Costume Through the Ages: Over 1400 Illustrations (Dover Fashion and Costumes) [Paperback]

Erhard Klepper (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Fashion and Costumes | Publication Date: June 1, 1999

Few books of costume design are more useful than this volume. Detailed drawings in a continuous chronological format provide a history of costume design from the first century AD to 1930. More than 1,400 illustrations chronicle the full sweep of two millennia of Western garb, from Roman noble to Victorian dandy, from Elizabethan lady to Jazz Age schoolboy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486407225
• ISBN-13: 978-0486407227
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #581,339 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful reference book that I couldn't live without, March 24, 2005

By 

M. A. Bechaz "bookaholic" (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Costume Through the Ages: Over 1400 Illustrations (Dover Fashion and Costumes) (Paperback)

This is quite simply a fabulous book, and a very useful one too! I am an author who writes historical novels, and when I need to know what the characters I'm writing about would have been wearing in any given year from antiquity through to modern times (1930s), I turn to this book. Fortunately, it's not cluttered with text, but merely contains drawings, pure and simple and straighforward. It's the quickest, most accurate reference book I own, aside from my dictionary, of course.

My only qualm is that it doesn't contain anything about undergarments, such as bustles, knickers, petticoats, crinolines or girdles. But then, the pictures in this book are sourced from historical paintings, sculptures, mosaics, illuminated manuscripts and so forth, which probably never showed such things, as they might have been considered indecent or irrelevant. (I suppose not too many people throughout history wanted to be painted in their underwear!)

If you're a writer, an arts student, a costume designer or just someone who has an interest in the history of fashion, I would highly recommend this book to you.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money, August 26, 2005

By 

Kathy (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Costume Through the Ages: Over 1400 Illustrations (Dover Fashion and Costumes) (Paperback)

This book consisted of black and white 2D scetches that lacked any real depth or detail. They are basic and generalised in presenting each period and contain nothing new that you would not have already seen or known about that decade.
I do not recommend it to anyone who has a intrest in costume or design, but think it would be better suited as a childrens colouring in book.
Don't waste your money.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely pics, no writing, August 29, 2005

By 

oldkeys "oldkeys" (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Costume Through the Ages: Over 1400 Illustrations (Dover Fashion and Costumes) (Paperback)

They say up front that they (the authors) purposely did not put in any writing to as not to sway our view of the clothing. Alas, that means if one does not know period clothing from LOTS of different periods, one will not be able to identify items. Still, lovely drawings. It will make a fine adult coloring book! (Yes, I'm serious) :-)