomen’s style

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Nancy MacDonell Smith explores the origins, meaning, and remarkable staying power of the ten staples of feminine fashion:
* the little black dress
* the white shirt
* the cashmere sweater
* blue jeans
* the suit
* high heels
* pearls
* lipstick
* sneakers
* the trench coat
Tracing the evolution of each item from inception to icon status, she reveals the history and social significance of each, from the black dress's associations with danger and death to the status implications of the classic white shirt. Incorporating sources from history, literature, magazines, and cinema, as well as her own witty anecdotes, Smith has created an engaging, informative guide to modern style.
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