Clothes make the man. A person's clothing—whether a sari, kimono, or suit—is an essential code of their culture, class, personality, or even religion. Founded in 1978, the Kyoto Costume Institute honors the significance of fashion from sociological, historical, and artistic perspectives. With its broad range of historical outer and undergarments as well as shoes and accessories, from the 18th century to the present, the KCI's clothing collection is one of the largest in the world.

History of Fashion embarks on a fascinating journey through fashion trends from the 18th to the 20th century based on this extensive collection. Brilliant photographs of countless garments, expertly draped on specially crafted dress forms, document clothing as "an essential expression of our existence" and demonstrate the institute's passion for fashion as a complex and multifaceted art form.

The book's authors include some of the brightest minds and sharpest eyes in fashion research: Akiko Fukai (Director of the Kyoto Costume Institute and Curator emerita), Tamami Suoh (Curator at the Kyoto Costume Institute), Miki Iwagami (Lecturer in Fashion History at Bunka Gakuen University, Tokyo), Reiko Koga (former Professor of Fashion History at Bunka Gakuen University), and Rie Nii (Curator at the Kyoto Costume Institute).