Vintage Fashion: Collecting and Wearing Designer Classics, 1900-1990

Although this book is clearly intended for women who are interested in buying high-end vintage fashions and want to know what to look for, it's actually a history of 20th century fashion, from the pre-World War I era to the eighties. The author not only explains who the top designers were during each decade and what their signature styles were, she also lists all the major trends and illustrates how the political and social background of each era influenced fashions. It's beautifully illustrated throughout, with photographs of vintage pieces as well as reproductions of advertisements and magazine photographs.