First published in 1956, What Shall I Wear? is revolutionary fashion designer Claire McCardell’s collection of fashion wisdom and philosophy, and a vivacious guide to looking effortlessly stylish. This new edition of the sought-after classic features a foreword by iconic designer Tory Burch and a color insert of photos from McCardell’s collections.
TORY BURCH PAYS TRIBUTE TO CLAIRE MCCARDELL IN NEW BOOK
While her namesake label does not exist today, Claire McCardell remains a household name in American fashion. The fashion designer is highly regarded as one of the most influential designers of the 20th century, pioneering “The American Look” in response to the changing lifestyle of women in the 1940s and 1950s. For example, she introduced zippers and pockets, ballet flats, and wrap dresses that supported the independent woman’s desire for fashion and function among the working class and high society.
Now, a new generation can familiarize themselves with the lasting impact of McCardell’s work. For the first time in years, McCardell’s beloved fashion and style book What Shall I Wear is back in print. To celebrate the occasion, the new edition includes a color insert of photos and a foreword by CFDA member Tory Burch. Burch, an American fashion icon in her own right, finds inspiration in McCardell’s work: her Spring/Summer 2022 collection was inspired by Claire McCardell.
“So many of McCardell’s ideas and innovations are taken for granted now,” Burch writes. “While other designers looked to Paris couture for inspiration, McCardell elevated the practical needs of American women. It isn’t an exaggeration to say she has inspired every designer, and I think she deserves far more recognition. I hope this book will educate the next generation about her ingenuity and her remarkable entrepreneurial spirit.”
Despite being originally published in 1956, the book contains still-relevant advice for finding your style, shopping on a budget, and building a wardrobe that is chic, creative, and distinctive. It’s a treat for all lovers of fashion.”
As fashion editor Constance White says: “Tory Burch’s new foreword . . . puts this American treasure in her rightful place.”
What Shall I Wear?: The What, Where, When, and How Much of Fashion, New Edition by Claire McCardell
“The testament to great design, Claire McCardell’s dresses look fresh, contemporary, and desirable eight decades after they were made, as the Costume Institute’s 2022 exhibit In America: An Anthology of Fashion demonstrated.” —Nicole Phelps, global director, Vogue Runway and Vogue Business
“Among the many surprises and insights I discovered in McCardell’s valuable book is that she wanted to call it Fashion is Fun. That may also be the secret behind her genius and enduring influence—she refused to take fashion too seriously.” —Cathy Horyn, New York Magazine.
“The first designer to create a cohesive vision rooted in the American lifestyle of ease, McCardell and her contributions as a designer and a woman in business are often overlooked. Tory Burch’s new foreword . . .puts this American treasure in her rightful place.” —Constance White, fashion editor and author of How to Slay: Inspiration from the Queens and Kings of Black Style
“Claire McCardell’s guiding philosophy of dressing with ease in afunctional, fashionable American look was groundbreaking—and feminist—for her times. And it continues to resonate globally on the runways and in closets today.” —Booth Moore, executive editor, Women’s Wear Daily.
What Shall I Wear?: The What, Where, When, and How Much of Fashion, New Edition by Claire McCardell
