Vintage Style 1920-1960 (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) [Hardcover]

Desire Smith (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Schiffer Book for Collectors | Publication Date: December 1997

Fashion fanatics with a passion for the past will find a smorgasbord of wearable oldies in this new study by an expert in twentieth century fashion. Focusing on the great styles that emerged from the diverse eras between 1925 and 1965, the text places the clothing in its cultural habitat while more than 350 beautiful color photographs demonstrate the quality fabrics, dynamic designs, and careful workmanship that made the clothing last, both in condition and popularity. Chapters cover couture designers whose vintage clothes can be found on the market today, with chronologically arranged coats, suits, dresses, lingerie, handbags, shoes, and hats. The hats chapter has a unique and especially useful pictorial dating guide. Vintage Style was written for museum curators and preservationists, students and fashion designers, dealers, collectors, costumers, and reenactors-everyone who lives for fashion!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Philadelphia-based author Desire Smith is a major collector and dealer in vintage fashions. Her previous book, Hats (1996), has been widely acknowledged as an important fashion reference work.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 247 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Pub Ltd (December 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764303023
• ISBN-13: 978-0764303029
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,410,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource Book, July 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Vintage Style 1920-1960 (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Hardcover)

Though a bit expensive, this book is well worth the money! We sell vintage clothing and this has been an invaluable resource guide. I return to it time and time again. Packed with beautiful color photos...descriptions...glossary...great period millinery ads. A must for the collector or dealer in vintage clothing!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Vintage Style 1920-1960, August 18, 2007

By 

Victoria Hannah (Sydney Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vintage Style 1920-1960 (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Hardcover)

This book is packed full of photographs and is very informative,but if mannequins are going to be used to exhibit the garments, as is often the case, then time has to be taken to pin them in to make sure they look good on. Some of the garments photographed are just hanging loosely and the overall photography of this book (focus and lighting) has a dull feel to it. A bit of a shame because the content is wonderful.

3.0 out of 5 stars Cool styles poor photos, February 22, 2011

By 

Kim Griffiths (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vintage Style 1920-1960 (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Hardcover)

I loved seeing the fashions but the photo quality is poor. Huge shadows on some clothes and blurry edges on black. Then again it was published in 97 so digital cameras were not common place then. The price guide as most are is ridiculous.