Wide Eyed Editions ISBN 9781786031945 £14.99
A stylish, captivating book that explores the history of fashion over the last hundred years. We travel the world with our journey guides, a boy and a girl, and visit places such as Hollywood, Paris, Harlem, Canada, the French Riviera, London, Mexico, China and India. The glorious illustrations demand close observation, and fact boxes feature When, Where, Key Designers, Silhouette, Hemline and Sleeves. The font used gives the impression of a fashion designer’s sketchbook. I found the cultural influences especially interesting such as the cycling bloomers for women, the development of rayon, Coco Chanel’s functional and elegant working woman’s wardrobe, Egyptomania in the 1920’s, the influence of Jackie Kennedy, and the sheepskin Afghan coats of the hippies. At the back of the book, there are timelines showing historical events, silhouettes, and the development of shoes, hats and bags. The Can You Find? pages encourage the reader to revisit the earlier scenes. A fabulous celebration of fashion for KS2 children. It is ideal for school libraries and would make a superb gift.
Brenda Marshall