Customer Reviews

Great Fashion Designs of the Twenties: Paper Dolls in Full Color

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I had this paper doll book about 16 years ago when my mother was despairing at my inability to use scissors neatly, and it ended up being very helpful. I had no idea it was still in print. The illustrations are lovely and detailed, and I remember the paper being well-printed, and good quality. Dover books are usually excellent. Recommended either for the purpose I had it for, or to browse through. Great Fashion Designs of the Victorian Era also had some very nice designs.

Tom Tierney has put together a wonderful set of paper dolls in this book. He has beautifully traced the development of fashion during the course of the twenties. Included are sportswear, elegant daywear, sumptuous evening gowns and a fabulous wedding dress by Worth. My favorites were the fur wrap over a drop waisted dress by Louiseboulanger, a look often seen in photos of film stars of the era, and the Egyptian gown fit for a vamp like Theda Bara. I also like the resemblance of one of the dolls to Mae Murray as it adds a touch of authenticity.

Tom Tierney has produced (at least) five collections for the 1920s, each focussing on a different aspect of clothing. His American Family of the 1920s Paper Dolls in Full Color concentrates on the clothing of ordinary, moderately well-off people. His Roaring Twenties Paper Dolls collection is about costumes for the younger, more fashionable set. This is a collection of haute couture for the period. There are also volumes of Erte fashions (e.g. More Erte: Fashion Paper Dolls of the Twenties.)

Tierney's paper doll clothes would be somewhat difficult to cut out, but these books make an excellent fashion reference. Each piece has a clear description, with details of fabric, hair, etc.