Dressing Up: A History of Fancy Dress in Britain

(Hardback)

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Pierrot, Little Bo Peep, cowboy: these characters and many more form part of this colourful story of dressing up, from the accession of Queen Victoria to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Fancy dress became a regular part of people's social lives over this period, and the craze for it spread across Britain and the Empire, reaching every level of society. Spectacular and witty costumes appeared at street carnivals, victory celebrations, fire festivals and extravagant balls. From the Victorian middle classes performing 'living statues' to squads of Shetland men donning traditional fancy dress and setting fire to a Viking ship at the annual Up Helly Aa celebration, this lavishly illustrated book provides a unique view into the quirky, wonderful world of fancy dress.

Based on extensive new research, lucidly written, generously illustrated, this captivating book uncovers the remarkable 'lost' history of fancy dress and reveals its connections to community and national identity. Original, delightful, and unexpectedly topical. Barbara Burman, co-author of The Pocket: A Hidden History of Women's Lives, 1660-1900

Reviews

"Full of original material, Dressing Up opens up the world of fancy dress to new interpretations. Ranging across questions of history, identity, aesthetics, and production, Wilson demonstrates the integral role 'costume' played in the social and psychological life of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Britain. Alongside the scholarship, the vivid illustrations and wry anecdotes are priceless."--Christopher Breward, director, National Museums Scotland, author of "The Suit: Form, Function and Style"

Author Bio

Verity Wilson worked at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London for 25 years. She is the author of Chinese Dress (1986) and Chinese Textiles (2004) and lives in Oxford.