The first place to look is The Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion.
To access, click on the link above or look it up in the SPU Catalog.
Click on "Online Access"
Click on "view full text."
Then type your keyword into the search box; it should say "Within Publication" next to the search box.
If your topic or piece of your topic is in this source, then you will have some basic information to work with and possibly some more sources to look at from the bibliography at the end of the section on your topic.
Also, check World Clothing and Fashion: An Encyclopedia of History, Culture, and Social Influence also available online.
Be flexible in this preliminary stage!
