Sharp Suits, Hardcover

Clothes maketh the man--discover the fascinating history and evolution of the modern suit from the late 17th century to date.

"A fascinating, richly illustrated history of suits." -- Esquire magazine

"Few coffee-table books are so beautifully illustrated or as researched." -- GQ magazine

For millions of men across the world the common denominator that identifies them is the suit. From eighteenth-century bespoke to the mass industrialization of the 20th-century, we see how the uniform of the ruling classes became the utilitarian outfit of the worker. A series of thematic chapters illustrates how the universal staple of a man's wardrobe can play many different roles and, chameleon-like, can mean different things in different situations. From the Duke of Windsor to The Thin White Duke, David Bowie, from James Brown to "The Godfather," movie stars, rock stars, heroes and villains, philanthropists, presidents, and gangsters have dressed to impress in a matching jacket and trousers, and have found that a suit will suit them very well.

Eric Musgrave has written about fashion for 25 years. An award-winning editor-in-chief of Drapers, the UK's top fashion business weekly, he has also held senior roles at Men's Wear, International Textiles (Amsterdam), Fashion Weekly and Sportswear International (Milan). He was the launch editor of men's style mag, For Him Magazine (now FHM). He is now a consultant to the fashion business and writes for many publications.