Customer Reviews

Dressed for the Photographer: Ordinary Americans and Fashion, 1840-1900

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4 star:		(1)
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Ms. Severa's thoughtful and articulate tour through approximately 60 years of American Fashion reads more like a novel than a fashion textbook, although it is certainly an excellent example of the latter. Her inclusion of a detailed historical preface to each decade studied, provides the reader with a good sense of the times these people lived in, their wants, hopes and backgrounds are all captured and rendered understandable to both the historian and the casual observer.

As a newcomer to the study of dress, I found her ability to recognize and explain subtle details of clothing nuances extraordinary. Many of these were, at first glance barely visible in an aging photograph, but upon her outlining them they became so readily apparent as to cause the reader to wonder why they hadn't seen it sooner! It is a lovely book, either for the professional costumer or historian, or the casual observer who might want a glimpse into the history of those who came before, and the role fashion played throughout the early history of America.

If you like looking at old photographs with haunting, austere faces staring out from stilled figures in 19th-century garb, this book is worth every penny. The photos in this volume are incredibly evocative and encompass a wide range of people from various walks of life. The photos are nicely presented, with one large picture per page accompanied by an extensive caption that explains the clothing/fashion details reflected in the picture. This is one of those books that I return to again and again because I love what it does to my imagination, in terms of stimulating my ideas regarding both Victorian-era costuming and a way of life that is long since vanished.

In only about fifteen minutes I identified my gggrandmother's photo as belonging to the 1850's era by her dress, hair and collar. Easy to use by comparing photo to those in the book and the descriptions offered in the text. Arranged by decade, this is a truely marvelous reference and well worth the price.

I consider Severa's work to be of great potential use to any family researcher who has ever stared at an unidentified family photograph and wondered just when and where it was taken. For, unless one descends from a famous family, such images are likely to be distressingly anonymous. As with any type of historical research, searching out the context can greatly increase one's chances -- and in a photo, while the countryside and the buildings may not change, the clothing of the subjects almost certainly will. Even those expert in other areas of historical knowledge often make mistakes in interpreting the depicted garments of ordinary people. Or not so ordinary: The author describes several misinterpretations even of Paul Revere's clothing in the famous John Singleton Copley portrait. And Severa, as probably the leading historian of American costume, is certainly the best possible author for a massive study like this. Each chapter covers one decade of the 19th century since the practical introduction of photography, including first a discussion of general trends and the effects of manufacturing innovations and social influences, and then examining and discussing a large number of specific individual and group portraits of farmers, families, children, shop girls, and soldiers in considerable detail. This isn't "just" a reference guide, though, but a fully realized history and the reader not only will learn about the details of American dress but also will acquire a number of new insights in historical method.

I have never owned a book that crosses so many subject lines. Although presented like a school text for a Fashion History class, "Dressed for the Photographer" is such a beautifully crafted reference that it makes historical fashion fascinating.

Anyone who enjoys browsing through very old photographs will be amazed at the quality of the Daguerrotypes, tintypes, ambrotypes and assorted other photographic techniques included in the pictorial sections. The text that accompanies each photograph includes whatever information was available on the subject. In a picture worth a thousand words, Ms. Sevra reads what the economic and cultural means of the people probably were by their manner of dress. In a few well-documented photographs, the photographer is even mentioned.

Probably the most interesting stills are those of African-Americans. African-Americans are portrayed as business-owners, college graduates, and servants. But, the fact that they are included at all is very special. It is unfortunate that fashion documentation of other people of color either wasn't as plentiful or available for inclusion.

Ms. Sevra has managed to portray America as it grew older as a country; the wealth and demeanor of her citizens through the way they were captured on film. It is a unique and quite appropriate historical perspective on the beginnings of a culture that has become the ideal of consumption. I can only hope that in another 100 years, someone else will be as thorough (and unbaised) with today's disposible camera society.

reviewed by Yvonne

I have never seen a more complete book for the fashion history enthusiast. Thick and heavy with loads of black and white photographs, detailed descriptions of the photos, and a decade-by-decade listing of the fashions of the time (womens clothing and undergarments, childrens' wear, mens' wear, and even shoes and hats are included!).

A true gem sure to keep the reader entranced for hours at a time...

Dressed for the Photographer has a wealth of beautiful images, and has informative and interesting text with each image. Both text and images show the realities of fashion during the era covered. We see how real people dressed, rather than fashion templates which were always more extreme version of the latest fashion.

I liked the descriptions of dresses remade from older dresses to keep up with fashion, as well as her description of how one can tell the dress has been altered. I also enjoyed the way she pointed out little details of outfits. I never would have seen those details otherwise.

I would have preferred a few more examples of upper-class women throughout the eras and middle-class women in the latter part of the 20th century. The reform dress was an interesting movement, but I believe the reform dresses are over-represented. But, overall, the book reflects the diversity of the people in the society very well.

To be honest, I haven't seen a better resource for someone who wants to know what people really wore from 1840-1900.

One of the biggest problems in working with costume is the lack of dated, identified examples. Too many so-called experts use unidentified, undated photographs in an attempt to explain the past. Severa does not fall into that trap. In a large number of cases, she hangs her hypothesis on dated and/or located examples. This enables her to suggest how quickly or slowly someone at a certain income level might change dress due to fashion. It also enables discussion of regional differences. The result is a superb reference tool for discussion of American costume. It is expensive, but worth the investment if you are seriously involved in some aspect of historical costume.

I love this book and go over it often. I love mid 19th century fashions.. and this is the book to explain and show real people wearing the real fashions.. My husband asks often if I have all the page numbers memorized yet.. I read it so often. I paid full price and have gotten my money's worth of entertainment!

As a researcher period clothing and producer of reproduction clothing, I find this book is a fabulous resource! Not only is there a wide scope of social backgrounds represented here, but the accompanying writings are an additional insight to the people on those pages. A great work!