The Medieval World

School Library Journal

Gr 6 Up—In a clear, engaging style, the authors describe how gender, occasion, class, and social clime affected fashion during commonly studied Western decades and eras. Fashion-forward individuals (Elizabeth I, Princess Diana, and Madonna, to name a few) from various ages are mentioned and their influence on style is described. Each volume is profusely and gorgeously illustrated with period paintings and photographs, movie and TV stills, design sketches, and photographs from period reenactments. Each illustration is captioned with intriguing, relevant facts that enhance the text. Sidebars incorporate descriptive passages from period letters, diaries, books, and magazines, or highlight etiquette, trends, and inventions in fashion. One sidebar details how the manufacturing of some Civil War uniforms introduced the word "shoddy" into the American vocabulary. Another explains how good clothing was so precious in Elizabethan England that it was bequested in wills. Given that there are such a wide variety of illustrations, the overall effect is remarkably cohesive. The use of celebrities will draw in many readers, and the authors' emphasis on fashion's integral part in history will assist researchers. This series meets the need for quality material about fashion history with competence and appeal.—Jennifer Prince, Fairview Public Library, NC