The Hindu Business Line : A web of fashion

Fashion: Fickle. Fads. Feckless. If this is your first reaction to the word, then you are also the person who knows with some things you can never go wrong: the value of politeness, courtesy and the effectiveness of please and thank you. And instinctively, you dress rather well, even if not in the `latest' fashion.

So, how about getting to know more about these sacred parts of your wardrobe, the things with which you never go wrong? You can do no better than check out the "Anatomy of a classic" Web site at http://www.style.com/trends/classic/, which is more a history of the different classics than an anatomy.

The site now has the history of four classics: the scarf, the little black dress (or lbd, as the site calls it), the slip-on (or loafers) and the trench coat (or the trench). Each history is a combination of pictures and text in an interactive format. It also traces the use, evolution and media exposure of the classic using pictures of celebrities, including Queen Victoria, Julia Roberts and Kate Moss.

If all this whets your appetite for fashion history, visit http://www.fashion-era.com, for a comprehensive history of over 200 years of fashion. The Web site not only includes detailed aspects of clothing and the impact of fashion on work, leisure, home and media, but also the history of jewellery, perfumes, cosmetics, corsetry and undergarments.

All this talk of fashion is bound to turn the typical male reader long for a history of men's fashion. Don't hesitate to go to http://www.lindyhopping.com/fashionhistm.html, where men's fashion follows the same principles of women's fashion: that fashion trends repeat themselves. You will be surprised that baggy pants and three-fourth pants (what used to be called plus-fours) were the statement of the 20s.

And if you are reading this when you are waiting for your lady to get dressed, just hope and pray that the men's colonial styles will come into fashion again; Then, you can keep her waiting! To get a perspective on colonial men's fashion, go to http://www.history.org/history/clothing/men/. The site also has a section on women's clothing and children's in the colonial era. Have a stylish dream!