Book Worm: Hal Rubenstein's '100 Unforgettable Dresses' (SLIDESHOW)

Fashion director of InStyle, Hal Rubenstein, knows a thing or two about what the ladies love, and his book 100 Unforgettable Dresses attempts to explain the magic acheived when a beautiful a woman wears a beautiful article of clothing. But beyond being a visually rich chronicle of alluring craftasmanship and shrewd design, it's a glimpse of why, exactly, fashion has remained an endless pop culture phenomenon, capturing the hearts and eyes of the world. For those who declare that fashion is insipid or vapid, we suggest spending a few moments flipping through the tome's pages. A quick survey will remind you of how clothing, in its best moments, can convey so much and has played an important role in your love of a starlet, film, or musician. Much has been said of fashion's transformative properties, but to be reminded of Julia Roberts metamorphosis in Pretty Woman, or the haunting image of Audrey Hepburn loitering outside Tiffany's in the early New York morning demonstrates the impact that fashion has had on the cultural landscape. This book spotlights a healthy mix of red carpet moments, celluloid dreams, classic memories, and contemporary affairs to understand how fashion has affected us. Rubenstein understands that a dress need not be beautiful to be important--and explains why some things which seem dull to the eye today were once noteworthy and grounbreaking. This publication is the perfect gift for anyone who loves adores fashion, in all its iterations.

For more information on purchasing the book, click HERE.

For a slideshow of some of our favorite moments--plus Rubenstein's commentary on their importance--click HERE.