Customer Reviews

Dress in the Middle Ages

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

 

 

If you're looking for an overview of the evolution of style in the Middle Ages, this is not the book for you. If, on the other hand, you're looking for an overview of how clothes were perceived in medieval society and culture, you will find this book useful There are no patterns and only a few illustrations in this slim volume; the focus is instead on the people who made and wore medieval clothing. I think it tries to cover too much ground for such a short book, but I still recommend it to anyone who's trying to put medieval clothing into its cultural context.

This is not a costume book in the usual style of "how to design your own medieval garb" but it is a good introduction to the crafts involved in making clothing in the late Middle Ages and the attitudes of the people wearing those garments. It is a social history rather than a manual, and it is very interesting. My only complaint is that a great number of the illustrations are from the early 16th century and so are better examples of transitional styles than purely medieval ones.

For a beginner who needs to learn the basics of what medieval costume looks like, and how it was made and worn, this book has little to give, as it has very few illustrations. However, Piponnier's book fills a different, but equally useful function by supplying details of costume for serious students of the subject who have already learned the basics elsewhere.

I have to add a nuance to the other reviewers' comments. This is not a basic book for people just starting to research the middle ages. But for the serious re-creater, who is looking for detailed and concrete information, this is a beginner's source. The book is small and necessarily must generalize some. I still found it interesting and useful, but it is by no means the most useful or advanced study source out there for students of medieval dress.

Yes I would agree this is not a how to book, but a great source of information. Her knowlege of history shows by her use of languge. There are too many 'how to" books out there with not a lot of facts in the books to back their statements up. If you want to know why the color red is important and other information why this is the book for you.