Adorned in Dreams

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, and ‘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 opponent, from the ‘dress reform’ movement to certain strands of feminism.

Wilson delights in the power of fashion to mark out, or subvert, identity. This well-established fashion classic brings the story of fashionable dress up to date, exploring the grunge look inspired by bands like Nirvana, the ‘boho chic’ of the mid 90s, and retro­dressing. It also explores meanings of dress, from the veil to David Beckham’s pink-varnished toenails.

Re-issued for contemporary readers, Adorned in Dreams now also includes a new preface and afterword by the author, as well as an updated further reading list.

Author Biography

Elizabeth Wilson’s writing career began in the ‘underground’ magazines of the early 1970s, (Frendz, Red Rag, Spare Rib, Come Together) before she became an academic. She’s written for the Guardian and her non-fiction books include The Sphinx in the City (1992) (shortlisted for the Manchester Odd Fellows Prize), Bohemians (2000) and Love Game (2014) (long listed for the William Hill sportswriting prize), as well as six crime novels, including War Damage (2009) and The Girl in Berlin (2012) (long-listed for the Golden Dagger Award).