Masterpieces of Womens Costume of the 18th and 19th Centuries (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Splendid view of elegant dresses, expertly rendered by noted theatrical designer, includes finely detailed illustrations of 32 complete costumes and three blouses, shown in color and black-and-white. Here are exquisitely embroidered, full-skirted dresses circa 1700, a high-waisted Empire dress of sheer muslin (1820), a magnificent silk dress with an extended bustle and pleated overskirt (1880) and many other sumptuous outfits—all accompanied by line drawings of shoes, undergarments, gloves, headgear, and other accessories. Detailed, descriptive text.

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; illustrated edition edition (July 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486417069
• ISBN-13: 978-0486417066
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #626,657 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A useful book for details, June 15, 2006

By	Elizabeth A. Root (Laurel, MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is a slightly altered reproduction of a book originally published in 1959. Aline Bernstein, who among other things was a theatrical costume designer, produced the material in 1930 with the aid of a Rockefeller Grant. All are based on actual costumes.

Bernstein has presented drawings of 31 dresses and 3 Regency spencer jackets. There are small, but clear color reproductions, four to each approximately 9" x 12" plate, on eight plates in the center of the book. In addition, there is a full page sized black-and-white reproduction of each costume.

The strength of this book is that each fashion is accompanied by a drawing of a contemporary hair style, shoes, and the undergarments, including corsets, petticoats, etc., which would often have to be pulled from different reference sources. Many are also accompanied by a drawing of the pattern for the main item. The patterns are not scaled to different sizes.

A useful reference book, especially given the price.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Masterpieces of Women's Costume of the 18th and 19th Centuries, August 29, 2005

By	Suzanne M. Parker (Durango, Colorado) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found this to be a worthwhile purchase for an individual interested in the details of women's clothing from these periods. I am using this book to get ideas for creating authentic reproductions of Victorian clothing.