Customer Reviews

A Pictorial History of Costume From Ancient Times to the Nineteenth Century: With Over 1900 Illustrated Costumes, Including 1000 in Full Color (Dover Fashion and Costumes)

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3 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Okay, so I bought this book thinking it would be a useful reference book. It's not. Yes, it has a bunch of illustrations, but it gives no reference information to go with the plates--which, by the way, are simply awful line drawings, some of which are badly colored in to the detriment of the pictures.

Do not buy this book if you want to learn what things are called, the time periods in which they were used, or any specific, detailed information about variations in the general styles for a specific period in time.

On the other hand, if you just want some reference pictures for designign your kid's Halloween costume, then you have plenty to go by.

Gives a basic and brief coverage of both male and female costume from different periods and cultures. mixture of both colour and black and white sketches. no great detail but good enough to present a general idea.

Although the pictures do not go into great detail, this book has a wealth of information for the costume designer. For kid's halloween costumes, school-play costumes, and general information on style and period, this book can be invaluable. Included are full colour and black and white sketches, as well as reproductions of statues and paintings. It is an excellent book for the casual costume designer, though a serious historical re-enactor would need something that provides greater detail.

This has been very helpful in my entering the SCA. I have been able to look at various centuries and get a good overview of what people from different regions would have been wearing. Very fun and helpful.
Only problem--the book began falling apart the first time I opened it. It appears to be rather cheaply made (the glue on the binding did not hold and approx 10 pages fell away from the binding). I wasn't very bothered by it since it is just a fun game/play reference for me. I have even considered punching holes at putting it in a three ring binder but if you plan on cherising it for a keepsake be wary.

Good source of information, could be better. It is somewhat limited in specifics, provides a more general concept, lives out areas of geography that where part of history. It seems that most authors of these type of books collect information mostly from English written sources. I.e. - Medival Europe's axis of power was central and east, not west as this publication suggests. Renaissance was more then just Italy or France. The color plates however are nicely done and if one compares with other contemporary materials, can learn quite a bit of the fashion development of centuries past.

This book is pretty useless. the drawings are too simple, with few lines with poor quality coloring. I bought this book simply because it was cheap if I buy this with the one I wanted to buy originally. And even if this book cost $5, I wouldn't buy if I knew (and paid more than that, and caanot return since I'm living in overseas and shipping cost would be higher than this)
I would NOT recomment this book to anyone, unless they want to waste their money.