What Shall I Wear?: The What, Where, When, and How Much of Fashion, New Edition with a Foreword by Tory Burch

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.  “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 Claire McCardell was one of the most influential fashion designers of the twentieth century, credited with pioneering “The American Look” in response to the emerging active lifestyle of women in the 1940s and ’50s. McCardell advocated for the independent woman and sought to create clothing that promised her freedom, power, and functional beauty. She invented mix-and-match separates, wrap dresses, and ballet flats, and was the first designer to use zippers, pockets, and menswear fabrics in women’s clothing. Her designs achieved cult status as they were embraced by working women, the suburban set, and high society alike.        What Shall I Wear? provides a glimpse into the sources of McCardell’s inspirations—travel, sports, leisure, and her own needs—and how she transformed them into wearable fashion. This book is a tribute to America’s design legacy and the woman who shaped its unique spirit.  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. “XXXXX,” Burch says. “XXXX.”