The Ten

'Amazing what perfect timing for fashion's new wave'

Barbara Hulanicki, Founder of BIBA

These 10 classic fashion items are part of the universal language of style: the White T-shirt, Miniskirt, Hoodie, Jeans, Ballet flat, Breton top, Biker jacket, Little black dress, Stiletto, Trench.

While trends may come and go, they remain symbols of perennial cool, part of a capsule collection of chic emblems that represent who we are, who we want to be and how we want to be seen.

The Ten tells the story of each item's creation, its journey to popularity, and why it matters today. These stories are accompanied by stylish photography and illustrations of the icons from Katharine Hepburn to Prince who have worn the pieces so well.

“'Amazing. What perfect timing for fashion's new wave'”

-- Barbara Hulanicki, Founder, BIBA
'A deeper-than-deep dive into fashion's enduring classics' -- Navaz Batliwalla, DisneyRollerGirl
'Lauren Cochrane's The Ten is the definitive one-stop guide to fashion's most essential and iconic styles, with an unrivalled collection of the fashion industry's authoritative voices – from mainstream icons to underground figures – shedding light on the cultural and personal impact of classics that will never date. The perfect gift and resource for anyone with an interest in style' -- Sara McAlpine, Fashion Features Editor, ELLE

Lauren Cochrane is Senior Fashion Writer of The Guardian and Editor of CircleZeroEight. She contributes to publications including The Face, ELLE, Service95, and Mr Porter. Based in London, Lauren covers everything from catwalk shows to art exhibitions and pop culture. She is also author of The Ten: The Stories Behind the Fashion Classics and her current favourite Beyonce song is 'Upgrade U'.

From the evolution of the white T-shirt from army staple to symbol of achingly cool simplicity, the hoodie's birth in the monasteries of Rome to its domination of streetwear, and the transition of the stiletto from the feet of fifteenth-century Iranian equestrians to those of New York businesswomen, The Ten puts fashion in context. White T-shirt, Miniskirt, Hoodie, Jeans, Ballet flat, Breton top, Biker jacket, Little black dress, Stiletto, Trench. What are you wearing? In all likelihood, your outfit will feature at least one of these 10 items. Familiar, commonplace, ubiquitous - each piece has become an emblem of a certain style, carrying its own connotations and historical significance. They aren't just clothes - our social history is contained within these perfect 10 pieces. They're vessels that hold the history of style, politics and identity: while trends may come and go, these are here to stay. The Ten includes deep dive explorations into each item's history, how it gained its reputation, and what it means today, accompanied by stylish photography and illustrations. Stories of iconic adopters and landmarks in the story of each piece reveal how they have achieved their status as so ubiquitous and yet so extraordinary. From the evolution of the white T-shirt from army staple to symbol of achingly cool simplicity, the hoodie's birth in the monasteries of Rome to its domination of streetwear, and the transition of the stiletto from the feet of fifteenth-century Iranian equestrians to those of New York businesswomen, The Ten puts fashion in context. Showing how certain pieces are just as ubiquitous on the catwalk as on the street, Lauren Cochrane's crucial volume defines the fashion items that make up your wardrobe, and how they got there, providing the perfect excuse - a pedigree, a narrative, a realness - for the reader to wear them time and time again.

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