Adam and Eve. From Fig Leaf to Space Suit.

How did Homer´s golden-haired goddesses turn into dumb blondes? Why did Anton Chekhov consider Venus “ugly”? What ties together a sunflower worn by Oscar Wilde, a fop´s blouse of Vladimir Mayakovsky and the yellow passport of Sonia Marmeladova? Which bones were put in the stays? Why did John Donn adorn fleas? How did a lily, a flower of passion from the Song of Solomon manage to become a symbol of the Holy Virgin chastity? Is it due to a chance that in his poem Alexander Blok dresses the unfaithful lady in a blue coat? What was the smell of Leo Tolstoy´s perfume? Where do Alexander Pushkin*s Swan Princess´ star in a forehead and the moon under the braid come from? What was inside a codpiece of Shakespeare´s times and what forms the ideal silhouette of today´s mens´ suits? What do Russian merchant women and Japanese aristocracy have in common? Finally, is it possible for a man with a pure soul to wear a soiled shirt?

In her new book Adam and Eve. From Fig Leaf to Space Suit. Marina Skulskaya, a fashion historian, the author, of the best-seller Fashion. The Most Humane of All Arts., solves lots of riddles of the world history of culture, beauty, hygiene, and fashion. The author´s thoughts are paradoxically supported by the quotes of the greatest writers and poets of various epochs. Numerous paintings of Old Masters´ from different museums, like the Rjiksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Kadriorg Palace in Tallinn, and The All-Russian Museum of Alexander Pushkin in Saint Petersburg, to name a few, correspond to looks from the latest shows of the leading fashion brands of the planet.

This deluxe hardcover includes over 250 vibrant photos and illustrations.