Bebop back a little, to post-war America, crinoline, and big flowers with one of the most widely published authors on vintage fashions. Predicting doubling values, she's advising that collectors get a jump-start now, snatching up those snug-bodiced, full-skirted dresses, sheath gowns, clear plastic evening shoes, peddle pushers, Capri pants, fun flowered and feathered hats, Grace Kelly-style formals, flattering bathing suits, and even paper dresses. To help with the hunt, there's an up-to-date value guide for couture designers, along with a forecast of what fashions from the 1970s forward might be considered collectible in the future. This gorgeous volume is packed with more than 500 color photos of authentic day and evening clothes and accessories never before found in fashion books on the era. Read the story behind the fashions, including advice from period magazines that detail "The New Look," the politics behind clothes, and an unparalleled look into the ready-to-wear industry that swept the world of fashion in the 1950s-60s. Sound information is provided for collecting and caring for more than 500 of the most popular, ready-to-wear designers. 519 colour photographs.