Fashion Is . . . encourages readers to think about the myriad definitions of fashion. A Dior day suit. An Yves Saint Laurent minidress. A Japanese kimono. A Ferragamo shoe. A British court ensemble. A Schiaparelli hat. Fashion is glamour and attitude, texture and pattern, sexy and prim, luxurious and eccentric. It is above all a rich and evocative means of expression for both the designer and the wearer. Gathered here are costumes, regional dress, haute couture, and accessories from prehistory to the present, as well as paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts relating to modes of dress.