Fashions of a Decade: The 1970s (Fashions of a Decade Series) [Hardcover]

Jacqueline Herald (Author), Jacqueline Herald (Author), Elane Feldman (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Fashions of a Decade Series | Publication Date: September 1992

Looks at how the fashions of the 1970s reflected the social, historical and cultural events of that decade.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up-- In these two books, social phenomena in music, politics, economics, environment, technology, and art are correlated, where appropriate, with fashion influences. The 1970s includes chapters on "Black Is Beautiful," "Dressed to Clash," "Trash Culture," etc. It contains many references to British establishments and life, and primarily discusses Western styles, although a few Eastern elements are included. The 1990s volume includes "Sportswear Gets Active," "Proud To Be Me," and "Eco-Aware." The major flaw is that the book understandably includes only two years' worth of information; certainly the years 1993-1999 deserve treatment before a volume may purport to be about the entire decade. In both works, an abundance of full-color and black-and-white illustrations and photographs amplify the text with generally appropriate placement and captions. A minor annoyance is that a few captions under black-and-white pictures mention a color that is not shown in the illustration. Also, boxes of information set into the text sometimes interfere with continuity. These books are similar to the "Decade" series (Steck-Vaughn), which cover a wider breadth of social and political information on each period. More extensive coverage is available in the "Fabulous Decade" series (Time-Life). Libraries wanting to complete the set will definitely want the 1970s , but should carefully consider the limitations of the 1990s . --Lois McCulley, Wichita Falls High School, TX
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Although this is part of the Fashions of a Decade series, there is almost as much here about the decade as there is about the fashion. The excellent photographs and illustrations, many from ads and magazines of the era, emphasize what was being shown by designers and worn by everyday women, but the text also discusses what was going on in the world: the cold war, segregation, the Cuban Revolution, and the role of women in society. There is also a good deal of information about the new miracle fabrics, such as rayon, that were taking over the fashion industry. Men's fashions are not neglected, with a discussion of both business wear ("The man in the gray flannel suit") and leisure wear. There is also an emphasis on the different ways that Hollywood influenced what a woman wore and how women were seemingly divided between girls next door and sirens. Organization is weak, but this will still work for report writers or browsers. Chronology and glossary appended. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Facts on File (September 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816024707
• ISBN-13: 978-0816024704
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,847,212 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good for adults too!, April 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Fashions of a Decade: The 1920s (Hardcover)

I thought this book was well written, even if it is supposedly for kids. It was full of information, pictures, and interesting trivia. As a free-lance writer and researcher of the Twenties, it's a good book to have in one's personal library!

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, March 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Fashions of a Decade: The 1940s (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book. Its an interesting read about the effect of WWII on world fashion and also a helpful resorce guide to fashion and trends of the era. I must for any vintage clothing collector or swing kid!

15 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Source Book for historical costumes!, March 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Fashions of a Decade: The 1940s (Hardcover)

I found this book to be well writen and researched. The illustrations were great, and very inspiring. I can't wait to try and sew some of these fashions myself. The historical aspects of the Fashions of the 1940s was very informative.