The eight-volume set captures the wildly divergent clothing styles and trends that have played such a crucial role in defining our century. From the gaudy to the austere, from the shocking to the sublime, Fashions of a Decade chronicles the modern world's continual desire to express itself -- and to mold itself -- through fashion.

What truly distinguishes this set is its exploration of these trends in the context of Western history. It looks at the dramatic world events, shifting social movements, and fascinating political and cultural movements that influenced the world of twentieth-century fashion.