A practical introduction to key fashion trends from the little black dress and bowler hat to the ladies trouser suit and 2:55 bag.

Fashion is all around us, and few of us are unaffected by it; yet, how many people know the origins of the little black dress, bowler hat or ladies trouser suit? How many people can pin down the famous brand of leather jacket Marlon Brando wore in The Wild One, or why the Chanel bag is known as the 2:55 bag?

How to Read Fashion identifies the main fashion trends of the past 200 years and shows you how they relate to contemporary styles. From Neo-Classical to Gothic, Empire to Punk, Military and Designer Branding, explore the defining characteristics of each ‘look' and read about the techniques and materials for some additional technical grounding.

Finally, find out how all these trends are applied in the world of men's and women's fashions, including formal, casual and leisure wear, as well as accessories, jewellery, hair styles and make-up. As both a dip-in reference and stylish resource, How to Read Fashion equips you with the visual vocabulary to understand, investigate and interpret styles.

Fashion is all around us but many people don't know the origins of classic pieces...Help is at hand from a new book, How to Read Fashion, which gives a crash course in understanding styles. * Glasgow Sunday Mail *

Fiona Ffoulkes has worked in fashion and costume design for the past 30 years, including 15 years as a stylist for BBC and ITV. She has lectured in textiles and fashion at St Martins College of Art & Design and at the American University in Paris. Fiona is continuing research into the history of the French luxury clothing industry and has contributed to several publications, including Consumers and Luxury: Consumer Culture in Europe 1650-1850 (1999).