DRESS CODE: UNLOCKING FASHION FROM THE NEW LOOK TO MILLENINIAL PINK

WHY I CHOSE IT

My latest choice for Fashion Book Fridays is DRESS CODE: UNLOCKING FASHION FROM THE NEW LOOK TO MILLENINIAL PINK, an innovative and thought-provoking collection of essays, all of which are rooted in fashion and culture. I didn't read this book, but instead listened to it during my daily walks, which I'm sure all my followers are aware of.

The book lent itself well to the audiobook format, as the collection of essays consists of bite-sized pieces that are conversational and chatty, and the author read them beautifully. I truly enjoyed the book and have been mulling over many of the ideas in my head since listening. As a fashion critic/journalist, it is my job to bring you the ideas I feel will serve you well as designers, students and fashion lovers. This book does just that. The only regret I have is that I wish I had discovered the book at the time of publication, because some of the themes seem topical, and would have served me better when millennium pink was still a thing.

Getting to Know the Author of Dress Code

Véronique Hyland, ELLE’s Fashion Features Director and journalist, published this collection of essays in 2022. Hyland isn’t a detached theorist; she writes from the bustle of fashion’s frontline. She coined a colour trend that exploded across platforms—from latte shops to #OOTD posts—so she knows the machinery behind hype. Her work in ELLE (and before that, at MTV and Interview) demonstrates her knack for decoding what’s fashionable and why it matters socially. Dress Code felt personal—like sitting across from a smart friend who’s also a stylist, a cultural critic, and a colour scientist all in one. Dress Code, which was selected as one of The New Yorker's Best Books of the Year. Her writing has previously appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, W, New York magazine, Harper's Bazaar and Conde Nast Traveller.

Inside the Book: What You’ll Find

DRESS CODE

Hyland organizes her essays by theme, each one more revealing than the last. She opens with reflections on classic style tropes—think the “French girl” mystique, the power of understated beauty, and how we yearn for effortless allure in an age of highlight and contour. These essays feel warm and witty, like a behind-the-scenes wardrobe tour of a Parisian flat.

One of my favourite chapters examines how political aspiration and attire entwine—when women dressed for power, from Hilary Clinton’s pantsuits to Beyoncé’s Grammys moment. Hyland doesn’t just catalogue looks; she investigates the language of power dressing, slipping in pop culture references with light humour and a feminist backbone.
Then, there’s a section that grapples with beauty, gender, and bodily expectations. I loved her send-up of fitness-culture tropes (“working out for joy, right? but also for the likes”), which made me laugh because I’ve been there, scrolling mid-plank, thinking: “Are we nurturing ourselves—or performing self-care for the algorithm?” It’s big ideas but delivered in magazine-length doses, full of punch and prose.

She rounds things out with a playful but pointed look at uniforms and normcore—from military fatigues entering the mainstream to millennials settling into athleisure loungewear. Hyland views these as clues to how we understand work, rest, and belonging—echoes of cultural habits woven into the fabric and function.

What I Loved (and Not So Much)

DRESS CODE

Hyland’s strength lies in pace and charm: she effortlessly transitions from WWII Dior’s opulence to TikTok aesthetic trends, accompanied by breezy anecdotes that illuminate her narrative. It’s engaging, materially rich, and—most unexpectedly—intelligent without being precious.

But while the essays offer flavorful cultural slices, I sometimes missed a bit more global or historical framing. Her look at uniforms, for instance, felt anchored in U.S. or Western narratives—I wanted to read a deeper dive into, say, Asian workwear logics or African dress codes. And honestly? For a book that dwells on colour and form, the lack of visuals felt like a missed runway—just words where I craved images to spark and satisfy.

Final Thoughts & Personal Take

DRESS CODE

By the last chapter, I found myself examining my own closet with fresh curiosity: why pick these sneakers instead of those brogues? Does this blazer whisper competence or shout conformity? I appreciated how Dress Code invited that kind of introspection without being preachy.

For a quick yet thoughtful stroll through the history, politics, and symbolism stitched into our clothes, Dress Code hits the mark. It’s approachable and insightful, perfect for a style-savvy reader who wants more than “what’s in”—but isn’t signing up for a deep-dive thesis.

Craving More Fashion Book Friday Reads?

If you loved this, dig into these past picks that bring art, style, and cultural critique together:

The Chiffon Trenches by Andre Leon Talley (a dazzling memoir-meets-history)

The Little Dictionary of Fashion by Christian Dior ( a look at style from one of fashion's most fabulous designers)

Want to Grab Dress Code?

 Click here to pick it up online. Then come back here—leave a comment, share your favourite essay, or tell me what piece of your wardrobe has a secret political backstory. Let’s keep the conversation going.

Until next Fashion Book Friday, stay stylish, stay curious, and stay fabulously you.

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CIAO FOR NOW, J. ANDREW JACKSON