Underwear: Fashion in Detail, Eleri Lynn

In Underwear: Fashion in Detail, author Eleri Lynn offers an intimate exploration of garments often hidden from view but central to the evolution of fashion, identity, and the body. Drawing from the Victoria and Albert Museum’s storied collection, this volume uncovers the structural and decorative ingenuity of undergarments from the 18th century to the present—from intricately corded corsets and crinolines to lace-trimmed brassieres and sculptural shapewear.

Through close-up photography and meticulous descriptions, Lynn reveals how these foundational pieces not only shaped silhouettes but also reflected shifting ideals of femininity, hygiene, and eroticism. The book reads as both visual archive and tactile history, bringing to light the delicate stitches, hidden fastenings, and surprising craftsmanship that underpin centuries of sartorial transformation.

About the Author
Eleri Lynn is a fashion historian and curator whose work explores the construction, symbolism, and social context of dress across centuries. Formerly Curator of Fashion at Historic Royal Palaces, she has overseen the care and interpretation of significant royal collections, including garments linked to Queen Elizabeth I and Princess Diana. With a background in curatorial studies and a deep interest in material culture, she brings a nuanced perspective to the narratives clothing can reveal about power, identity, and the body.

Publication date: 2014
Publisher: V&A Publishing
Pages: 224
ISBN: 9781851777846