James Laver

James Laver (1899–1975) was an English author, critic, art historian, poet, novelist, dramatist, biographer, and pioneering fashion historian who served as Keeper of Prints, Drawings and Paintings at the Victoria and Albert Museum from 1938 to 1959.[1][3] Born in Liverpool to a printer, he achieved prominence in fashion history, making the study of costume respectable, and also worked as an Olympic referee.[1][3][5] He married actress Veronica Turleigh in 1928 and died in a fire at his Blackheath home in 1975.[3]