"Adorned in Dreams: Fashion and Modernity is one of the best books ever published on the significance of fashion in society . . . as relevant today as when it was first published."-Valerie Steele, editor of Fashion Theory: The Journal of Dress, Body & Culture

"When it was first published in 1985, Adorned in Dreams pioneered new territory in the study of fashion . . . no text since has come close to challenging or overtaking its original claims."-Chris Breward, London Institute of Fashion

"Sharply focused, consistently intelligent, and broadly informative."-Los Angeles Times

When Adorned in Dreams was first published in 1985, Angela Carter described the book as "the best I have read on the subject, bar none." From haute couture to haberdashery, "deviant" dress to Dior, Elizabeth Wilson traces the social and cultural history of fashion and its complex relationship to modernity. She also discusses fashion's vociferous opponents, from the "dress reform" movement to certain strands of feminism. Wilson delights in the power of fashion to mark out identity or subvert it. This brand new edition of her book follows recent developments to bring the story of fashionable dress up to date, exploring the grunge look inspired by bands like Nirvana, the "boho chic" of the mid 90's, retro-dressing, and the meanings of dress from the veil to soccer player David Beckham's pink-varnished toenails.

Elizabeth Wilson is Emeritus Professor of cultural studies at the University of North London. Her publications include Bohemians: The Glamorous Outcasts and The Contradictions of Culture: Cities, Culture, Women.