The Fashion History Pages- A note from the Author

I developed The Fashion History Pages (FHP) WAY BACK in 2002 in response to a need for reputable online information regarding the history of Western fashion. These pages were initially designed for educators and students as a place where each could come to gain broader insight into how fashion played a role in history. Over the years, The Fashion History Pages have reached a far more diverse audience than I ever could have imagined.

Over the years, The FHP have undergone multiple revisions (the latest being in 2020) to represent a more concise overview of the history of fashion. The time periods discussed are organized according to dominant fashion silhouettes and the exact years are generalized. Additionally, each time period focuses on a central theme. For example, The Romantic Era focuses on Romanticism whereas the Crinoline Period focuses on Victorian Era technology.

Each time period begins with a brief discussion of major historical themes followed by descriptions of both women�s and children�s clothing. Admittedly, these pages are Euro-centric and are written from an American perspective. 

The newly updated FHP draws from over 40 scholarly texts and contains a variety of images from museums, art collections, and private clothing collections around the globe. These pages are purely educational and strive to represent both an accurate and objective view of the history of Western fashion.

Culture, political movements, religion, and economics all play a major role in the history of fashion. The culture of clothing has a wide variety of nuances too numerous to discuss in pages like these. Therefore, additional publishings on specific historical clothing topics will also be available in our collective.

Whether you are an educator, student, scholar, or enthusiast- it is my sincerest hope you will find these pages of assistance in your quest toward gaining a broader understanding of the history of fashion! 

–Susan Jarrett

A note about researching on the web (c. 2002):
With the advent of social networking and the popularity of web publishing, there is now more information than ever regarding fashion history. However, unlike traditional publications, no one has to approve or verify the content of this information before it is made public. Therefore, it is your job as a researcher to evaluate the information you find and determine whether it is reputable, accurate, and unbiased. Information from museums, educational institutions, and individuals with training in the historical clothing and textiles field are the most credible.