Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700-1915 [Hardcover]

Sharon Sadako Takeda (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 15, 2010

Luxurious textiles, exacting tailoring, and lush trimmings abound in this glorious volume that celebrates the evolution of European dress through two centuries.
Fashion is in the details. The textiles, tailoring, and trimmings all work together in the creation of the finest pieces. Drawing on the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's internationally known fashion collection, this gorgeous book tells the story--in words and beautiful pictures--of fashion's aesthetic and technical development from the Age of Enlightenment to World War I, a period when fashionable dress underwent sweeping changes. Many remarkable examples of men's, women's, and children's garments are featured here for the first time, including an extraordinarily rare 1790s man's vest designed to promote sympathy with the French Revolution; a stunning 1845 black satin gown from the royal court of Portugal heavily embroidered with gold; and an 1891 evening mantle with silk embroidery, glass beads, and ostrich feathers designed by French couturier Émile Pingat. An invaluable resource for anyone interested in the evolution of fashion, this generously illustrated book provides a rich visual history of the changes that occurred in fashionable dress spanning a period of more than two hundred years.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In this beautifully produced publication, the narrative centers on a collection of 18th- and 19th-century European garments and accessories recently acquired by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art...Its concentration on the textiles, tailoring, and trim that went into the construction of these articles of dress gives readers an exceptional level of visual access to the often-exquisite details of historical fashion design. --Choice

This sumptuous catalog showcases the Kamer-Ruf Collection...Essays and a timeline of fashion trace the development of tastes and silhouettes from the Age of Enlightenment to World War I, highlighting a gorgeous assortment of luxurious clothes...Large close-up photos show the complex subtleties of lace, woven textiles, and printed fabrics, as well as surfaces worked with breathtaking networks of embroidery, beadwork, and fancy trims. --Fiberarts Magazine

Luxurious textiles, exacting tailoring, and lush trimmings abound in this glorious volume that celebrates the evolution of European dress through two centuries. --Sophisticated Living Magazine

From the Inside Flap

Luxurious textiles, exacting tailoring, and lush trimmings abound in this glorious volume that celebrates the evolution of European dress through two centuries.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Prestel USA; First Edition edition (December 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3791350625
• ISBN-13: 978-3791350622
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 1 x 12.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Beauty, Grooming, & Style > Style & Clothing

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous book December 30, 2010

By C. Filson

Format:Hardcover

This book is a catalogue of the Fashioning Fashion historical clothing exhibit at LACMA [Los Angeles County Museum of Art]. Not only is the book huge with equally large, well-lit and clear color photos of breathtaking garments, but it expands upon the exhibit with additional photos and page after page of text. A brilliant book and must-have for anyone remotely interested in historical clothing or costume. Definitely worth the money, it is heavy and the photos are full-page. Excellent layout, well written and researched. Fantastic. While women's costumes always outnumber the men's in exhibits [and this is no exception], there are actually a good number of men's outfits, and what was chosen for display is.. the best. White suede riding breeches, not a mark on them. A silk Regency era top hat with a tiny flared brim. An 18th century silk satin suit embroidered in pink! Genius.

That said, the book is a poor mimic of the actual clothing. While this is one of the best costume books I have ever owned, it completely pales in comparison to the actual exhibit. I wouldn't have known how much better the clothes looked in person if I hadn't been to the actual exhibit. This is no slur upon the book-- there's just really no way to capture everything without seeing it yourself. All of the pieces shown are in absolutely mint condition, and they are clearly displayed up close, some even with a mirror behind the mannequin so you can see the back. A large 18th century embroidered satin piece is put under glass and hung on the wall, so you can see every perfect stitch, millimeters from your eyes.

It is the best costume exhibit I have seen thus far, and probably one of the best I will ever see. It is quite large, and there are no "filler" items.... I don't even have a favorite piece because I can't possibly choose between them. Unbelievable. If you are anywhere near Los Angeles, go see this exhibit! It runs through March 6.

[...]

Just be sure to buy the book through amazon and not through the gift shop, you'll save 20 bucks. Read more ›

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book October 20, 2010

By Brit

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is outstanding! It's very informative and well-written, but of course the best part is all the great pictures of gorgeous clothing! I'd highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in historical fashion.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Lavish details, lots of full shots March 20, 2011

By J. Nunn

Format:Hardcover

One of the best things about this beautiful book is that it does not stint on the extreme close up details such as methods of quality embroidery and stitching, yet it gives a balanced comparison between the close ups and the full shots on manikins so you can understand how they were used in context. I have both of the V&A fashion in detail books, which are so beautiful but one wishes one could see the entire finished product as well; this book does that. Covering the types of textiles used traditionally, tailoring, and even showing comparisons of how antique styles directly inspire and influence modern fashion (but sparingly fortunately), this book really is a nice comprehensive overview of European fashion from the mid 1700s to the early 1900s. The photographer did a fantastic job!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful detail indeed March 19, 2011

By L. M. Walker

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a gorgeous picture book, with super-sharp, super-close detail photos on many items. For anyone who tries to replicate garments and techniques, this book is a marvel -- the close-up photos are actually big enough to see how things were done. The garments chosen are beautiful in the full shots, as well. The pictures alone would justify the cost, but the text is also detailed and informative. If you're interested in only one particular era or type of clothing, it may leave you wanting more, but what it includes will still blow you away.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful! Get one quick!! April 12, 2011

By C. Conrad

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I LOVE this beautiful book. Bought it on the recommendation of a needlework blogger. Every page is informative fun. Gorgeous photos. If you sew or make embellishments on pre-purchased clothing, you won't go wrong buying this volume for inspiration. Amazing garments as works of art. Tambour work, beading, embroidery, button-making - whatever your interest, you'll get so many ideas, you won't know which to try first!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing! If you can't make the show, the book is even better! March 17, 2011

By Yve

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is even more amazing than the exhibit at LACMA, which is why it is sold out at the LACMA store. I actually would have purchased it for the $56 (or so) at the bookstore, but am just as happy to have waited to get it for 30% less on Amazon.

The pictures give great detail to the costumes and accessories displayed, with detailed history/origin which you can't get from the exhibit.

completely worth buying if you have even a slight interest in European or Western clothing during these periods. I especially like the break down of MENS fashion, and how it went from colorful and decorative to it's current darker palette.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting History and Beautiful Pictures April 16, 2011

By HolJo

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The detailed history in this book is facinating. I purchased it because I read a lot of historical fiction from this era and I wanted to get a visual of what my favorite characters would have been wearing at the time. I thought I would mostly be looking at pictures, but I found myself very engrossed in the narrative as well. It was so interesting to read about the changes in fashion and how they were inspired. I also enjoyed learning about the availability of colors and how advancements were made in dyes. There was a lot more to learn than I expected.

The pictures were really well done. Closeups are included that show the stitching detail and the fabrics of the time. My only complaint was that I wish there had been more pics. Don't get me wrong, there was a lot, but I would have liked to see even more, and more variety.