Fashion Victims

“Anyone interested in social and political history, in art and in dress, will learn much from this book. It is lively and well-written, with the high-quality design and attention to detail of Yale University Press: the illustrations, including paintings, fashion plates, extant garments and some beautiful textiles, are sumptuous.”—Aileen Ribeiro, Art Newspaper “As a pithy dissection of fashion’s history—a history that undeniably informs the luxury industry today—it makes compelling reading.”—Alexander Fury, The Independent “Illustrated with beautiful images of fashion plates, portraits, and photographs of rare surviving garments, this thoroughly researched book is highly recommended for readers who are interested in the social and costume history of the 18th century.”—Library Journal (starred review) “Scholars from different disciplines and the general public are likely to enjoy this book, as it is both an enjoyable read and one that delves deeply into a topic that can all too easily be trivialised and ridiculed. . . . While the gowns Chrisman-Campbell describes are said to privilege ‘surface over substance,’ the same criticism does not apply to her book, which has immense worth and depth.""—Anne Bissonnette, Burlington “Eighteenth-century France just before the Revolution was a world of unbridled extravagance and stark contrasts. . . . This incisive book gives us a glimpse into the sophisticated fashion industry of the time, as well as insights into the role of fashion in social commentary and during the Revolution itself.”—Juanita Coulson, The Lady Winner of the 2016 Millia Davenport Publication Award sponsored by the Costume Society of America