Clothes

What shall I wear today? Who shall I be? Whether it's a pair of old jeans, a smart, job-clinching suit or the latest haute couture creation, we know that what we choose to wear each day is an important matter. Whether we are rebels, conservatives or trendsetters, our clothes say something about how we feel and the image we want to present to the world. They reflect our individuality, wealth and position in society. Shell suits, club ties, puffball skirts and cravats: clothes appal, enthral, amuse and confuse. In this fascinating book, John Harvey steals a look inside the modern-day wardrobe to reveal how, by being aware of the role clothes play in our lives, we can come to know and better understand who we are.

John Harvey is Reader in Literature and Visual Culture at the University of Cambridge