Discover a chromatic celebration of more than 150 ensembles from the extraordinary fashion collection of Phoenix Art Museum.

Arranged across 13 vivid chapters organized by color, this book reveals how designers through time and across continents create wearable art that continues to inspire. In addition to striking photography, fashion curator Helen Jean helps situate the PhxArt collection in a broader cultural and historical context. Celebrated fashion historians and Dressed podcast hosts April Calahan and Cassidy Zachary also offer editorial contributions that bring fresh perspectives and insights. From couture to ready-to-wear, shoes to accessories, Colorwear immerses you in the power of color as storytelling, mood, and creative expression.

A vibrant, beautifully packaged and accessible survey of fashion from the perspective of color.

About The Author

April Calahan and Cassidy Zachary are fashion historians and authors who hosted the popular podcast Dressed: The History of Fashion. April Calahan, who is based in New York and Paris, has lectured at cultural institutions around the world. Cassidy Zachary is the founder of the popular history-based social media platform The Art of Dress.

The fashion collection of the Phoenix Art Museum is known as one of the strongest in the United States, drawing over 300,000 visitors per year. Helen Jean was the Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion at Phoenix Art Museum. Her recent exhibitions include Greatest Fits (Vol. 1): The Art of Archiving Fashion (2024–25) and MOVE: The Modern Cut of Geoffrey Beene (2023).