Listen to a sample
Adorned in Dreams
Foundations of Fashion Studies (Related to this series)
- Author
- Elizabeth Wilson
- Narrator
- Madeleine Leslay
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Publish Date
- 11 June 2026
- Run Time
- 12 hours 33 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
When Adorned in Dreams was first published in 1985, Angela Carter described the book as ‘the best I have read on the subject, bar none.’
From haute couture to haberdashery, and ‘deviant’ dress to Dior, Elizabeth Wilson traces the social and cultural history of fashion and its complex relationship to modernity. From the ‘dress reform’ movement to certain strands of feminism, Wilson delights in the power of fashion to mark out identity - or subvert it.
Explore topics including fashion and city life, feminism and fashion, and oppositional dress in this authoritative scholarly text on fashion’s pivotal role in modern society.
Critics Review
-
Adorned in Dreams: Fashion and Modernity is one of the best books ever published on the significance of fashion in society . . . as relevant today as when it was first published
Valerie Steele, editor of Fashion Theory: The Journal of Dress, Body & Culture
-
When it was first published in 1985, Adorned in Dreams pioneered new territory in the study of fashion . . . no text since has come close to challenging or overtaking its original claims
Christopher Breward, National Museums Scotland
-
Sharply focused, consistently intelligent, and broadly informative
Los Angeles Times
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Elizabeth Wilson
- Narrator
- Madeleine Leslay
- Duration
- 12 hours 33 minutes
- Release Date
- 11 June 2026
- ISBN
- 9781350639980
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Genre
- Cultural studies: dress and society, Material culture
Synopsis
Bloomsbury presents Adorned in Dreams: Fashion and Modernity by Elizabeth Wilson, read by Madeleine LeslayWhen Adorned in Dreams was first published in 1985, Angela Carter described the book as ‘the best I have read on the subject, bar none.’ From haute couture to haberdashery, and ‘deviant’ dress to Dior, Elizabeth Wilson traces the social and cultural history of fashion and its complex relationship to modernity. From the ‘dress reform’ movement to certain strands of feminism, Wilson delights in the power of fashion to mark out identity - or subvert it.Explore topics including fashion and city life, feminism and fashion, and oppositional dress in this authoritative scholarly text on fashion’s pivotal role in modern society.
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.