"Nevertheless She Wore It" is an empowering and uplifting work that celebrates individuality, self-expression, and the courage to defy societal norms. This captivating book invites readers into a world where personal style becomes a powerful form of self-assertion and self-confidence.

Through a collection of inspiring stories and anecdotes, the author weaves a narrative that highlights the incredible journeys of women who embraced their unique fashion choices and used them as a means of self-expression. The book showcases a diverse range of women from various backgrounds, each with their own distinct style, breaking free from conventional expectations and embracing their authentic selves.

The pages of "Nevertheless She Wore It" come alive with vivid descriptions of these women's fashion choices, creating a vibrant tapestry of colors, patterns, and textures. From bold and daring ensembles to subtle and understated elegance, the book beautifully illustrates how fashion can be a powerful tool for individuality and self-empowerment.

Beyond the sartorial aspect, the book delves into the personal stories of these women, sharing their triumphs, challenges, and moments of self-discovery. It sheds light on the transformative power of fashion as a means of reclaiming personal identity and defying societal expectations.

The author's thoughtful insights and engaging storytelling make "Nevertheless She Wore It" a truly captivating read. It serves as a source of inspiration for readers to embrace their unique style and to confidently express themselves in a world that often demands conformity.

Ultimately, this book is a celebration of authenticity and the profound impact that personal style can have on one's self-esteem and overall well-being. "Nevertheless She Wore It" encourages readers to embrace their individuality, to wear what makes them feel confident and empowered, and to embrace the beauty of self-expression through fashion.

Nevertheless, She Wore It by Ann Shen is a captivating and empowering exploration of iconic women throughout history and the signature outfits that helped shape their legacies. With stunning illustrations and insightful anecdotes, this book celebrates the sartorial choices of remarkable women who fearlessly expressed themselves through fashion.

Ann Shen's artistic talent shines through in the beautiful illustrations that grace the pages of this book. Each drawing captures the essence and style of the women being featured, accompanied by brief but impactful stories that shed light on their achievements and the significance of their chosen attire. From artists to activists, athletes to entertainers, the diverse range of women highlighted in this book is truly inspiring.

One of the notable strengths of Nevertheless, She Wore It is the way it highlights the individuality and agency of each woman, emphasizing how their fashion choices were deliberate and often connected to their personal narratives. It showcases how clothing can be a powerful tool for self-expression, cultural commentary, and challenging societal norms.

The book covers a wide range of eras and cultures, showcasing women from different walks of life. From Frida Kahlo's vibrant traditional Mexican garments to Audrey Hepburn's timeless elegance, each chapter offers a glimpse into the style evolution and impact of these influential figures. Readers will find themselves fascinated by the stories behind the outfits and the women who wore them.

While the illustrations and narratives are engaging and visually appealing, some readers might yearn for more in-depth exploration of each woman's fashion choices and their significance within their respective historical contexts. Nevertheless, the book serves as an excellent starting point for further exploration and appreciation of these remarkable individuals.

Ultimately, Nevertheless, She Wore It is a celebration of female empowerment and self-expression through fashion. It encourages readers to embrace their own personal style and recognize the power of clothing as a means of communication and self-assertion. Ann Shen's exquisite artwork and concise storytelling make this book a captivating tribute to the fearless women who made a lasting impact on history.

Disclaimer: This review is based on a copy of Nevertheless, She Wore It provided by the publisher.

A fun read about iconic outfits and hairstyles in history. I love the illustrations, the behind the scenes tidbits and the impact the styles had on culture. This would make a great coffee table book!

Interesting book, but it read a little all over the place, and the topics just felt curated in a weird way. There were some informational tidbits (but many people have complained about the fact-checking being iffy in the text) so it really turned out disappointing, because the small bite-size pieces of text might not even be factually accurate... Sadly, a hard pass then

This book is a look at women and the history they made through the clothes they wore. Each woman has a small description about why what they wore was important and an illustration. The short biographies make a great starting point for learning more. An inspiring book for girls of any age. Enjoy

I usually rate books higher when I feel I've learned a bit from them. So I'll round up my stars here. The text is informative, yet approachable for younger readers. The illustrations are the author's drawings, not photographs, which may also be part of the appeal for younger readers-- the cutesy style de-sexifies the clothing. The author is skilled at illustration, no question, but it's a definite style choice that I wasn't totally on board with. I mean, Josephine Baker looks like a Disney pixie. Also, Selena Quintanilla in her iconic bustier is on the cover, but not in the book, except for a mention that Jennifer Lopez played her. What's up with that?

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This equal parts GLAMOROUS by Fergie and Independent Woman by Beyonce. There has to be some Herstory in History, you know!

A beautiful, informative guide to history of both fashion itself and women empowering themselves through clothes. From simple things like the bikini to historic icons like the banana skirt, this book has great tidbits about every topic it discusses.

This book is a gift for fashion fans and even more so for people who like to have inspirations from people who were bold and did unimaginable things.

It is very interesting to know a little more about this universe and the edition is impeccable!

* Digital version of the book received by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *

Nevertheless She Wore It
Ann Shen

Whatever else is lacking in our lives now, we can all give thanks for the sublime illustrator, author, and designer Ann Shen for once again gifting us with her talents in her newest book Nevertheless, She Wore It.
The creator of the bestselling Bad Girls Throughout History delivers an extraordinary collection of some of the most iconic styles in history. From Gaultier’s Cone Bra in which the Material Girl could express herself to RBG’s Dissent Collar and more. Afros, bikinis, pantsuits, flapper dresses – all speak as proud statements of identity, power, and change.
Shen’s superb style makes this a delightful gift to one’s self, while picking up a few more for gifts!

This was a fun and interesting book. I learned a lot about fashion- how subversive and powerful it can be, what a statement it can make. Parents, educators, and other adults should keep in mind this book is geared toward a teen audience- some very brief descriptions (such as explaining why a pussy hat is called a pussy hat) might not be appropriate for younger readers, but are unfortunately somewhat necessary for older girls to know about. There are so many fashion items that women take for granted now, such as wearing jeans, but in 1899 outlaw Pearl Hart reportedly got arrested for wearing jeans, and was forced to change into a dress for her mugshot. I admit, though, I picked up this book to read about RBG and her dissent collar!

#NeverthelessSheWoreIt #NetGalley

From hot pants to RBG’s dissent collars, this book covers it all. This book took me on a journey through history’s fifty most iconic moments. I learned a lot from this book, obviously about fashion, but also the history of a lot of it and the power it can bring you.

“Fashion is freedom, personal style is currently, and you have an unlimited supply of it, baby!”

I didn’t realize how liberating fashion could be until reading this book. There’s significance in each of the items mentioned in this book like Lady Gaga’s famous meat dress to Lena Waithe’s rainbow cape at the 2018 Met Gala.

Each piece of clothing had a beautiful illustration to go along with it, which I enjoyed just as much as reading about the piece.

This was a fun and inspirational read and I’m glad I picked it up. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to learn about the history of fashion or the people who helped change it. I also believe this book would make a great gift.


Thank you, NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book has 50 different fashion statements with illustrations of each outfit. It features specific outfits and trends throughout history that made political and cultural statements.

There were many iconic outfits that made history. Princess Diana’s revenge dress made a statement about her new place in life on the day that Prince Charles admitted to adultery. Serena Williams made a statement with her black catsuit, which she wore for medical reasons but was then banned because the officials thought it was inappropriate. These are just a couple of the iconic outfits in this book.

There were also some fashion trends that were revolutionary. Jeans are a part of everyday life now, but women had to fight for the right to wear them. Hairstyles are also used to make fashion statements, such as the Afro, which defied the white standards put on black people, and the Bob, which defied the feminine look of long hair. It’s amazing how these small changes can make such an historical impact.

This is a great book about fashion and feminism.

Thank you Chronicle Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book.
The illustrations are gorgeous and the entire books is like a ride through fashion history and actual history. Absolutely loved it!

I just reviewed Nevertheless, She Wore It by Ann Shen. #NeverthelessSheWoreIt #NetGalley

Nevertheless, She Wore It - Ann Shen

Thinking about fashion? Thinking about history in fashion? Thinking about cultural diversity and fashion, together? Thinking about fashion statements?

Women throughout history have defined themselves in many ways. Fashion, is one of the most powerful ways that a woman can define herself.
Learn about the history of certain choices made, by the women ,that are making strong, powerful representations or interpretations for themselves!!

The way a woman conducts herself or presents herself, with her fashionable choices, creates an iconic symbol ,for that particular woman.

Nevertheless - She Wore It, demonstrates the power of fashion, as a political and cultural tool for making change.

With the use of illustrations and historical facts about what women choose to wear , both for cultural,social and political reasons. A chosen fashion choice makes a statement!

What’s the meaning behind RBG and her collars, red lipstick, bikinis, pantsuits,durags, sleeveless dresses, short hair etc. ?
Why did some icons choose to wear particular articles of clothing?

Read this book as a reference or read straight through as a slice of history.
The 50 illustrations are colorful and superb ! They are on point to aide as a great visual for understanding and learning about why each woman had chosen her fashion statement.

This book was easy to read and understand. I really liked that there were small distinct chunks of information.
It makes it easy on the eyes and concise for comprehension of the research.

I would have enjoyed seeing actual photos of these iconic pieces of fashion as well.

I really appreciated the research that went
in to define the understanding of particular fashion choices. I can’t wait to share this remarkable find with others.
I plan on reading Ann Shens prior book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a really fun read. The art was incredible and the stories were impactful. I wish there had been a few more stories about native women and their courage and bravery as well. Other than that, I felt like this was a great book to share with my book club.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the digital copy of the book.
Fifty iconic fashion moments came alive in these vibrant illustrations of this book. A book covering trends, ethnicity and surprising stories in the world of fashion. A must have book for fashion lovers.

'Nevertheless she wore it is like a portable museum of fashion. This book includes specific outfits (ie j lo's green Grammy outfit and lady gaga's meat dress) as well as generic fashion statements (ie red lipstick and the wrap dress). Each style has a brief history and several illustrations. I would have loved more of the celebrity centered fashion, but this is a great book for those who love fashion.

*ARC was provided by Chronicle Books through Netgalley.

This has a cute premise, but given that I just read The Illustrated Feminist: 100 Years of Suffrage, Strength, and Sisterhood in America, I liked that a lot more.

The tone here was all over the place - a mix of professional and casual that I get, but was still jarring. The fashion examples used were a mixed bag for me: some, like Nancy Pelosi's coat, I wouldn't even consider including. Others, like the durag, were better examples of fashion as a response to society, especially for Black women. I really didn't associate Marsha P. Johnson at all with flower crowns, so I'm not disparaging that, but the entry there felt weaker than others.

Some of the wording was repetitive (trans and LGBT - just say LGBT) and consisted of inconsistencies that might have been fixed for publication, like using Mexican Americans in one line and Mexican-Americans in the next. This gives off the impression that the book is trying to be modern, but I wish some of these aspects had been better-researched prior to this being put together. There's also at least one entry that was missing an illustration compared to the others, which was confusing.

Lovely, coffee-table-book vibes, with illustrations instead of photographs, filled with images and commentary on famous outfits by trailblazers.