Overview

"Since the Stone Age, the British Isles have been settled by many European people, from the Romans and the Celts, to the Vikings, Saxons, and Normans. This mixed heritage created a highly artistic culture, expressed most vibrantly in beautiful clothing and jewelry. In 1066, when the Norman kings from France invaded the country, Britain began to develop sophisticated court fashions for royalty and the nobility. In the late 18th century, when Britain became the first country in the world to experience the Industrial Revolution, a new middle class of entrepreneurs arose, with a taste for luxury and thirst for novelty, creating a fast-moving fashion industry that persists to the present day. ""The British Isles"" explores Britain's costume and culture through the centuries, from powdered wigs to mobcaps, and top hats to bloomers, providing insights into: the Elizabethan era, when court fashion reached new heights of luxury and absurdity; how British society, deeply divided by wealth and class, tried to maintain the status quo through measures such as sumptuary laws, designed to keep the 'lower orders' in their place; and, regional conflict and its effect on costume, such as the banning of the kilt in Scotland."

Full Product Details

9781590844311

Table of Contents

Reviews

...crisp and engaging, attending to historical accuracy. - School Library Journal

Author Information

Senior Consulting Editor Robert Humphrey is Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, at George Washington University, Washington, DC.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available