Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History

Throughout history, clothing has served as far more than mere covering—it has been a tool of power, a marker of rebellion, and a mechanism of control. This compelling exploration traces how dress codes have shaped societies from medieval times to the present day.

Discover how sumptuary laws once restricted the poor from wearing silk and velvet, how the flapper's hemline became a battleground for women's liberation, and how zoot suits sparked urban unrest. The book reveals the hidden politics behind what we wear: why Black professionals have lost jobs over natural hairstyles, how Silicon Valley's casual dress code excludes women in formal attire, and why sagging pants can carry criminal consequences.

With scholarly insight and engaging narrative, this work demonstrates that dress codes remain powerful instruments of social hierarchy, economic opportunity, and cultural resistance—making fashion history inseparable from the struggle for equality and self-determination.

A "sharp and entertaining" (The Wall Street Journal) exploration of fashion through the ages that asks what our clothing reveals about ourselves and our society.

AUTHOR

Law professor and cultural critic Richard Thompson Ford offers a sophisticated examination of fashion's regulatory history, spanning from medieval times to contemporary society. This meticulously researched work deconstructs the often-invisible rules governing what we wear, revealing how clothing codes have functioned as instruments of social control and cultural expression.

Ford's analysis transforms fashion from a superficial concern into a serious subject worthy of scholarly attention, demonstrating how dress codes intersect with law, power, and identity. By tracing the evolution of sartorial standards across centuries, the book sheds light on why our daily wardrobe choices carry far greater significance than is commonly recognized. A thought-provoking read that fundamentally reshapes how you understand the relationship between fashion, society, and personal autonomy.