Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion

Covering an area of spectacularly diverse topography and climate, from arid Mexican deserts to tropical islands and from Amazonian rainforests to the high Andes, this volume explores the dress traditions of the many peoples inhabiting Latin America and the Caribbean. The style and glamour of Latin American cultural icons such as Eva Perón, Frida Kahlo, and Carmen Miranda have long fascinated the world, and Caribbean carnival is internationally renowned. But this region also has an extraordinarily rich legacy dating back to ancient cultures, such as the Aztecs, Incas, and Maya, as well as unique records in the form of pictogram books indicating the early use of textiles and clothing types. In this important reference work, these topics, as well as the lasting impact of Spanish and Portuguese colonial activity, are introduced and contextualized to show how modern societies that are fully participating in globalized commerce have developed in this region. With over 250 images, Latin America and the Caribbean is an invaluable reference tool and an essential starting point for anyone wishing to learn about the importance of dress to this vibrant region.