Series: Accessories

An impeccably researched and beautifully produced concise history of bags through the ages, with examples drawn from the Victoria and Albert Museum's remarkable collection. From the hand-stitched embroidered purses of the 16th century, to the 'make-do-and-mend' bags of the war years and the rise of the 'It' bag in the 2000s, bags reflect the needs and desires of their users,...

From medieval pilgrim badges and Renaissance hat decorations to jewelled brooches and twentieth-century political pins, brooches and badges are often more than practical or decorative dress fasteners; they are expressions of identity. Focusing on the V&A’s world-famous collection, Brooches and Badges explores the evolution of these intricate and versatile works of art, and the way in which changes in dress...

An engaging and authoritative overview of the evolution of ring design from the Middle Ages to today, illustrated with over 170 rare and luxurious examples. Rings are powerfully evocative pieces of jewellery, traditionally worn as symbols of love, loyalty, remembrance or faith. Focusing on the V&A's world-famous collection, Rings tells the story of their evolution from sculptural gem-set bands worn...

From Medieval leather poulaines and dainty Victorian satin slippers to the iconic platforms of the 1960s and the gravity-defying designs of today, shoes have always been more than just functional. Focusing on the V&A's world-famous collection, Shoes explores the innovative and the elegant, the practical and the high-tech, and the way in which shoes have defined fashion moments throughout history....