The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Fashion and Fashion Designers (World of Art) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Georgina Callan (Author), Georgina O'Hara (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

From accordion pleats--"fine, narrow, regular pleating created by sewing or pressing minute DARTS into the fabric of dresses and skirts"--to the Wonderbra--"see BRASSIERE"--and beyond, this dictionary is a reference book for the fashion-forward crowd. In hundreds of concise and informative entries, the universe of fashion from the mid-18th century through the late 1990s is fully documented. More than 300 illustrations (many of them color) offer readers the opportunity to look at designs that are better seen than described: designer Jeanne Lanvin's sketches, the bodystocking, Elsa Peretti's heart-shaped pendants, a 1920s permanent wave, a Fortuny dress. In all, this is a solid reference for readers interested in the history of fashion.

From Booklist

This is an update of the author's Encyclopedia of Fashion: From 1840 to the 1980s (Thames and Hudson, 1989). In more than 1,200 very short entries, it covers fashion from the 1840s (the invention of the sewing machine) to the present. There are more than 350 illustrations, 73 in color.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson; Rev Exp Su edition (July 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 050020313X
• ISBN-13: 978-0500203132
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #506,252 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good, quick reference, December 20, 2000

By A Customer

A handy book when you need to know the difference between jacquard and damask, for example, though I wish there were more pictures for visual reference. Succinct definitions and coverage of major fashion and design terms. All in all, a good addition to anyone's collection of fashion reference books.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars My first book about fashion, July 8, 2000

By	Geri Howg (Tonka Bay, MN United States) - See all my reviews

I recently became interested in fashion, and I think that this was a good book to start me off with. It was fairly informative, but not very detailed. Also, there weren't many pictures of the various designs/designers that were mentioned. I think this is a good book for beginners, but perhaps not enough detail for someone with former knowledge of the fashion world. I LOVE the Body Map illustration on page 38 (did anyone actually WEAR that?!?)

3.0 out of 5 stars Fashion vs style!, November 15, 2007

By	Quentin T. Thomas "style vs. fashion" (Deming, NM) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I like this dictionary it helps me a lot...i thought it was going to be a larger book like the one i saw on a t.v. show called Made, but this is a good source--thank you!