Reviews
Great coffee table book!
"Thank you to NetGalley for a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. This book will be a great coffee table and perfect for gift giving for those who love feminism, politics, and fashion. It shows the power of fashion and how it can communicate messages and agendas. Fashion is so much more than what we wear and it's apparent the author feels the exact same way! The illustrations are nicely done and I'm sure it's even better in a hard copy! 4/5 stars."
— Aowens4391 (4/5)
Amazing
"Fifty iconic moments of fashion came alive in these vibrant illustrations of this book. A book covering trends, ethnicity and surprising stories in the world of fashion. A must have book for fashion lovers. n"
— Bluebookaholic (4/5)
interesting and fun
"This was a fun and interesting book. I learned a lot about fashion- how subversive and powerful it can be, what a statement it can make. Parents, educators, and other adults should keep in mind this book is geared toward a teen audience- some very brief descriptions (such as explaining why a pu**y hat is called a pu**y hat) might not be appropriate for younger readers, but are unfortunately somewhat necessary for older girls to know about. There are so many fashion items that women take for granted now, such as wearing jeans, but in 1899 outlaw Pearl Hart reportedly got arrested for wearing jeans, and was forced to change into a dress for her mugshot. I admit, though, I picked up this book to read about RBG and her dissent collar! #NeverthelessSheWoreIt #NetGalley"
— Graypeape (5/5)
Beautifully illustrated
"I am not someone very fashionable. It was so interesting to read about how fashion has impacted different areas of history and where it has impacted and who. Such a quick and beautifully illustrated read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily."
— Mandiemoore28 (4/5)
Could have been more comprehensive and informative
"Light, fun read. The articles were short and the history-geek in me would have liked them to be a bit more informative. And, I'm not sure some of the choices were quite as iconic as they could have been, while some other, arguably better, choices were left out. I loved the illustrations, though!"
— TamJamB (3/5)
Great book
"This book has 50 different fashion statements with illustrations of each outfit. It features specific outfits and trends throughout history that made political and cultural statements. There were many iconic outfits that made history. Princess Diana’s revenge dress made a statement about her new place in life on the day that Prince Charles admitted to adultery. Serena Williams made a statement with her black catsuit, which she wore for medical reasons but was then banned because the officials thought it was inappropriate. These are just a couple of the iconic outfits in this book. There were also some fashion trends that were revolutionary. Jeans are a part of everyday life now, but women had to fight for the right to wear them. Hairstyles are also used to make fashion statements, such as the Afro, which defied the white standards put on black people, and the Bob, which defied the feminine look of long hair. It’s amazing how these small changes can make such an historical impact. This is a great book about fashion and feminism. Thank you Chronicle Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review."
— Jill J. (5/5)
Feminist Excellence
"Title: Nevertheless, She Wore It Author: Ann Shen Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Pub Date: 01 Sep 2020 Thank you Chronicle Books for providing me with an e-ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my impartial review. Five stars to this amazing book. It was so fun and powerful at the same time. I loved how the author was able to touch on so many facets of the female appearance - clothes, beauty, makeup, body hair and hairstyles. It was an incredibly feminist read and I enjoyed every bit of it. It was so jarring to read about how many (basically almost all) of our modern everyday wear was subject to scrutiny and debate by the male gaze. There might never ever be a book like this written about general male fashion because men wear and do whatever they want - no questions asked, no debate sparked. Each item in this book came with so much history and research it was so eye opening and enlightening. I could tell that the author did a lot of research before going on this journey. Ann Shen covered general clothing items like jeans and crop tops; specific moments in fashion like Lady Gaga's meat dress and Nancy Pelosi's fire coat; she also covered hairstyles that the pixie cut and the afro; and also makeup and beauty entries like the red lip and the unibrow. The title of this book is so powerful and it resonated in every entry as the woman in question or women everywhere wore that s*** anyway. The illustrations were such an integral part of the book and each one was amazing. Ann Shen is a genius and I'll be checking out her 2 other works - Bad Girls Throughout History and Legendary Ladies . This book is out on the 1st of September, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone."
— OyindaLovesBook (5/5)
A very broad, short look at some iconic fashions
"As a girl who loves fashion, and has spent enough on magazines in her lifetime to have been able to afford a Channel suit, PLUS accessories, I knew I had to read this book. This book briefly touches on some of fashions iconic trends, moments in fashion history, and fashion events that changed the way we as women dress today. From mini skirts, to pants, bloomers to short hair, there is history in here that perhaps a lot of us don’t know. Besides trying to break free from the patriarchal chains that bound us, there are also social and cultural histories here, like the durag, the pachuca, and the cheongsam to name a few. What’s the meaning behind red lipstick? Where did Coco Channel come up with her design for tweed? Did you know pants weren’t allowed on the floor of Congress until 1993??? There are also some style icons and how they changed the way we dress, Katherine Hepburn and pants, Audrey Hepburn and short hair, Michelle Obama and sleeveless shirts and dresses. . . . the list goes on. The author also points out women who have protested by what they were wearing, like Lady Gaga and her famous meat dress, Serena Williams on the tennis court, and the Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad and her hijab to name a few. We often think we are dressing for ourselves, but as the author points out, as long as our bodies are governed by others, the way we dress is a political statement, and women have used the opportunity for generations to make statements with their fashion. The articles are accompanied by drawings of the fashions, and this is probably the one thing I would like to see different. I would have liked to have seen photos of the fashion in action so to speak. The suffragettes marching, the flappers on the dance floor, Josephine Baker in her Banana Skirt, RBG in her decent collar! This would be a great book for anyone interested in fashion. I would also recommend this for teenaged girls finding their fashion sense. . . show them their history and how choosing that shade of lipstick or that length of skirt came from something. Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review."
— Leah H. (4/5)
Fashion as a statement that gives women a voice
"This book is a truly fantastic quick look at iconic fashion moments and pieces and the women who wore them. Accompanying each short blurb that tells the story and explains the importance of each item is a gorgeously graphic illustration by the author that perfectly exemplifies each fashion-forward piece and feminist revolution item. It jumps around places, times, and personalities, but it always exemplifies the feminine power that something as simple as a red lip or a pair of wide-legged pants can represent. Overall, it's very informative, gorgeous to look at, and it contains a great message. Definitely a recommended read and a great coffee table book to show off. Many happy thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the early read!"
— Nina C. (5/5)
