From prehistoric garments to modern high-fashion designs, this unique survey traces the history of furs and fur accessories. R. Turner Wilcox, a former fashion editor for Women's Wear Daily, begins with practical uses of reindeer hides and bearskins for warmth during the Stone Age. Advancing to the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Persia, Greece, and Rome, she defines fur's role as a status symbol during the Renaissance and its eventual adoption by wearers outside the aristocracy.
The 680 drawings that illustrate this volume depict furs of all times and places: panther skins of Egyptian high priests, ermine mantles of French queens, sealskin trousers of Alaskan Eskimos, and raccoon coats of American college students. Chronological entries include introductions for each era, and a helpful glossary of furs features images of their animal sources. Professional designers and costumers as well as amateurs with an interest in furs will find this volume a valuable reference.