The Way She Looks Tonight: Five Women of Style

This is a book that traces the lives a five women through their use of clothing as a means to achieve power. The book does not focus on their charitable activities, their acts of kindness, their good deeds and works - nor should it; such information is readily available elsewhere. Sadly, because the book describes how these women defined their places in the world via externals (fabrics, jewels, and the like), it's easy to dismiss the women as shallow, but those who do are missing the point of the book entirely. The author describes in great detail how clothing radiates primal signals and symbols, as well as how these women were masters of the art of communicating what they wished through this means. And not only is the infomation pithy and satisfying, the author's writing style is an absolute delight. I'm frankly surprised that this book is out of print because I think it's a classic. One of the most interesting books I've come across in a long time.