Victorian and Edwardian Fashion: A Photographic Survey (Dover Fashion and Costumes) [Paperback]

Alison Gernsheim (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Fashion and Costumes | Publication Date: January 1, 1982

A noted photohistorian documents bonnets, capes, frock coats, caps, shawls, bodices, and crinolines as people actually wore them from 1840 through 1914. More than 200 photos depict aristocrats and the middle class as well as Oscar Wilde, Lillie Langtry, Winston Churchill, Queen Victoria, and others. Commentary and annotations describe and identify the costumes.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (January 1, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486242056
• ISBN-13: 978-0486242057
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,471 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Textiles & Costume
  • #87 in Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Textile & Costume

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why didn't Amazon recommend this sooner?, May 23, 2002

By 

Margaret P Harvey (Charlottesville, Va United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Victorian and Edwardian Fashion: A Photographic Survey (Dover Fashion and Costumes) (Paperback)

I have bought (and loved) several costume research books on the Victorian/Edwardian era. Fashion plate oriented books, most notably "Victorian and Edwardian Fashions from 'La Mode Illustree'", are great for research, but for true visual aides, the photographs found in this book are indispensable. The photos range from amateur snapshots to posed, professionally done portraits. With an almost equal distribution of male and female subjects, this book may be the best guide to authentic Victorian and Edwardian costume. Unlike fashion plates, the photos show costumes for a variety of occasions and suitable for different ages and sizes. Spanning the entire Victorian and Edwardian eras, you can locate most popular styles within the tons of black and white photos. For realism, check out this book. If you are more interested in the latest in fashion of the time, check out "Victorian and Edwardian Fashions from 'La Mode Illustree'". A great source!

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Advanced, easy and fun reading on fashion of this period, January 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Victorian and Edwardian Fashion: A Photographic Survey (Dover Fashion and Costumes) (Paperback)

I love this book, have read it before in the earlier edition (Fashion and reality.) as I haven't read them paralelly I take their word for it that this edition is revised. All the elements I appreciated are still there.Beautifull, clear photographs with every detail showing.Blocks of text on the fashion in generall. Comments on the changes of fashion and how different factors interlink, obvius once pointed out but not seen in many other books. Such as who leads fashion, follows the main stream or is allready out of fashion, and why! Individuall short texts for each photo, wich points out what can bee studied in this particular picture.That in the same photo a person may wear warying items, in fashion different years, and you must look for the youngest element in order to date it. A clear deffinition of the aim and boundrys of the book, notes to quotations, index, and a bibliography all adds upp to an impression of a reliabel and abel author who has researched the subject thorougly. In addition she manages to write an english that is fun and easy to read even for me who does not have it as my first language.

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great selection of victorian photographs, August 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Victorian and Edwardian Fashion: A Photographic Survey (Dover Fashion and Costumes) (Paperback)

This book is perfect for anyone interested in the Victorian Era. The book is full of beautiful pictures, and each one has its own caption. The pictures are all in order by year, so its fun to see how the dresses and hairstyles slowly changed from 1840-1910. Besides pictures, there is also alot of interesting reading. You get to learn all about men, women, and children's fashions of this era.