Nevertheless, She Wore It

I absolutely could not have loved it more. From the art to the writing— all of it was AMAZING. I definitely recommend it and will be buying for all my strong willed femme friends regardless of their Fashion style.

A wonderful read a time capsule of fashion from the little black dress onto the bikini.to Hillary’s iconic pantsuit,Beautifully illustrated a charming wonderful read.#netgalley#chroniclebooks

Inspired. I never thought I’d find a book about fashion interesting and fun, inspiring. We are more than the clothes that we wear, and the clothes we wear sometimes mean so much more. This book is so much more than it appears to be. Part beautiful clothing, part history and a whole lot of power.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nevertheless, She Wore It is an illustrated study of 50 iconic fashion moments and trends throughout history, and a celebration of the women who daringly donned them. From chapters on the revolutionary background of the black beret to the impact of Jennifer Lopez’ plunging green Versace gown, this book is a treasure trove of historical trivia and tales of female empowerment through era-defining styles. If you are a pop culture-aficionado like myself, you may be surprised and intrigued at the depth of meaning and cultural influence behind some of history’s most beloved looks—some old, some new; some, timeless.

It’s a one-sitting kind of read and the perfect coffee table book for fashion lovers and history buffs, filled with fun illustrations by the writer, Ann Shen. The chapters themselves, each dedicated to a separate style moment or piece, are bite-sized but incredibly well-researched; even though I was familiar on some level with many of the items that were discussed in this book, every page brought with it new information that revealed just how superficial our common knowledge of women’s history can be. Though fashion can often be judged only by its less desirable qualities—elitist, wasteful, opulent—this book honors its link to female power and its ability to act as a tool for political and cultural change.

Its wealth of information, however, drowns out the author’s voice to the point where the writing lacks a bit of personality, which sometimes shines through in moments of social commentary and while discussing the most controversial attires. Given the nature of the book and the topic of women’s voices, the book would have benefited from a stronger presence, and, in turn, a more stimulating delivery of all the facts and history.

All in all, this is a beautiful tribute to the trailblazers that contributed to the freedoms we as women have today, and a fantastic introduction to those interested in the history of fashion and the still-evolving fight for women’s rights and independence.

This is an interesting take on not only the history of fashion, but <strong>why</strong> fashion has meaning.

While I was aware at how important Bloomers were to liberating women, there are 49 other points in history that I was not so familiar with. For example, I didn't know that Mary Tyler Moore's wearing of capri pants on the Dick Van Dyke show, was a statement about how women really dressed. That they didn't go around in high heels and pearls to do the laundry.

But there are others that surprise me, such as the wearing of a Cape on the red carpet amongst the LGBTQ crowd. Or the Fire Coat that Nancy Pelosi wore after meeting with President Trump at the white house. Or Kiran Gandhi running a marathon while she had her period, and letting it go all over her running pants, because there was nothing to be ashamed of.

Hard to believe that wearing pants or jeans was and still is in some cases, a form of protest.

And there is also the Pink Pussyhat used in protest of the 45 president's election.

There are subtle forms of protest included, such as the wearing of nude lipstick by women in North Korea, or bolder forms, such as the Revenge dress that Diane, Princess of Wales wore out after Prince Charles admitted to adultery.

A well composed book, and good look at recent and 150 year old fashion statements.



Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a creative and unique take on fashion and the women who helped define eras. While women continue to face a multitude of uphill challenges for political, economic, and social equality, this book does a phenomenal job at showcasing the fashion statements that have advanced cultural revolutions, freedoms, and women’s empowerment. While the read itself was quick with well researched chapters, it was equally informative, empowering, and engaging with a scattering of wonderful illustrations throughout. It’s a perfect coffee table book for fashion lovers and history buffs alike.

Wow. Between the beautiful illustrations and the quick history of fashion statements throughout the years, this book was amazing. Perfect for a coffee table or your most fashionable of friends. I learned quite a bit about fashion statements and the amazing women and reasons behind them. My favorite will always be Princess Diana’s Revenge Dress.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read and whimsical illustrations.

As mentioned in the book, the power of fashion & photography allows people to be themselves and be seen as they are. This book is full to the brim with facts regarding the soft power of fashion and hairstyling (and femininity) -- from designers like Chanel, Versace, Mackie, and DVF, to cultural power of rebozos and the pachucas, to subtle statements of visibility like Sonia Sotomayor's choice of red nail polish.

I genuinely enjoy the wide variety of women mentioned and the allusions to race barriers and misogynoir. My only real suggestion would be for the diversity and visibility to go even further -- there was little reference to Southeast Asian, Indian, Arabian, or Native American women, and only a handful of references to LGBTQIA+ fashion contributions. Still, this is a fabulous start of discussion, with lots of factoids I wasn't previously even aware of (ex: women were barred from wearing pants on the floor of the US Senate until 1993!).

#NeverthelessSheWoreIt #NetGalley

A very interesting but brief look at different moments in fashion history and how they impacted the women who wore them and were inspired by them. The illustrations are very pretty and help to illuminate the descriptions. I just wish there was more to the descriptions.

Wow wow wow. I am not the most "hip" on fashion but I do love some good pop-culture history. This book does a great job diving into the societal importance and impact of these styles and women who wore them. It was fascinating to see the statement behind many of these looks. On top of the great writing and well-researched content, the artwork was beautiful! - I wouldn't be mad to have a few of them as prints in my home.

If you love fashion, this book is for you. If you're a feminist, this book is for you. If you love history, this book is for you. Quick summation - this book is for you!

"Nevertheless She Wore It: 50 Iconic Fashion Moments" starts off by explaining "Clothes can speak louder than words. This book details many fashion moments that became fashion statements." Through gorgeous illustrations and detailed essays, Shen walks the reader through everything from hairstyles (the Afro and the Bob) and outfits (the Annie Hall and the Pachuca) to accessories (the Black Beret and the Dissent Collar ) and other components of women's looks (the Breast Pump and the Unibrow), showing how each one expressed a message and defined the wearer at that time. Some entries are celebrity-based (the Meat Dress) while others are more universal (the Jeans) but they all have one thing in common - they changed the way women who wore them were viewed by the world.

Shen explains that "Whether we choose to stand out or stand together, caring about fashion is a way of reclaiming our power." Here's to strong women and the statements they make with the outfits they wear!

This was a delightful book, and it's a great companion to Ann Shen's previous book "Bad Girls Throughout History". I loved learning about how fashion has been used as feminist statements as well as a forms of expression. It's the perfect length for an afternoon read when you want to learn about feminist history but don't have the attention span for a heavy book (perfect for the pandemic world that we are now living in). Fashion is a big part of a lot of people's lives. It was interesting to learn how fashion has been used to help and better the lives of women while also making them look and feel wonderful.

I am not someone very fashionable. It was so interesting to read about how fashion has impacted different areas of history and where it has impacted and who. Such a quick and beautifully illustrated read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Nevertheless, She Wore It is a fun look at fashion and the politics behind it. The cutesy illustrations are adorable and perfectly capture the scope of each chapter. I only wish the author had been able to delve more deeply into more specific stories. I strongly preferred chapters where focus was on an individual, note the dissent collar and the fire coat, where the author could talk about fashion and add significant commentary over the more general chapters, but the book itself is an overall delight.

I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK!
Sorry to shout, but this is important.
This book beautifully combines two of my passions: fashion and feminism. It makes a powerful argument about how fashion trends can reflect, represent, or sometimes begin a feminist movement. The fashions it explains include the Afro, the Cone Bra (Madonna!), the bikini, the Dissent Collar (RBG for life!), the Pachuca, the Pantsuit (Hillary!), the Shift Dress (Michelle O!) the Unibrow (Frida!) and, of course, PANTS. And so much more This book perfectly blends modern trends with older ones, and I learned a whole lot both about fashion and significant moments in the feminist movement.

Did I also mention the illustrations? They are beautiful, as is so often the case in books put out by Chronicle Books. They have whimsy and style and color. They perfectly capture each trend in full color in an affectionate way.

I thought this book did a great job of representing the diversity of the feminist movement and also some of the funnier or more wacky trends (e.g. Lady Gaga's meat dress), giving them extra thought and significance in our culture that I might never have considered.

Though I fully enjoyed this book in digital form, I have decided I need a physical copy of it for my bookshelf, so I will be purchasing it as soon as possible. I know it will be a popular coffee table/ living room addition to my library.

If you are a self-identified lady or a friend of ladies, or someone who just loves fashion, culture, politics, outright fun, please treat yourself to this book.

Five fashionable, flashing, feminist stars to Ann Shen for this delightful and colorful tribute to women and their warrior wares. Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the chance to read this wonderful book early!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. This book will be a great coffee table and perfect for gift giving for those who love feminism, politics, and fashion. It shows the power of fashion and how it can communicate messages and agendas. Fashion is so much more than what we wear and it's apparent the author feels the exact same way! The illustrations are nicely done and I'm sure it's even better in a hard copy! 4/5 stars.

I had a lot of fun with this book, I'm not the biggest fashion person but this gave me a lot of interesting information about trends that have helped changed people's views and therefore society. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and I would love to hang some of them on may walls. I loved that the book included clothes from different cultures and backgrounds and that it includes people from LGTBQ+ communities. I would have preferred if the book followed a chronological timeline and didn't jump ahead and back constantly, regardless it's a book that I'd recommend if you have an interest in Women's History or fashion.



I read this book as a free ebook from NetGalley. Thank you to the publisher. All opinions are my own.


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3478434391

I adored this book. It brings about how controversial yet iconic fashion can be. It is more a surface level discussion which I wish it went more in-depth.

really cute illustrations paired with iconic fashion moments from even more iconic and incredible women from throught time. I really appreciated this deep dive into these moments and fashion statements.

A fun and short book about the history of fashion. I enjoyed the wide spectrum of clothing and time periods.

Nevertheless, She Wore It by Ann Shen takes a look at 50 of the biggest fashion moments and staples in history. This book does an excellent job of showing how fashion plays such a pivotal role in history. This book is also so empowering to all female out there and highlights women of all shapes, orientation, styles, sizes, and colors. This book discusses fashion items such as the Gaulle adorned by Marie-Antoinette to the plunging green Versace dress worn by Jennifer Lopez at the 42nd Grammy Awards.

The illustrations done by Ann Shen are so whimsical and a great take on the real life fashion staples. I highly recommend this book to all the fashion and history lovers out there!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As a girl who loves fashion, and has spent enough on magazines in her lifetime to have been able to afford a Channel suit, PLUS accessories, I knew I had to read this book. This book briefly touches on some of fashions iconic trends, moments in fashion history, and fashion events that changed the way we as women dress today.

From mini skirts, to pants, bloomers to short hair, there is history in here that perhaps a lot of us don’t know. Besides trying to break free from the patriarchal chains that bound us, there are also social and cultural histories here, like the durag, the pachuca, and the cheongsam to name a few. What’s the meaning behind red lipstick? Where did Coco Channel come up with her design for tweed? Did you know pants weren’t allowed on the floor of Congress until 1993???

There are also some style icons and how they changed the way we dress, Katherine Hepburn and pants, Audrey Hepburn and short hair, Michelle Obama and sleeveless shirts and dresses....the list goes on. The author also points out women who have protested by what they were wearing, like Lady Gaga and her famous meat dress, Serena Williams on the tennis court, and the Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad and her hijab to name a few.

We often think we are dressing for ourselves, but as the author points out, as long as our bodies are governed by others, the way we dress is a political statement, and women have used the opportunity for generations to make statements with their fashion.

The articles are accompanied by drawings of the fashions, and this is probably the one thing I would like to see different. I would have liked to have seen photos of the fashion in action so to speak. The suffragettes marching, the flappers on the dance floor, Josephine Baker in her Banana Skirt, RBG in her decent collar!

This would be a great book for anyone interested in fashion. I would also recommend this for teenaged girls finding their fashion sense...show them their history and how choosing that shade of lipstick or that length of skirt came from something.

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

This book is as pretty as it is informative! I loved the illustration style which is bright and colorful and simple, but not generic or Instagram-baiting.
And I genuinely learned some interesting things about fashion history that I hadn't known; both categorically about historic/cultural pieces and about specific pop-culture inundated outfits. Shen provides context for historically zeitgeist-y outfits that really makes them much more interesting than I had anticipated!

My thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the arc to review.

I LOVED this book. This book contained great content about social and political expression and empowerment of women through fashion, which I really appreciated. The sections were really well written and easily understandable. The graphics were purposefully chosen and follow the theme of the book well.

This is a great book for educating yourself on the how fashion reflects (and influences) history in a super enjoyable format. What I learned from this book changed how I view some trends, for example, looking at the bikini as a form of empowerment and self-love for your body.

My only piece of feedback is that I would have taken value in the fashion trends being organized by the date of emergence (like a timeline of fashion history), rather than alphabetically. This would have made the trends more cohesive for me.

Thank you Netgalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

This is a powerful book full of empowerment and feminism!

I'm not a big fan of fashion-- I love to read about the societal changes a piece of clothing brought into the game, or how the women from X country made X clothes theirs during certain time, though I'm not a huge fashionista. But this book is perfect for both fashionistas and behind-the-scenes readers of fashion-- even better if you're both!

We read and see (because it has beautiful drawings of every piece of clothing or looks that you read in the book) a lot of fashion, in the every sense of the word. You read about how a haircut changed the way black women saw themselves and their own no-white-washed beauty in the society, how wearing anything remotely "masculine" made men anxious and angry, and how Marsha P. Johnson made the flower crown her trademark and the meaning behind it.

I loved how the dates are mixed so we don't have a boring timeline, but at the same time it seemed kind of messy in a couple of parts, where the author mentioned a piece of clothing before she talked about it. For example, she's talking about shorts and she says something like "after the success of the miniskirts..." (don't quote me on that), and the miniskirts don't come until 20 pages after that. The same thing happened to me when reading about the pantsuits and the tuxedos.

But yeah, that's a little detail that don't really matter in the bigger picture. I loved to not only read about the clothes per se (the jeans, the "manly" clothes, the durag) but also about historical events, like Kiran Gandhi's 2015 marathon and her period, how the adelitas made the rebozos their trademark and the pink pussyhats regarding Tr*mp's misogynistic and horrible words.

Again, I think it's a great book both for fashionistas and every person that wants to know more about fashion in an historical and societal way.

Nevertheless, She Wore It by Ann Shen was absolutely a joy to read and look through. It was a pleasure to be reminded about the most iconic fashion moments. The illustrations are very well done. If you're a fashion addict, this would be a fantastic coffee book to add to your collection.

Nevertheless, She Wore It by Ann Shen is a beautifully illustrated collection of 50 iconic fashion moments , from red lipstick to afro hair, and from the bikini to the pants suit or the revenge dress. This would be an ideal coffee table book, perfect to dip in an out of when you have a moment to spare, as each of the chapters is only a page or two in length, but I actually found myself reading it in a single sitting, as I found my curiosity piqued by where the author would go next. The mix between clothing, makeup and hair styles was an interesting one, and there were several iconic outfits discussed such as Elizabeth Hurley's safety pin dress, J-Lo's plunging Versace moment and Princess Diana's revenge dress. I loved how the author was able to tie the fashion to feminism and other social movements , and show that it has more to say than might appear at first glance and show how "people can use personal style to express themselves - their identities, gender and politics. It is clear that the author has done her research and I admire the way she is able to condense the important information in such a clear and concise way, and complement it with her simple yet beautiful illustrations. I learned a lot and enjoyed myself along the way.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Of course, what initially drew me to this book were the vibrant illustrations of Ann Shen. Upon reading, there is a lot more to this than the charming depictions of fashion history.

Pinpointing 50 important pieces of fashion and its' historic moments, Ann Shen gives a brief, but informative section on things such as how Pachucas were a part of a revolution, Princess Diana's "Revenge Dress", and the extreme sexism and racism rooted in tennis that goddess Serena Williams has had to deal with her whole career. Each piece is followed by an illustration by Shen showcasing the most famous icon behind the look. Not only was it cool to see an artist's perspective on the outfits/accessories, but I also learned interesting tidbits while reading (such as the term "misogynoir").

Minor dislikes: I was surprised that Selena Quintanilla didn't have a paragraph and I would have liked more moments on Asian American fashion (the cheongsam was mentioned and there was a footnote on North Korea in the "Red Lipstick" part, but that was it)

This is a great book to give as a gift or to decorate your shelf with after learning about the moments that a lot of women today were alive to see. A quick, fun way to see how diverse our world really is and how something as simple as outfits can cause a rippling effect.

This book is a truly fantastic quick look at iconic fashion moments and pieces and the women who wore them.
Accompanying each short blurb that tells the story and explains the importance of each item is a gorgeously graphic illustration by the author that perfectly exemplifies each fashion-forward piece and feminist revolution item.
It jumps around places, times, and personalities, but it always exemplifies the feminine power that something as simple as a red lip or a pair of wide-legged pants can represent.
Overall, it's very informative, gorgeous to look at, and it contains a great message.
Definitely a recommended read and a great coffee table book to show off.

Many happy thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the early read!

Nevertheless, She Wore It - Ann Shen (9/1)

Rating 5 / 5 Stars

** Thank you to Netgalley, Chronicle Books, and of course, Ann Shen, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPRESS HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK!


As I’ve grown, I’ve seen my fascinations with fashion and history collide even more. I think back on moments when I watched Audrey in her iconic LBD in front of Tiffany’s and seeing images of Jackie O’s beautiful and classic style in photos. In adulthood, there are times when fashion becomes synonymous with the person who pioneered the ensemble - Hillary and the pantsuit, Michelle, and the sleeveless shift dress (Hello! Arms!), RBG, and the dissent collar, Madonna, and her cone bra! All strong and powerful women whose fashion speaks the messages they wish to send.

Then I think of other aspects of beauty which have been pioneered over the years - Ann, for example, brings up Frida’s Unibrow - which in my opinion is coming back in style somewhat with the thick and bushy eyebrow trend.

I loved how diverse the examples were as well. Ann really captures the multiple layers of the feminist movement and how it has encompassed different themes over time from classic to trendy and funky. How else could you read about the Cone Bra or Lady Gaga’s Meat Dress and then the Dissent Collar? Two largely different items with at their core, a connection - strong women.

Now, I must discuss the illustrations Ann provides. OH MY GOD ARE THEY BEAUTIFUL! While I only have a digital copy right now, I know for a fact that I will be purchasing a hardcover for my bookshelf. This is a book that I know I will go back to time and time again. It is a great talking piece too and something so timeless that can be passed down to future girls learning about fashion and history.

5 Stars across the board, I cannot recommend this book enough!

This was the best little read of a book I have had in a while. I don't want to go through all of the things discussed in the book, I will on my being up a couple. Capris and how they came about. Hot pants are not really pants but tiny shorts that women wear. These tiny shorts were made out of different fabrics, even being made by crocheting. The pasty and how I was graduating high school the year that Lil Kim wore that gorgeous purple outfit with a long sleeve on one side and a pasty just going over her nipple. This book talked about many different styles and how they came to be. I would recommend this to anyone that loved any part of fashion.

I want to thank Ann Shen, Chronicle Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced readers' copy of Nevertheless, She Wore It, in exchange for an honest review. I was positively thrilled when I saw this book was available for request. I adore these types of collections, especially ones that focus on strong women. I was so pleased to see 5 very, very strong women right there on the front cover! When I realized that Ann Shen had written this, I was even more thrilled.

First, I want to discuss the artwork. I was blown away by the style of artwork presented. I loved seeing both the portraits and the simplistic pieces, such as the page of the different styles of the "bobs." Each picture added to the vignettes. I wish that I had some of these in sticker form to hang everywhere! Ann Shen's art style is unlike any other I have ever seen and continues to be consistent across all of her books. I can't wait to buy a physical copy just to compare to my copies of Bad Girls and Legendary Ladies!

The little blurbs themselves were fascinating. I thought it successfully gave information on the background, societal or historical impact, and the individual or individuals who made it so. There were so many stories told that were familiar, but others that I have never heard that left me doing even more research!

I loved hearing about these women and the fashion choices they made that set them apart from all others! For many, fashion was just an additional talent next to their main art form. I will absolutely be looking forward to more Ann Shen books in the future and will be adding this one to my self. I will also be recommending this to everyone!

This is such a fun, beautiful book full of information about clothing that I remember, and clothing that I had no idea about the history of. I love the drawings and how important they are to the history of the clothing. The fifty different fashion moments are all so important to the world in one way or another and I really enjoyed reading about them.

This will be such a beautiful coffee table book to look through and learn more about the history of fashion and why we wear the things we do and the moments that changed history.

I love seeing Shen's art & reading her creative women-empowered stories.
"Nevertheless, She Wore It" was a fun look into the statements women had made with their outfits throughout history. I wish it was longer, I was surprised to reach the end; it was so interesting!

Some great outfits she chose to highlight.

A few things I wish were different: I wish it was in chronological order - switching from bob cuts to nipple pasties then back to "pants" in a few pages was a tad jarring. Chronologically, I think there's a pattern that would emerge to tell another story.

Overall, really gorgeous (as always with Shen) and a great, enjoyable read!

Light, fun read. The articles were short and the history-geek in me would have liked them to be a bit more informative. And, I'm not sure some of the choices were quite as iconic as they could have been, while some other, arguably better, choices were left out. I loved the illustrations, though!

Title: Nevertheless, She Wore It
Author: Ann Shen
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Pub Date: 01 Sep 2020

Thank you Chronicle Books for providing me with an e-ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my impartial review.

Five stars to this amazing book. It was so fun and powerful at the same time. I loved how the author was able to touch on so many facets of the female appearance - clothes, beauty, makeup, body hair and hairstyles. It was an incredibly feminist read and I enjoyed every bit of it.

It was so jarring to read about how many (basically almost all) of our modern everyday wear was subject to scrutiny and debate by the male gaze. There might never ever be a book like this written about general male fashion because men wear and do whatever they want - no questions asked, no debate sparked. Each item in this book came with so much history and research it was so eye opening and enlightening. I could tell that the author did a lot of research before going on this journey.

Ann Shen covered general clothing items like jeans and crop tops; specific moments in fashion like Lady Gaga's meat dress and Nancy Pelosi's fire coat; she also covered hairstyles that the pixie cut and the afro; and also makeup and beauty entries like the red lip and the unibrow.

The title of this book is so powerful and it resonated in every entry as the woman in question or women everywhere wore that s*** anyway.

The illustrations were such an integral part of the book and each one was amazing. Ann Shen is a genius and I'll be checking out her 2 other works - "Bad Girls Throughout History" and "Legendary Ladies" . This book is out on the 1st of September, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone.

Such a fun read - I could remember the recent iconic style moments and just reading or seeing the more historical ones. love the drawings also. you can learn a lot reading this!

This is a wonderful collection of entries about the most famous fashion items throughout the years. I absolutely loved how diverse the selections were - everything from Josephine Baker's banana skirt to Princess Diana's 'revenge dress.' Representing a range of cultures (Rihanna's bedazzled durag and Frida Kahlo's unibrow), there was such great variety that wasn't limited to American fashion or current fashion only.

There were two areas where I would have made slight changes. First, I think it might have made the book feel more organized if the entries had been organized somehow - maybe chronologically. It just felt slightly scattered to move to completely different styles and celebrities from every era on every page. Second, while I definitely loved the illustrations (they're what give the book it's specific flair), I think I would have enjoyed seeing the items mentioned in actual photographs as well. Even just a glossary in the back with photos would have been a wonderful touch, since I ended up just wanting to Google everything that was being referenced.

Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone with a love of fashion or someone who maybe doesn't totally get how influential and groundbreaking fashion can be. Just check out the entries on Nancy Pelosi's red cape coat or Katharine Hepburn's pants to know that women can change the world with their clothes!

"Nevertheless she wore it" by Ann Shen is probably my favorite fashion book to date. This is a perfect book for a gift, to enjoy for yourself or if you want a fun book for entertaining.

To start, it is beautiful. I love the illustrations and the style that the author has picked for not only this book, but all her previous written books. To say that this book is “trendy” would be an understatement.
Not only is it trendy in the style of the illustrations but also the contact. The book covers everything from the basic fashion trends that we all love from the past to current day. I feel that the author picked the best 50 fashion trend that are impowering to women. This book is not just about fashion and showing you the different styles, but the history behind them. The history behind every trend is remarkably interesting and I absolutely love that she focused on explaining where each trend came from and the meaning behind it.

Here is the best part: this book is not just a whitewash of fashion trends. This book covers the trends of all cultures and the importance of them. This book also covers some current and past trends that are important to the movement of women such as “the pink pussy hat” and “the dissent collar”. It is such a wonderful mix of 50 different trends that have impowered women over the years and I think that is what makes this book so special. I highly recommend keeping a copy on your bookshelf and even gifting one to your girlfriend.

This book was a breath of fresh air in our troubled times! Ann Shen takes the reader behind the scenes of 50 fashion moments, new and old, representing a diverse group of women. I loved learning about fashion traditions from other cultures and historical eras past, as well as individual trailblazing women. Each feature showed how women used fashion to celebrate their power and strength. Inspiring and educational, with great illustrations to boot.

This would be a wonderful coffee table book for anyone identifying as a feminist, fashionista, or both!

Thank you to Chronicle Books for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ann Ashen uses iconic fashion moments as symbols to talk about the powerful women who wore them while changing the world. It shows how something as simple as a red lipstick can be so powerful and revolutionary This is a brilliant book accompanied by fabulous illustrations.

I absolutely loved Nevertheless She Wore It! This study of 50 iconic historic styles women wore that changed the world was an empowering read.

There were a few style icons I was familiar with - like Michelle Obama and Ruth Bader Ginsberg - and some that I knew nothing about, like Josephine Baker’s banana skirt.

I loved the mix of old and new - women who are still making history today and women who have changed the world in their time.

Each fashion icon and iconic style is paired with Ann Shen’s beautiful illustrations depicting the person or style, and those illustrations really brought the pages to life.

I left this book with a real sense of empowerment and a reminder that something as simple as the way you choose to dress yourself can make a statement.

I finished this in one sitting - and it is definitely a great coffee table book or a gift for someone that loves fashion and trends! I appreciated that the author included both trends and staples of women's fashion, including the bikini and capris, but also picked out noticeable, iconic fashion moments and specific pieces, like Lady Gaga's meat dress or the infamous banana skirt from Josephine Baker.

However, the real powerhouse of this book was the beautiful illustrations! They are so, so well done and beautiful to look at!

This is a much more researched and in-depth book than I expected it to be. I thought it would be a glorified list of fashion moments throughout history, mostly pictures with a fate of spending its lifetime as a centrepiece on a coffee table. But it's not. Instead, we get little glimpses on the importance in history of way more fashion "moments" and icons than I really anticipated. There's definitely some research than has gone into the wide variety of things chosen - and it isn't just clothing necessarily either. From hairstyles to 'moments', this book covers a wide range of iconic fashion. My favourite entries are the breast pump, the dissent collar, the flower crown, the marathoner (!!!), the presidential pantsuit, the rolled stocking, the tennis catsuit, and the unibrow. The only critique I have is that I wish there were either more illustrations (not everything had one, and it was often the ones I had never heard of that didn't) and that real life pictures were actually included. I realise that a certain aesthetic was trying to be achieved with the illustrations, but if you're featuring real things and real moments in history, I want to see those moments. I often had to stop and go search what the real things looked like because the drawings weren't enough. Other than that, I learned a lot from this book and really enjoyed going through it.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for lending me a copy in exchange of an honest review.

This book was a great read, interesting, and with lovely illustrations.

I’m in love with this book 😍! It’s a gorgeous book featuring 50 of the most iconic moments in fashion history. The book covers everything from hair styles to accessories to articles clothing and specific fashion moments. I loved that the breast pump and dissent collar were included I would love to read more in depth entries about some of the subjects. The illustrations are amazing - I want prints to frame of all of them! I will definitely be gifting this one at the holidays.

ARC provided by #NetGalley in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.

This was a really neat read. I enjoyed seeing how these clothes fit into history. It was a pretty quick read. I liked that it was easy to pick up and read a section then come back later and read another section. The illustrations were well done and quite appealing as well.

While I may not be very fashion forward, I cannot ignore that fashion is a powerful tool for self expression and cultural growth. The men and women who have bucked traditional fashion standards have done more than just impact what we wear today - they have broken down barriers.

Nevertheless She Wore It by Ann Shen shows just why "fashion is power" with it's beautiful illustrations and brief antidotes for dozens of iconic fashions like: the bob, the banana skirt, the cone bra, and more. The only criticism I have of this book is that the text was small, but that could have been an issue easily corrected with the finalized print and e-versions. I loved this book and found it absolutely fascinating to have this collection of illustrations and brief historical context to guide you through the history of fashion as a powerful symbol of personal convictions and self expression to create political and cultural change as early as the Industrial Revolution across the world. This book not only makes for a great, short, insightful read but the illustration would be lovely in the home if featured for inspiration or as a conversation piece. I will not hesitate to refer my friends, especially those interested in both fashion and/or politics, to this book.

Great history of feminist movements shown through iconic garments. This collection mentioned specific outfits, such as Princess Di’s “revenge dress” to broader movements like bobbed haircuts. It definitely made me think about why I’m wearing what I’m wearing and how my clothes were brought into the mainstream.

This is a really cute coffee-table book! The illustrations are adorable and beautifully done. Each entry gets just a page or two, which makes for a very quick and pleasant read. I also learned some things! Several of the iconic fashion moments I knew immediately, but several I googled to see the actual person/event.

I wish this book was organized chronologically, rather than alphabetically. Arranging it that way would help to see the evolution of fashion through the decades. One of the entries (The Slip Dress) was also missing an illustration. There is a brief 2-page introduction in which the author states that people have been using fashion to make a statement since the Industrial Revolution, but people have used their dress to make statements LONG before that.

Overall, this is a positive book about women, our bodies, and what we do with our bodies!

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Did you know that the bikini was named after the Bikini Atoll (a location in the United States used for nuclear bomb testing) because of their bombshell impact on the fashion industry? Neither did I, but this book gives its readers incredibly interesting information on 50 of the most iconic women's fashion trends. I loved learning about the history behind not only the trends themselves, but also the women who were bold enough to introduce them to the world.

I highly recommend this for fashionistas and history buffs but also pop-culture lovers too. It makes a great (and pretty!) coffee table book and could spark some interesting convos with dinner guests!

I really loved this book! The illustrations were gorgeously done! I also liked learning what was considered a movement in women's fashion because now it all seems so different! It is wild what women had to fight for and are still fighting for today!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me an arc for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a lot of fun, and I would absolutely give it to anyone new to fashion history (age 10ish and up)! It is quite brief- only a page or two on each entry- but it covers a wonderful mix of one-off specific pieces and cultural garments. The illustrations are wonderful, and my only constructive criticism is that there isn't always an illustration for an entry!

Having previously read Bad Girls Throughout History, I knew I wanted to read more books by this author and illustrator, so I was pleasantly surprised when I happened across this on NetGalley.

This book is a wonderful look at how fashion for women often went hand in hand with feminist issues, women’s rights, and liberation.
We follow many wonderful women who broke the rules of fashion- from something as seemingly simple as wearing pants, or a bikini changed history and the way women could dress. Some of the things we wear even became symbols of suffrage, like striped ribbons or red lipstick. Hemlines became shorter, more pants were worn, androgynous styles were worn, and makeup became more acceptable.
It's absolutely fascinating how something as simple as women wearing pants had such a huge impact on women in society today.

As always, I loved the accompanying illustrations and enjoyed my many google searches that took place to see certain famous dresses that were mentioned.

The only thing I disliked about this book was the decision to have all the items of clothing alphabetical rather than chronological. I still loved the book regardless.

4 stars. I love this series of books and the illustrations, I really hope Ann Shen decides to make more!

**ARC provided by Chronicle Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

A fun recap of the defining moments of fashion history, with background information and beautiful illustrations ! A must have for fashionistas and those interested in fashion history !

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The cover of this book is really eye-catching and the illustrations throughout this book are just as stunning. This is truly a curl up with a cup and tea and power through kind of book, and I love it all the more for it. It is a wonderful account of how the fashion choices of women throughout history have made political statements and been catalysts for change.

This book will appeal to history and fashion lovers alike. Each item is well researched, beautifully illustrated and would be a wonderful read for adults and children. "Sartorial activism" is real and a long standing traditional that is celebrated really well in this book. Covering everything from the colours worn by Suffragettes, RBG's collars to current red carpet looks, no statement is left out. My favourite was the depiction of Diana's "Revenge Dress" - a classic to this very day.

I highly recommend this book!

**I received an e-ARC from NetGalley for an honest review**

I loved reading about history making pieces of clothing worn by female historical figures. Several jumped out at me as more memorable than most, such as Princess Di's revenge dress and Ruth Bader Ginsburg's collars. I do wish that they had included an illustration of Sandra Day O'Connor along with RBG.

There were several pieces of clothing that I hand't thought twice about- that looking back, carry a completely different meaning now.

I will say, however, that while reading about the cape, I couldn't help but hear Edna Mode saying "No capes!"

Overall, a great book with fantastic illustrations.

Clothes can speak louder than words! This is a book about the history of fashion trends. The descriptions are eye-opening and empowering, and the illustrations are beautiful. Fashion really does play a big role in our history. This is a wonderful book!

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

This book beautifully depicts the importance of fashion in today's world. Inspiring and often groundbreaking, these women dared to be who they are and express themselves!