China Chic: East Meets West by Valerie Steele (Yale University Press, 1999) How Chinese fashion has influenced Western fashion, and vice-versa.
Corsets and Crinolines by Norah Waugh (Routledge/Theatre Arts Books, 1991) A history of old-school undergarments.
The Corset: A Cultural History by Valerie Steele (Yale University Press, 2001) An intellectual reading of the meaning of corsets.
Extreme Beauty: The Body Transformed by Harold Koda (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2001) An interesting visual review of the various ways the body and silhouette have been shaped through history and in fashion.
Fashion a la Mode by Isabelle de Borchgrave (Universe 2000) Beautifully painted and crafted pop-up installations of important fashion eras.
The Fashion Book by Phaidon Press (2001) Lavishly illustrated encyclopedia of fashion.