I discovered Dressing the Part: Television's Most Stylish Shows by Hal Rubenstein thanks to Bookstagram. My library system bought a copy at my request, and it was great fun to review this nonfiction book during Christmas vacation.

Organized into eight categories (listed below), each section featured up to six shows, from the early days of television through recent past.

Proper Attire Required - Period dramas
You're Gonna Make It After All - Working women
Home Sweet Home - Dressing for domestic bliss
Now, Where's My Black Card? - Glamour without apology
Just Us Girls - The company of women
That's What Friends Are For - Just us kids
Does This Shoulder Holster Make Me Look Fat? - Fighting crime, looking sublime
Talk May Be Cheap But It's Worth A Fortune - The unreal impact of reality shows

For each show profile, the directors, primary actors, and original broadcast dates are shared, but the emphasis is on the clothing/costumes and their designer(s). Large glossy full-color photos dominate the pages of this volume, and I still wanted more pictures of the fashions. It was interesting to read about the ways TV fashion has influenced consumer buying habits, and the stories behind some of the most iconic wardrobe choices.

Fans of television, fashion, history, and pop culture will enjoy strolling through the pages of Dressing the Part.

Share/Like this Review?