Why’d They Wear That?

Fashion as the Mirror of History

By Sarah Albee

Hardcover

Published on Feb 10, 2015 | 192 Pages

Amazon Barnes & Noble Books A Million Bookshop.org Target Walmart

Grades 5–9
Ages 10–14

Move over Project Runway. Get ready to chuckle your way through centuries of fashion dos and don’ts! In this humorous and approachable narrative, kids will learn about outrageous, politically-perilous, funky, disgusting, regrettable, and life-threatening creations people have worn throughout the course of human history, all the way up to the present day. From spats and togas to hoop skirts and hair shirts, why people wore what they did is an illuminating way to look at the social, economic, political, and moral climates throughout history.

"Opening with a foreword by style guru Tim Gunn, this lavishly illustrated book presents history as a long and winding runway of fashion. In its brightly adorned pages, readers can gaze and gawk at the strange outfits humans have dreamed up since “casting off their smelly bear-skins” 10,000 years ago." – The Washington Post

"...this is truly an ageless piece of work that does everything a book should do. This book educates, elucidates, and entertains and should be deemed required reading for anyone who is interested in fashion on any level." – New York Journal of Books

"What a good idea for a book. And what a clever way to do it. As the subtitle says, this hefty, extensively illustrated book uses fashion to discuss the ways and whys people dress and how it reflects what’s happening in their civilization." – Booklist

"Now see, the reason I like National Geographic Kids is that they’re reliable. Take Why’d They Wear That?, for example. You know what you’re getting here, even if you don’t know the details. Mind you, the details are where all the good stuff is." – School Library Journal

"Full of period images that show off every bustle, frill, and rivet, this wide-ranging guide to clothing throughout time will fascinate history and fashion buffs alike." - Publisher’s Weekly

"A fascinating read for fashion and history aficionados." – The Horn Book

ISBN 9781426319198 (Hardcover)
Published on Feb 10, 2015
Published by National Geographic Kids
Pages 192
Dimensions 9-1/8 x 10-7/8
Age Range 10-14 years
Grade Grades 5-9
Reading Level Lexile: 1190L | Fountas/Pinnell: T

Sarah Albee

Sarah Albee writes children’s books for many age groups and under a number of pseudonyms. She has had three of her books appear on the New York Times Bestseller list. Before she began her career as a children’s book writer and editor, Sarah was a newspaper cartoonist and a semiprofessional basketball player. These days she lives in Connecticut with her husband and three children.