Summary:
The book explores the intersection of fashion with law, politics, and identity throughout history, examining how dress codes have been used to maintain social order and express personal freedom. It delves into various historical periods and cultures, revealing the power dynamics and cultural norms reflected in what people wear.
Key points:
1. Sumptuary Laws' Role: Ford examines how historical laws controlled what people wore to keep social ranks clear and maintain order.
Books similar to "Dress Codes":

The Golden Thread
Kassia St. Clair

Queen of Fashion
Caroline Weber

Fashionopolis
Dana Thomas

The Dressmakers of Auschwitz
Lucy Adlington

The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabethan England
Ian Mortimer

The Dawn of Everything
David Graeber

In Your Defence
Sarah Langford

Make, Sew and Mend
Bernadette Banner

How To Be a Tudor
Ruth Goodman

The Penguin History of the World
J M Roberts|Odd Arne Westad