Contemporary fashion

Abstract

Many notable fashion reference works focus on the broad history of costume design, while others concentrate on trends. Curator Martin of The Costume Institute of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, has instead compiled what is essentially an encyclopedia of the fashion business for the past 50 years. The designers profiled range from Gabriel Coco Chanel to the unconventional Todd Oldham, but highly successful retailers (e.g., Banana Republic) that have managed to make an impact on the fashion world are also covered.