Description
The title says it all: Bad Girls of Fashion explores the lives of ten famous women who have used clothing to make a statement, change perceptions, break rules, attract power, or express their individuality. Included are Cleopatra, Marie Antoinette, Coco Chanel, Marlene Dietrich, Madonna, and Lady Gaga. Sidebar subjects include: Elizabeth I, Marilyn Monroe, Rihanna, and Vivienne Westwood.
Photos illuminate the text, while edgy, vividly colored illustrations depict the subjects with interpretive flair. Readers will learn not only about changing fashion styles through history, but about changing historical attitudes toward women, and the links between fashion and art, film, music, politics, and feminism. With an energetic, appealing writing style, Croll demonstrates how through the ages, women – often without other means of power – have used fashion as a tool, and how their influence continues to shape how women present themselves today.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 12 to 18
- Grade:
- 7 to 12
Awards
- Short-listed, Arkansas Teen Book Award finalist
- Runner-up, Independent Publishers Book Awards, Silver
- , Amelia Bloomer Project List nomination
- , Best Books for Kids & Teens, *starred selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre
- Joint winner, Foreword Indies Book Awards
Editorial Reviews
“Thank God for books like . . . Bad Girls of Fashion . . . Flashy clothes and colours aside, there is also a serious undercurrent to the book.”
— Quill & Quire, 06/16
“So much couture. So much gossip. So much fun.”
— The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, 09/16
“The stories of these 40 women will inspire a new generation of girls to live on their own terms.”
— Canadian Children’s Book News, Fall/16
“Punchy-but-palatable read, perfect for the young feminist with a penchant for pop culture history.”
— Loose Lips Magazine, 09/20/16
“Well researched and thoroughly referenced.”
— Resource Links, 04/17
“[A] history book for teens [that] won’t end up in the recycling bin.”
— Fashion Magazine, Winter/16
“Entertaining and also informative.”
— CM Reviews, 09/12/16
“Whopping good fun for fashionistas, Croll’s witty . . . book belongs in public and school libraries and on home shelves.”
— VOYA, 02/01/17
“With its engaging writing and lavish illustrations, Bad Girls of Fashion makes a bold statement.”
— National Reading Campaign, 12/15/16
“Richly detailed and engagingly written, Croll’s captivating study is sure both to enlighten and embolden fashion-minded youth.”
— Kirkus Reviews, *starred review, 05/18/16
“Historical in scope and reader friendly, there is much to learn here.”
— Sal’s Fiction Addiction, 07/11/17
“Croll digs deep for fascinating details . . . anyone interested in clothes, history, or girl power should pick up a copy.”
— GeekDad, 09/25/16
“An energetic, appealing writing style.”
— Winnipeg Public Library, 04/27/17
“An energetic, appealing writing style.”
— Canadian Children’s Book Centre Newsletter, 03/17
“Bright, funny, and fascinating . . . an utter blast to read . . . HUGE FUN.”
— Kirkus Reviews, Nonfiction Spotlight, 11/21/16
