Customer Reviews

The Complete Costume History / Vollstandige Kostumgeschichte / Le Costume Historique

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was very impressed by the size of the book... never seen anything like this before. The content, however, is not that impressive. There are lots of good illustrations, copies from paintings, detailed drawings of selective accessories and furniture, but this is not a complete overview (but you would expect it to be full from such an edition, wouldn't you?). Confusing are the descriptions on each page: timeframes are too foggy and there is no description of each drawing, but those few available you often do not know which drawing to apply to.
The most interesting are the sections of folk and national dresses.
The book is more suitable for the coffee table (make sure you have a big one)to impress your guests than as a serious reference. Though I have used it a lot, I wish it was more complete

I just received this book for my birthday, I'd been wanting it for quite a while. When I first saw it, I knew it wasn't a reference book, and am surprised other reviewers thought it would be. For one thing it was written in 1896. Consider the world view at that time - very Eurocentric, very Western Civilization oriented. So that is what you get. However, you also get an example of illustrations and drawings that you just don't see now a days. Its quite lovely really, and is indeed useful when I am reading a historical novel and want a visual. So buy this for what it is, not what you think it is.

Gorgeous color plates and b/w prints. Detailed if difficult notes in 3 languages English, French and German (late 19th century author). Whether you are a professional or hobbyist costumer or seamstress - this book provides ample inspiration!

Wonderful pictures and ideas flow from every page.

For a person seeking a picture book... BEWARE!! This book will not only give you visual clue to the era in question but adds a bit of reading into the concepts and timing of a particular costume you seek to research. This book is heavy and well worth the additional weight it contributes to your collections.

For a person seeking a more in depth concept of a certain period's costumes and accessories...this is a book that will help.

It's a fantastic history of the costumes. Racinet told us the meaning of live in all the sicles, with clothes, shoes, jewels, and everytthing that the people dressed in that days. It's my best buy in the last year! If you will working with fashion, art, history, or you are a person who want to say more about the life in the past, you must be see this book!

i ordered this book because i really liked the artwork. Pros: the book is fairly large and has many detailed illustrations almost in every page.
Cons: first of all, each plate has a description underneath or on the adjacent page. They are written in 3 languages which might or might not be useful. The text size of the description are VERY small, about 1/3 the size of normal reading text, so it is very hard to read. Another thing is that there is alot of white space on the pages where the text is, and also on the borders of the plates. With such detailed art i would have liked them to be a bit larger, and i would have liked the text to be larger since the books has plenty of space for it.
There is a 1st edition complete version of this book but it is more expensive and maybe that one is different.

I knew about this book already! This is a very good book for fashion references. Lots of colorful drawings very helpful!

Bought for my daughter who is a fashion design student. She loved it. The price was amazing. Over $200 every where else.

This is an incredible and impressive collection of fashion images that leaves little untold. The illustrations are masterful and descriptive of dress of the past. The most incredible thing is the volume goes beyond atire and includes samples of accessories, furniture and architecture related to the period and culture. My only disappointment is it stops at the late 1800's. I would highly recommend this book for anyone in fashion design, art or someone with a really large coffee table. It's a MONSTER!

AS A WORKING PROFESSIONAL IN THE FILM, TELEVISION, COMMERCIAL AND MUSIC VIDEO INDUSTRIES, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS RESOURCE BOOK IN ESSENTIAL IN THE RESEARCHING OF PERIOD COSTUMES. I USE THIS BOOK AS REFERENCE ALL THE TIME. ANYONE IN THE BIZ SHOULD MAKE THE INVESTMENT OF THIS INVALUABLE
RESOURCE.