The Art of Dress: Fashion in England and France, 1750-1820 (Hardcover)

by Ms. Aileen Ribeiro (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Ribeiro, head of the History of Dress Department at the University of London, explores 18th century fashion by examining how period artists portrayed individuals. English and French portraits from 1750-1820 are utilized to show how social and cultural changes were reflected in fashions and art depictions of the times. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Description
This handsome book examines English and French fashion from 1750-1820 by studying the art of the period, and it shows how changes in dress reflected social, political, and cultural developments in the two countries. It will be essential and delightful reading for those interested in eighteenth-century and early nineteenth-century art or fashion.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 264 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (August 30, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300062877
• ISBN-13: 978-0300062878
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 10 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,543,479 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book! Lovely pictures and tremendous amount of info., April 14, 2000

By A Customer

Art of Dress is essential in its information about the evolution of men's and women's clothing from 1750 to 1820. I bought this book in helping me to research the empire style dress of 1790s and early 1800s. It has helped me in my researching and placing me within the world of fashion during the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. The fashion trends of underdress and overdress as well as hairstyles and clothing are shown in excess in this fabulous book. There are marvelous pictures of royalty of France (Empress Josephine Bonaparte) and her sisters. It is a definite 10 in my book!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous reference material, December 17, 2001

By A Customer

I have so many costume history books that I have a hard time remembering which is which. This one stands out. It's one of my favorites. The photos are fabulous. The book shows not only high fashion of the time, it also has a whole chapter on fancy dress, or masquerade costumes from the period. Here are reproductions of paintings like the one by Gainsborough of the Hon. Frances Duncombe, a beautiful lady all done up in an 18th century version of 16th century costume. All I can say is it's a great book with images that you will not find anywhere else.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Visual Feast, August 19, 2003

By	yardoftin "mailcoach" (Attica, KS USA) - See all my reviews

The Art of Dress uses paintings from the period 1750 to 1820 to place period examples of clothing before the reader's eyes. Fashions from Rocco splendor through the Directorate's simple classicism are paraded before our eyes in exquisite reproductions of numerous paintings. The text of the book provides an informed overview of the period with enough detail to bring the time alive. My only complaint is that a very little more detail would have better conveyed the changes and vogues in fashion during this exciting and varied period in fashion history. This is an excellent book that narrowly misses setting a benchmark.