Lingerie: A Lexicon of Style

Lingerie: A Lexicon of Style is a book written by Caroline Cox, the Principal Lecturer in Cultural & Historical Studies at the London College of Fashion. As a fashion historian, she has the background to talk about the cultural and historical aspects of our underwear. I recently purchased this book and enjoyed reading it over the course of several days. Lingerie: A Lexicon of Style touches on many of the larger categories of lingerie (corsets, bras, panties, shapewear, sportswear, etc.) and discusses the place undergarments have had in history and in modern culture in terms of political movements, fetishes, and our daily lives. The text is well illustrated with more than 200 color photographs, perfect for a coffeetable book.

This book is great for someone who has already developed a love of lingerie. It provides food for thought about why we have given up and adopted certain pieces, how modern society percieves and wears lingerie, and what the future may hold. I will say that I had one problem with the book – you are constantly reminded of the text’s age. The book was published in 2001, and most of the pictured styles (especially panties) are obviously dated which can sometimes be distracting. Overall however, we are featuring this book on TLP because I think it will be a great addition to any lingerie lover’s library! You can purchase your own copy in the used book marketplace of Amazon.com.

See past books we have discussed by clicking here.