title: Fashion and Costume in American Popular Culture: A Reference Guide
author: Valerie Oliver
description: The study of costume can present a challenge due to its interdisciplinary nature and the lack of adequate, current bibliographies. Any new entry in this area is certain to be welcomed. This guide consists of a series of bibliographic essays, with a list of complete citations for the items discussed at the end of each section. Chapters are primarily organized about a type of resource (encyclopedias, histories, and so on), except for two chapters, "Specific Clothing and Accessories" and "Psychological, Sociological, and Cultural Aspects," which discuss monographs and theses on specific aspects of costume study.
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  **CRIMINAL**
  
  
  
  
  
  Getting dressed was always the hardest part of the afternoon.
  
  
  
  
  
  The invitation to Valentino Mansion said semiformal, but it was the _semi_
  part that was tricky.
  
  
  
  
  
  Like a night without a party, "semi" opened up too many possibilities. Bad
  enough for boys, for whom it could mean jacket and tie (skipping the tie with
  certain kinds of collars), or all white and shirtsleeves (but only on summer
  afternoons), or any number of longcoats, waistcoats, tailcoats, kilts, or
  really nice sweaters. For girls, though, the definition simply exploded, as
  definitions usually did here in New Pretty Town.
  
  
  
  
  
  Tally almost preferred formal white-tie or black-tie parties. The clothes were
  less comfortable and the parties no fun until everyone got drunk, but at least
  you didn't have to think so hard about getting dressed.
  
  
  
  
  
  "Semiformal, semiformal," she said, her eyes drifting over the expanse of her
  open closet, the carousel stuttering back and forth as it tried to keep up
  w