Italian fashion—which encompasses designers and companies from Armani to Zegna—has become a dominant force in the fashion world. This stunning book discusses the rise of Italian fashion since 1945, the development of the Italian Look from the late 1970s to the present, and the many great designers who have contributed to Italy’s fashion triumphs.
Valerie Steele describes how Florence, Rome, and later Milan all became important fashion centers and how other Italian cities play specific roles within the country’s fashion system. She explains the tradition of “classic” men’s tailoring, the importance of accessories, the special connection between textile production and fashion, and the reasons why different regions of Italy specialize in different fabrics or goods. And she analyzes the integration of the various sectors of the fashion industry, a uniquely Italian model quite different from those found in France, Britain, and the United States. Written in Steele’s lively style and lavishly illustrated with photographs of fashion ensembles, runway shots, advertising images, and more, this book is the first to celebrate Italian fashion in its many guises.
Valerie Steele is chief curator and acting director of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Her previous books include The Corset: A Cultural History, 50 Years of Fashion: New Look to Now, and (with John S. Major) China Chic: East Meets West, all published by Yale University Press.
