As human societies evolved, clothing became more than just a basic necessity to protect the body from cold. Both men and women used their costume to display their status and wealth. This additional function of dress was accompanied by the appearance of a wide variety of complementary accessories. These included perfume and scent bottles, jewellery, buttons, buckles, buttonhooks, hat pins, gloves, handbags, purses, fans, parasols and many other items and, since the First World War, objects associated with make-up and smoking. In this book Eleanor Johnson describes and illustrates many of the items that one may come across.

As human societies evolved, clothing became more than just a basic necessity to protect the body from cold. Both men and women used their costume to display their status and wealth. This additional function of dress was accompanied by the appearance of a wide variety of complementary accessories. These included perfume and scent bottles, jewellery, buttons, buckles, buttonhooks, hat pins, gloves, handbags, purses, fans, parasols and many other items and, since the First World War, objects associated with make-up and smoking. In this book Eleanor Johnson describes and illustrates many of the items that one may come across.