From the turn-of-the-century S-bend silhouette to the bumster and bustier of today, this comprehensive survey explores all the significant developments in fashion in a century that has witnessed a growing occupation with personal appearance and style. The book focuses on the key movements and innovations in clothing for both men and women and discusses these through the work of the most original designers and couturiers. Chapters are organized around crucial shifts in style and major world events, and exciting and revolutionary developments in fashion are placed in context. International in scope, the work encompasses all the century's most important designers and metropolitan fashion centres alongside developments in accessories, hairstyles and make-up. The importance of mass production, advances in man-made fibres, the growth of ready-to-wear and the major influence of postwar subcultural styles on contemporary fashion are also discussed. A reference section includes a bibliography and a glossary of designers.