Nineteenth Century Costumes

The nineteenth century was a period of continuous change for women's clothing in England. The growing prosperity of the merchant class meant an ever-larger number of women for whom "dress" was a principal function in life, while the increasing availability of lower-priced ready-made garments enabled women of moderate means to purchase the fashions of the day. In addition, the development of the railways spurred the spread of new goods, while the removal of the tax on papers in 1854 produced an a... [Read More]

What People Wore When combines the studies of two classic nineteenth-century illustrators Auguste Racinet and Friedrich Hottenroth for the first time. Their works are presented first by chronology and then by subject, so that illustrators, historians, and students alike can choose to follow the path of fashion through the centuries, or study in detail the contrasting styles of individual clothing and accessories. Silhouettes reveal the shape of style through the ages, detailed cross-references d... [Read More]

Exuberantly written reference presents a kaleidoscopic panorama of clothing styles worn in period covering the last years of George III to latter part of Victoria's reign. Charming descriptions and illustrations of such authentic outfits as a French court dress (1818), Garibaldi shirt (1861), and evening dress (1865). 200 black-and-white, 27 color illustrations.

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 (1820), a magnificent silk dress with an extended bustle and pleated overskirt (1880), more.

An up-close look at the defining features of exquisitely crafted nineteenth-century fashion in vivid detailFashion in Detail: 1800–1900 showcases the opulence and variety of nineteenth century fashion through exquisite color photography of garment details paired with line drawings showing the complete construction of each piece. From the delicate embroidery on neoclassical gowns to the vibrant colors of crinolines and the elegant tailoring of men’s coats, the richness of the period is reveal... [Read More]

Now in paperback with a new cover, this volume celebrates 19th-century fashion in lavishly illustrated detail. From the delicate embroidery on ballgowns to the vibrant synthetic colors of crinolines, the major themes of 19th-century fashion are explored as never before in this exquisite book. Featuring specially commissioned color photographs of garments from the V&A’s superb collection and many close-up details, alongside accurate line drawings of each garment’s underlying structure, the bo... [Read More]

These superb color plates by Hippolyte Pauquet and his brother Polydore, reproduced directly from a rare and valuable nineteenth-century publication, magnificently depict 500 years of French fashion.Starting with the flamboyant headgear and voluminous robes of fifteenth-century royalty, the artfully rendered illustrations progress chronologically to the high-waisted Empire styles of the Napoleonic era. Members of the nobility and upper classes are well represented here. Portraits of lavishly gar... [Read More]

Book by Theriault, Florence