From dressing up to dressing down, this book exposes the complex ways that fashions and costumes render the body presentable in a range of social situations. It investigates the varied ways in which western and non-western clothes operate to give the body meaning. It is useful for those interested in style, costume, the body, gender or history.

From fashion photography in the 1960s to contemporary queer fashion and the history of the masquerade, this is a fascinating and far-reaching collection. Its breadth and depth make it essential reading for anyone interested in style, costume, the body, gender or history.