From the Publisher
Controlling what you wear is a proxy for controlling what you do,” Hyland writes in this examination not only of fashion but also of sartorial life more generally. Hyland finds meaning in what we wear, whether in the nineteenth-century vogue for bloomers or in courtroom attire, which is chosen to convey its wearer’s respectability.” — New Yorker
“Smart, funny, and impressively thorough.” — The Cut
“Whether you realize it or not, every outfit you choose makes a statement, telling the world who you are and who you want to be. With a rich sense of history and firm grasp on the current culture, Véronique Hyland is your fashion trend translator. Her debut essay collection—wry, thoughtful, and always provocative—is a must read for anyone who cares about clothes…which is to say, everyone.” — Nina Garcia, ELLE Editor-in-Chief and Project Runway judge
“This riveting, mind-expanding book made me see the world differently. I'll be thinking about Hyland's funny, incisive observations for years to come — she has a way of putting things that makes the world snap into focus with its colors slightly sharper and brighter. You will not be able to stop talking about the things you learn from this book!” — Emily Gould, author of Friendship and Perfect Tunes
"Anyone who opts in to wearing clothes (and even those who opt out) should pay attention to this book." — Library Journal (starred review)
"Véronique Hyland's tremendous essay collection is for fashionistas who like their frock talk served with politics." — Shelf Awareness, starred review
Emily Gould
This riveting, mind-expanding book made me see the world differently. I'll be thinking about Hyland's funny, incisive observations for years to come — she has a way of putting things that makes the world snap into focus with its colors slightly sharper and brighter. You will not be able to stop talking about the things you learn from this book!
Shelf Awareness
"Véronique Hyland's tremendous essay collection is for fashionistas who like their frock talk served with politics."
Nina Garcia
“Whether you realize it or not, every outfit you choose makes a statement, telling the world who you are and who you want to be. With a rich sense of history and firm grasp on the current culture, Véronique Hyland is your fashion trend translator. Her debut essay collection—wry, thoughtful, and always provocative—is a must read for anyone who cares about clothes…which is to say, everyone.
Library Journal
★ 01/01/2022
"Clothes make the person" is perhaps not a statement one usually associates with feminist politics but a concept that fascinates and perplexes feminist historians and gender theorists while also often frustratingly seeming to trap women in a superficial set of standards related to the body. This book by Elle magazine fashion editor Hyland is a welcome addition to this conversation (preceded by the likes of Emily Robinovitch-Fox's Dressed for Freedom). Here Hyland powerfully argues that to dismiss fashion as something stereotypically feminine and ephemeral, would mean denying its dailiness and its iterative creation of individuals as they engage with the world. Hyland contends that such a dismissal reifies a binary opposition that privileges masculine values over feminine ones. She effectively unpacks why clothing is a political choice and carefully considers the particular scrutiny of the personal appearances of women of color. Calling up her previous research for blogs such as The Cut, along with analysis of primary sources, the author delves into cultural fascination with youth and beauty—a phenomenon that is accompanied by dissection and often criticism of the fashion choices and influences of teenage girls. VERDICT Anyone who opts in to wearing clothes (and even those who opt out) should pay attention to this book.—Emily Bowles
