Customer Reviews

Fashion in Detail: From the 17th and 18th Centuries

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WHAT a wonderful book. Never has a museum published a more mouth-watering and so informative reference book. Forget the idea that all museum publications are dry and arid - even if you don't really like costume or fashion you MUST look at this book. The photography is of the very highest quality. If a picture is worth at least a thousand words, then there are millions of words in this book - millions of words that have never been coined, but which describe the small minutae - the rich colouring - the magnificent designs and craftmanship - the hitherto unsuspected marvel of a seam or a collar - the small pattern that you would never have noticed in a figured silk. Every library and art gallery and museum must have a copy of this book. Even artists ought to buy a copy, because it is invaluable as a source for design and ideas. I highly recommend this book. You can almost feel the satins and stroke the embroideries, feeling their texture. Dress is definitely an art form. Just ask this book with a mere glance, and you will get your answer - a resounding YES. The reviews below say this so much better than I could.

"Fashion in Detail" is a beautiful book highlighting details of many of the 17th and 18th century fashions in the Victorian and Albert museum collection. Many are too fragile to exibit so the full-color pictures, text and line drawings are the only record many costume mavens will ever see. The book is truly fashion in detail as the color illustration show details only, usually of one, but sometimes up to four or five items per page. The book's layout is divided by chapters--one shows details of outstanding stitching, seaming and quilting while another covers buttons, and another embroidery for example. The "coffee table" size of this book allows the best use of the book's layout: the left hand page includes a clear line diagram of the the complete item(s) illustrated on the right hand page in wonderful color photographs. The left-hand page text describes the item in suscinct, but complete detail. Some of the rarest and most outstanding items receive two or three color photos and text of various details. The pink stays on the cover, for example, get a back detail of the exquisite stitching in the first chapter and another side photo of the lovely ribbons tying the matching sleeves to the stays later in the book. My only complaint is two-fold. I wanted to see more and a smaller, full-length color view of each item would have been wonderful since many of the items haven't been illustrated in books elsewhere.

Comprised primarily of breathtaking photos and limited text, Fashion in Detail made a two hour layover at Newark airport a pleasant experience! These photos reveal the kind of detail one can not absorb during a museum visit either because there are others in line or because one can't get close enough. In order to appreciate the exquisite workmanship and the creative thought that produced what are essentially works of art, in addition to being items of clothing which were actually worn, a photo becomes necessary. Line drawings accompany the text descriptions so that whatever detail is spotlighted in the photo can also be understood in relation to the whole garment. What a gorgeous book! It was worth every penny.

I got the book in the mail today. I don't think I will be able to put it down for one second anytime before next Friday. It is simply the best photographic account of 18th century clothing detail that I have ever seen. I LOVE IT!!!

I'd classify this as a lovely coffee-table book, it has many luxurious detailed close-up pictures of garments, but I wish there were also pictures of the entire garment and diagrams on the pattern construction. It's not all that good of a book as a costuming resource, but worth having in a library for the pretty pictures. I certainly would not recommend paying full price for it.

I will admit that I was somewhat reluctant to purchase this book because I have several others on this time period, but I took the plunge and purchased it. When it arrived it took only a minute to flip through the pages to know that it was a 'keeper.' The photos are excellent, showing the detail we all want to know about but seldom are able to see with typical photos of period clothing. I would rate this book up there with the Koyoto Collection that I have as far as informative. If you are interested in fashions of the time, this book is an excellent addition to your collection.