About the Holiday

First celebrated in 2016, Fashion Day is a day to celebrate your own style, whether that’s following the latest trend or creating a look that’s as unique as you are. Since its very beginning, fashion has made a statement about the person, the times, what society values, even the weather. Of course before the invention of the sewing machine, pants, shirts, dresses, coats, and even socks and shoes were made entirely by hand. And many of these garments were festooned with elaborate decoration that boggles the mind. With the invention of the sewing machine in 1790, garments could be produced faster, and the rise of factory-made clothing made mass-market style fashionable. To learn more about Fashion Day and find lots of ideas on how to celebrate, visit Days of the Year.

Thank you to Phaidon Kids for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Get Dressed! A Historical Guessing Game for Fashion Lovers

Written by Katy Canales | Illustrated by Erin Vanessa

Throughout history people have worked, played, ruled and been ruled over, invented, engaged in the arts, made scientific discoveries—and dressed themselves. Through Get Dressed! today’s fashion-savvy kids can time travel to 10 influential eras and cultures throughout history—spanning from Ancient Greece to the Tang Dynasty, the Ottoman Empire, and Inca State to the Elizabethan and Edo eras to the French Revolution, the Roaring Twenties, and Independent Ghana—to learn fascinating facts about what people were wearing (or not wearing!) while they went about their days fulfilling their particular roles in society. 

Illustration © 2025 by Erin Vanessa, text © 2025 by Katy Canales. Courtesy of Phaidon Press.

Dropping into each era, kids are oriented to the culture with a brief introduction that highlights it’s geographical reach, as well as its contributions to textiles, science, the arts, entertainment, and political thought. In addition, compelling paragraphs spotlight four important societal groups. As readers absorb this eye-opening information, they’re also set in the middle of a panoramic scene filled with action and appropriately dressed citizens.

But wait! Are all three people in each societal group of four really wearing a garment or accessory from the time period? Look closely! One out of each group is actually sporting an anachronistic item. It’s up to readers to determine which one it is. Ready to test your guess? Just turn the page to find out if you’re right—and to discover the intriguing reasons why people wore “this” and “this” but not “that.”

Illustration © 2025 by Erin Vanessa, text © 2025 by Katy Canales. Courtesy of Phaidon Press.

For example, zipping all the way back to 776 BCE Greece, readers find themselves dropped into the first Olympic Games, where they meet a group of children, three women, three athletes, and three chariot riders. Chariot races, kids learn, were “highly dangerous to take part in” due to the “power, speed, cost, and clamor” of the competition. The riders are presented wearing long tunics, leggings, and helmets. Which of these is wrong? Turns out, “despite being dragged behind four galloping horses on a small two-wheeled, open-backed wooden chariot,” riders only wore “a headband to keep their hair down.”

Illustration © 2025 by Erin Vanessa, text © 2025 by Katy Canales. Courtesy of Phaidon Press.

After visiting the past, kids may be hankering to take a peek at their fashion future. They can whisk off to see that too with a section dedicated to addressing contemporary issues such as sustainability to combat the problem of clothing pollution, technological advancements, and how designers adapt to changing needs and styles. A final spread gives readers a quick tour of ten museums with fashion exhibits, and a fun prompt to get kids thinking about what clothing item of theirs they would donate to a museum.

Illustration © 2025 by Erin Vanessa, text © 2025 by Katy Canales. Courtesy of Phaidon Press.

Through her dynamic writing, Katy Canales weaves engrossing facts about historical events, gender-specific roles and dress, cultural touchstones, and the fun of a fashion guessing game into a unique tapestry sure to captivate children and adults as well. Each section can be read in its entirety or easily divided into parts that allow readers to enjoy the text at their own pace. Canales’ accessible storytelling provides a perfect portal into expanded lessons and activities on world history and culture, inventions, and art for teachers and homeschool educators. 

Erin Vanessa’s vibrant and beguiling illustrations transport children to the cities and villages where commoners and the elite mingle clad in the attire of the day. They meet peat cutters and poets, sultans and embroiderers, herders and farriers, and even Queen Elizabeth. They attend a Kabuki theater performance, join revolutionaries as they protest beneath Marie Antoinette’s balcony, and get in the swing as jazz musicians and flappers bring the spirit of the 1920s to a city street.

Get Dressed! A Historical Guessing Game for Fashion Lovers provides a perfect portal into expanded lessons and activities on world history and culture, inventions, and art for teachers and homeschool educators. The book would be an exciting addition to any library collection and a much-appreciated gift for fashion and history buffs.

Ages 5 – 8+

Phaidon Press, 2025 | ISBN 978-1838669966

About the Author

Debut children’s author Katy Canales is the Beatrix Potter Curator. Katy joined the National Trust after a decade at Young V&A and the V&A Museum. As curator, she produced family-focused exhibitions, displays and public events. Katy was the V&A Museum’s children’s clothing collection specialist.

About the Illustrator

Erin Vanessa’s artwork is a blend of traditional and digital methods. Erin lives and works in Canada. She is the author/illustrator of two picture books: You Do You-nicorn and Swept Away at Witch Camp. Visit her at erinvanessa.com.

National Fashion Day Activity

Paper dolls by Jen Goode from Kids Activities Blog.

Printable Paper Doll Kit

With these free printable Paper Doll Kits by Jen Goode found on Holly Homer’s Kids Activities Blog at kidsactivites.com, fashion lovers can decorate the clothing templates provided. They can then have fun designing their own fashion line with styles, costumes, accessories, and more! Use crayons, markers, or even cut out clothing and accessories from wrapping paper, scrapbooking paper, fabric, and other materials. Get creative!

Summer Paper Doll Set | Winter Paper Doll Set (scroll down for more paper doll and paper craft fun!)

You can purchase Get Dressed! A Historical Guessing Game for Fashion Lovers from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

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