I absolutely loved Nevertheless She Wore It! This study of 50 iconic historic styles women wore that changed the world was an empowering read.

There were a few style icons I was familiar with - like Michelle Obama and Ruth Bader Ginsberg - and some that I knew nothing about, like Josephine Baker’s banana skirt.

I loved the mix of old and new - women who are still making history today and women who have changed the world in their time.

Each fashion icon and iconic style is paired with Ann Shen’s beautiful illustrations depicting the person or style, and those illustrations really brought the pages to life.

I left this book with a real sense of empowerment and a reminder that something as simple as the way you choose to dress yourself can make a statement.

I finished this in one sitting - and it is definitely a great coffee table book or a gift for someone that loves fashion and trends! I appreciated that the author included both trends and staples of women's fashion, including the bikini and capris, but also picked out noticeable, iconic fashion moments and specific pieces, like Lady Gaga's meat dress or the infamous banana skirt from Josephine Baker.

However, the real powerhouse of this book was the beautiful illustrations! They are so, so well done and beautiful to look at!

This is a much more researched and in-depth book than I expected it to be. I thought it would be a glorified list of fashion moments throughout history, mostly pictures with a fate of spending its lifetime as a centrepiece on a coffee table. But it's not. Instead, we get little glimpses on the importance in history of way more fashion "moments" and icons than I really anticipated. There's definitely some research than has gone into the wide variety of things chosen - and it isn't just clothing necessarily either. From hairstyles to 'moments', this book covers a wide range of iconic fashion. My favourite entries are the breast pump, the dissent collar, the flower crown, the marathoner (!!!), the presidential pantsuit, the rolled stocking, the tennis catsuit, and the unibrow. The only critique I have is that I wish there were either more illustrations (not everything had one, and it was often the ones I had never heard of that didn't) and that real life pictures were actually included. I realise that a certain aesthetic was trying to be achieved with the illustrations, but if you're featuring real things and real moments in history, I want to see those moments. I often had to stop and go search what the real things looked like because the drawings weren't enough. Other than that, I learned a lot from this book and really enjoyed going through it.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for lending me a copy in exchange of an honest review.

This book was a great read, interesting, and with lovely illustrations.

This was a really neat read. I enjoyed seeing how these clothes fit into history. It was a pretty quick read. I liked that it was easy to pick up and read a section then come back later and read another section. The illustrations were well done and quite appealing as well.

While I may not be very fashion forward, I cannot ignore that fashion is a powerful tool for self expression and cultural growth. The men and women who have bucked traditional fashion standards have done more than just impact what we wear today - they have broken down barriers.

Nevertheless She Wore It by Ann Shen shows just why "fashion is power" with it's beautiful illustrations and brief antidotes for dozens of iconic fashions like: the bob, the banana skirt, the cone bra, and more. The only criticism I have of this book is that the text was small, but that could have been an issue easily corrected with the finalized print and e-versions. I loved this book and found it absolutely fascinating to have this collection of illustrations and brief historical context to guide you through the history of fashion as a powerful symbol of personal convictions and self expression to create political and cultural change as early as the Industrial Revolution across the world. This book not only makes for a great, short, insightful read but the illustration would be lovely in the home if featured for inspiration or as a conversation piece. I will not hesitate to refer my friends, especially those interested in both fashion and/or politics, to this book.

Great history of feminist movements shown through iconic garments. This collection mentioned specific outfits, such as Princess Di’s “revenge dress” to broader movements like bobbed haircuts. It definitely made me think about why I’m wearing what I’m wearing and how my clothes were brought into the mainstream.

This is a really cute coffee-table book! The illustrations are adorable and beautifully done. Each entry gets just a page or two, which makes for a very quick and pleasant read. I also learned some things! Several of the iconic fashion moments I knew immediately, but several I googled to see the actual person/event.

I wish this book was organized chronologically, rather than alphabetically. Arranging it that way would help to see the evolution of fashion through the decades. One of the entries (The Slip Dress) was also missing an illustration. There is a brief 2-page introduction in which the author states that people have been using fashion to make a statement since the Industrial Revolution, but people have used their dress to make statements LONG before that.

Overall, this is a positive book about women, our bodies, and what we do with our bodies!

Nevertheless, She Wore It by Ann Shen is a beautifully illustrated collection of 50 iconic fashion moments , from red lipstick to afro hair, and from the bikini to the pants suit or the revenge dress. This would be an ideal coffee table book, perfect to dip in an out of when you have a moment to spare, as each of the chapters is only a page or two in length, but I actually found myself reading it in a single sitting, as I found my curiosity piqued by where the author would go next. The mix between clothing, makeup and hair styles was an interesting one, and there were several iconic outfits discussed such as Elizabeth Hurley's safety pin dress, J-Lo's plunging Versace moment and Princess Diana's revenge dress. I loved how the author was able to tie the fashion to feminism and other social movements , and show that it has more to say than might appear at first glance and show how "people can use personal style to express themselves - their identities, gender and politics. It is clear that the author has done her research and I admire the way she is able to condense the important information in such a clear and concise way, and complement it with her simple yet beautiful illustrations. I learned a lot and enjoyed myself along the way.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Of course, what initially drew me to this book were the vibrant illustrations of Ann Shen. Upon reading, there is a lot more to this than the charming depictions of fashion history.

Pinpointing 50 important pieces of fashion and its' historic moments, Ann Shen gives a brief, but informative section on things such as how Pachucas were a part of a revolution, Princess Diana's "Revenge Dress", and the extreme sexism and racism rooted in tennis that goddess Serena Williams has had to deal with her whole career. Each piece is followed by an illustration by Shen showcasing the most famous icon behind the look. Not only was it cool to see an artist's perspective on the outfits/accessories, but I also learned interesting tidbits while reading (such as the term "misogynoir").

Minor dislikes: I was surprised that Selena Quintanilla didn't have a paragraph and I would have liked more moments on Asian American fashion (the cheongsam was mentioned and there was a footnote on North Korea in the "Red Lipstick" part, but that was it)

This is a great book to give as a gift or to decorate your shelf with after learning about the moments that a lot of women today were alive to see. A quick, fun way to see how diverse our world really is and how something as simple as outfits can cause a rippling effect.

This book is a truly fantastic quick look at iconic fashion moments and pieces and the women who wore them.
Accompanying each short blurb that tells the story and explains the importance of each item is a gorgeously graphic illustration by the author that perfectly exemplifies each fashion-forward piece and feminist revolution item.
It jumps around places, times, and personalities, but it always exemplifies the feminine power that something as simple as a red lip or a pair of wide-legged pants can represent.
Overall, it's very informative, gorgeous to look at, and it contains a great message.
Definitely a recommended read and a great coffee table book to show off.

Many happy thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the early read!

Nevertheless, She Wore It - Ann Shen (9/1)

Rating 5 / 5 Stars

** Thank you to Netgalley, Chronicle Books, and of course, Ann Shen, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPRESS HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK!


As I’ve grown, I’ve seen my fascinations with fashion and history collide even more. I think back on moments when I watched Audrey in her iconic LBD in front of Tiffany’s and seeing images of Jackie O’s beautiful and classic style in photos. In adulthood, there are times when fashion becomes synonymous with the person who pioneered the ensemble - Hillary and the pantsuit, Michelle, and the sleeveless shift dress (Hello! Arms!), RBG, and the dissent collar, Madonna, and her cone bra! All strong and powerful women whose fashion speaks the messages they wish to send.

Then I think of other aspects of beauty which have been pioneered over the years - Ann, for example, brings up Frida’s Unibrow - which in my opinion is coming back in style somewhat with the thick and bushy eyebrow trend.

I loved how diverse the examples were as well. Ann really captures the multiple layers of the feminist movement and how it has encompassed different themes over time from classic to trendy and funky. How else could you read about the Cone Bra or Lady Gaga’s Meat Dress and then the Dissent Collar? Two largely different items with at their core, a connection - strong women.

Now, I must discuss the illustrations Ann provides. OH MY GOD ARE THEY BEAUTIFUL! While I only have a digital copy right now, I know for a fact that I will be purchasing a hardcover for my bookshelf. This is a book that I know I will go back to time and time again. It is a great talking piece too and something so timeless that can be passed down to future girls learning about fashion and history.

5 Stars across the board, I cannot recommend this book enough!

This was the best little read of a book I have had in a while. I don't want to go through all of the things discussed in the book, I will on my being up a couple. Capris and how they came about. Hot pants are not really pants but tiny shorts that women wear. These tiny shorts were made out of different fabrics, even being made by crocheting. The pasty and how I was graduating high school the year that Lil Kim wore that gorgeous purple outfit with a long sleeve on one side and a pasty just going over her nipple. This book talked about many different styles and how they came to be. I would recommend this to anyone that loved any part of fashion.

I want to thank Ann Shen, Chronicle Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced readers' copy of Nevertheless, She Wore It, in exchange for an honest review. I was positively thrilled when I saw this book was available for request. I adore these types of collections, especially ones that focus on strong women. I was so pleased to see 5 very, very strong women right there on the front cover! When I realized that Ann Shen had written this, I was even more thrilled.

First, I want to discuss the artwork. I was blown away by the style of artwork presented. I loved seeing both the portraits and the simplistic pieces, such as the page of the different styles of the "bobs." Each picture added to the vignettes. I wish that I had some of these in sticker form to hang everywhere! Ann Shen's art style is unlike any other I have ever seen and continues to be consistent across all of her books. I can't wait to buy a physical copy just to compare to my copies of Bad Girls and Legendary Ladies!

The little blurbs themselves were fascinating. I thought it successfully gave information on the background, societal or historical impact, and the individual or individuals who made it so. There were so many stories told that were familiar, but others that I have never heard that left me doing even more research!

I loved hearing about these women and the fashion choices they made that set them apart from all others! For many, fashion was just an additional talent next to their main art form. I will absolutely be looking forward to more Ann Shen books in the future and will be adding this one to my self. I will also be recommending this to everyone!

This is such a fun, beautiful book full of information about clothing that I remember, and clothing that I had no idea about the history of. I love the drawings and how important they are to the history of the clothing. The fifty different fashion moments are all so important to the world in one way or another and I really enjoyed reading about them.

This will be such a beautiful coffee table book to look through and learn more about the history of fashion and why we wear the things we do and the moments that changed history.

I love seeing Shen's art & reading her creative women-empowered stories.
"Nevertheless, She Wore It" was a fun look into the statements women had made with their outfits throughout history. I wish it was longer, I was surprised to reach the end; it was so interesting!

Some great outfits she chose to highlight.

A few things I wish were different: I wish it was in chronological order - switching from bob cuts to nipple pasties then back to "pants" in a few pages was a tad jarring. Chronologically, I think there's a pattern that would emerge to tell another story.

Overall, really gorgeous (as always with Shen) and a great, enjoyable read!

Light, fun read. The articles were short and the history-geek in me would have liked them to be a bit more informative. And, I'm not sure some of the choices were quite as iconic as they could have been, while some other, arguably better, choices were left out. I loved the illustrations, though!

Title: Nevertheless, She Wore It
Author: Ann Shen
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Pub Date: 01 Sep 2020

Thank you Chronicle Books for providing me with an e-ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my impartial review.

Five stars to this amazing book. It was so fun and powerful at the same time. I loved how the author was able to touch on so many facets of the female appearance - clothes, beauty, makeup, body hair and hairstyles. It was an incredibly feminist read and I enjoyed every bit of it.

It was so jarring to read about how many (basically almost all) of our modern everyday wear was subject to scrutiny and debate by the male gaze. There might never ever be a book like this written about general male fashion because men wear and do whatever they want - no questions asked, no debate sparked. Each item in this book came with so much history and research it was so eye opening and enlightening. I could tell that the author did a lot of research before going on this journey.

Ann Shen covered general clothing items like jeans and crop tops; specific moments in fashion like Lady Gaga's meat dress and Nancy Pelosi's fire coat; she also covered hairstyles that the pixie cut and the afro; and also makeup and beauty entries like the red lip and the unibrow.

The title of this book is so powerful and it resonated in every entry as the woman in question or women everywhere wore that s*** anyway.

The illustrations were such an integral part of the book and each one was amazing. Ann Shen is a genius and I'll be checking out her 2 other works - "Bad Girls Throughout History" and "Legendary Ladies" . This book is out on the 1st of September, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone.

Nevertheless, She Wore It is a fun look at fashion and the politics behind it. The cutesy illustrations are adorable and perfectly capture the scope of each chapter. I only wish the author had been able to delve more deeply into more specific stories. I strongly preferred chapters where focus was on an individual, note the dissent collar and the fire coat, where the author could talk about fashion and add significant commentary over the more general chapters, but the book itself is an overall delight.

I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK!
Sorry to shout, but this is important.
This book beautifully combines two of my passions: fashion and feminism. It makes a powerful argument about how fashion trends can reflect, represent, or sometimes begin a feminist movement. The fashions it explains include the Afro, the Cone Bra (Madonna!), the bikini, the Dissent Collar (RBG for life!), the Pachuca, the Pantsuit (Hillary!), the Shift Dress (Michelle O!) the Unibrow (Frida!) and, of course, PANTS. And so much more This book perfectly blends modern trends with older ones, and I learned a whole lot both about fashion and significant moments in the feminist movement.

Did I also mention the illustrations? They are beautiful, as is so often the case in books put out by Chronicle Books. They have whimsy and style and color. They perfectly capture each trend in full color in an affectionate way.

I thought this book did a great job of representing the diversity of the feminist movement and also some of the funnier or more wacky trends (e.g. Lady Gaga's meat dress), giving them extra thought and significance in our culture that I might never have considered.

Though I fully enjoyed this book in digital form, I have decided I need a physical copy of it for my bookshelf, so I will be purchasing it as soon as possible. I know it will be a popular coffee table/ living room addition to my library.

If you are a self-identified lady or a friend of ladies, or someone who just loves fashion, culture, politics, outright fun, please treat yourself to this book.

Five fashionable, flashing, feminist stars to Ann Shen for this delightful and colorful tribute to women and their warrior wares. Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the chance to read this wonderful book early!