Paris, Capital of Fashion

Insightful ... One of the fundamental strengths of this publication is its multifaceted approach to Paris ... A valuable resource for students and academics of fashion and social history. * The Journal of Dress History * This striking book unpacks the mysteries of French fashion as material product and patrimony of a creative nation. Fashion worlds from Shanghai to Milan are studied here for the first time with a French accent, in this lavishly illustrated and imaginatively argued book. * Peter McNeil FAHA, University of Technology Sydney, Australia * Fashion may be a global enterprise, but Paris, its legendary capital, is too often considered a place apart. This brilliant book situates Paris in a larger context and is indispensable reading for anyone who cares about the wide world of high style. * Caroline Weber, author of Proust’s Duchess and Queen of Fashion * In this outstanding collection Steele convenes a distinguished group of diverse historians. The result is an illuminating analysis of the mythic power both Paris and fashion hold in our consciousness. * Susan Hiner, Vassar University, USA * This excellent book, brought together by the pioneering historian of Paris fashion at her best, exploresan often ignored aspect of the story: how fashion “capitals” get to be fashion capitals and how different contenders for the title vie with each other for acceptance and supremacy. * Steve Zdatny, University of Vermont, USA * Offering both historical context and contemporary analysis, Paris, Capital of Fashion is an engaging collection of essays from an international roster of noted scholars. It provides insight into the symbiotic relationship of Paris with other fashion capitals, explores the unique cultural heritage of the Parisian fashion industry, and questions the cultural touchstone of the fashionable Parisienne. * Clare Sauro, Drexel University, USA *