Fashion, Italian Style - Tapa dura

Italian fashion, which encompasses designers and companies from Armani to Zegna, has become a dominant force in the fashion world. This work discusses the rise of Italian fashion since 1945, the development of the Italian "look" from the late 1970s to the present, and the many great designers who have contributed to Italy's fashion triumphs. Valerie Steele describes how Florence, Rome, and later Milan all became important fashion centres and how other Italian cities play specific roles within the country's fashion system. She explains the tradition of "classic" men's tailoring, the importance of accessories, the special connection between textile production and fashion, and the reasons why different regions of Italy specialise in different fabrics or goods. She also analyses the integration of the various sectors of the fashion industry, a uniquely Italian model quite different from those found in France, Britain or the United States. Illustrated with photographs of fashion ensembles, runway shots, advertising images and more, this is a celebration of Italian fashion in its many guises.

Valerie Steele is chief curator and acting director of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Her previous books include The Corset: A Cultural History (ISBN 0 300 09953 3, NEW in pb. [pound]15.00), 50 Years of Fashion: New Look to Now (ISBN 0 300 08738 1, pb. [pound]15.00), and (with John S. Major) China Chic: East Meets West (ISBN 0 300 07930 3, [pound]35.00), all published by Yale University Press.