The book of the famous American culturologist opens many unknown pages in the history of men's costume. Tracing the ways of its change from ancient times to the present day, the author considers the evolution of the costume, full of drama and unexpected plot twists. Why did this fashion last so long? What factors determined its stylistic stability and persuasiveness? How does a men's suit relate to modern concepts of male and female sexuality? How does it relate to fashion in the past and in the present? And in what respects does it consist of modern clothing design and everything else? Why have women been so desperate to copy a men's suit since then, how it was invented? What future awaits it? E. Hollander goes far beyond the history of fashion: Many artists and works of art appear on the pages of the book, social characteristics of Western society are given in different eras, aesthetic trends are analyzed, and the imagery and poetics of the narrative turn a serious scientific work into an exciting reading. Press. About the author