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frenchtoast · Oct 28th, 2009, 08:53 PM

I'm taking a Fashion History class in school, and I'm really interested in the subject! I wanted to get some more books to read, and was wondering if you guys had an suggestions of good ones? Thanks!

BigPurseSue · Oct 28th, 2009, 11:40 PM

The textbook I had for my costuming class many, many years ago Was "History of Costume" by Blanche Payne, Harper & Row, 1965. That was the quintessential text at the time and I'm sure there are copies floating around for sale on the Internet. I still have my copy.

I also love Rozsika Parker's "The Subversive Stitch: Embroidery and the Making of the Feminine," The Women's Press, Britain, 1984. Although it's a history of embellishment it's also a history of women's costume and women's social roles through the ages. It's full of fascinating photos.

I have found a lot of obscure and hard-to-find costume-related history books on the web site of a Wisconsin company called The Scarlet Letter (www.scarlet-letter.com). Like "Dress at the Court of King Henry VIII" by Maria Hayward.

madamefifi · Oct 30th, 2009, 03:40 AM

These are more "picture books", but Fashion in Detail: From the 17th and 18th Centuries, by Avril Hart and Susan North, and Dangerous Liasons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century (Metropolitan Museum of Art) by Harold Koda, et al, are two of my favorites. As you might guess I have a love of 18th century fashion.

i<3bags · Oct 30th, 2009, 12:59 PM

FASHION: Vol 1 and 2 by the Kyoto Costume Institute. Which I guess could be considered a picture book, but a very good one.

Our class was titled "History of Textiles and Costumes" and the title of the class text was "Costume and Fashion: A Concise History" by James Laver. Probably one of the coolest classes I took.

k2sealer · Oct 30th, 2009, 03:05 PM

Depends on how much money you want to spend. There are some fashion history books out there that concentrate on a specific time period that can run upwards of $200. "Queen Elizabeth Wardrobe Unlocked" by Janet Arnold comes to mind. It is $169.05 on Amazon right now. I have a couple of books on Italian Ren clothes that are small books but because they are out of print they were each around $100.

Stay away from Auguste Racinet, his information is sketchy. He didn't cite his sources and redrew a lot of the costumes and missed or changed details.

I agree the "History of Costume" is a very good book (see post #2). Covers a wide range of time periods and very accurate information. Pictures of original sources like sculptures, paintings, extant costumes, etc. BTW it is $64.39 on Amazon right now and you can also buy it used for slightly less.

nycfashionlvr · Oct 31st, 2009, 01:00 AM

Ok this is not really a textbook but I feel like anyone who is well informed about the fashion industry and it's history should read it. "Deluxe: How Luxury Lost It Luster"

Oct 28th, 2009, 08:53 PM	#1
frenchtoast OP Member Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 432	Fashion History Books I'm taking a Fashion History class in school, and I'm really interested in the subject! I wanted to get some more books to read, and was wondering if you guys had an suggestions of good ones? Thanks!

Oct 30th, 2009, 03:40 AM	#3
madamefifi cat hoarder Joined: Aug 2006 Location: virginia Posts: 4,020	These are more "picture books", but Fashion in Detail: From the 17th and 18th Centuries, by Avril Hart and Susan North, and Dangerous Liasons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century (Metropolitan Museum of Art) by Harold Koda, et al, are two of my favorites. As you might guess I have a love of 18th century fashion.
	__________________ Since each of us is blessed with only one life, why not live it with a cat? --Robert Stearns Or 10! --Mme Fifi join me at goodreads! http://www.goodreads.com/madamefifi

Oct 30th, 2009, 12:59 PM	#4
i<3bags Member Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,354	FASHION: Vol 1 and 2 by the Kyoto Costume Institute. Which I guess could be considered a picture book, but a very good one. Our class was titled "History of Textiles and Costumes" and the title of the class text was "Costume and Fashion: A Concise History" by James Laver. Probably one of the coolest classes I took.
i<3bags Member Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,354	__________________

Oct 30th, 2009, 03:05 PM	#5
k2sealer Call me K2 Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,033	Depends on how much money you want to spend. There are some fashion history books out there that concentrate on a specific time period that can run upwards of $200. "Queen Elizabeth Wardrobe Unlocked" by Janet Arnold comes to mind. It is $169.05 on Amazon right now. I have a couple of books on Italian Ren clothes that are small books but because they are out of print they were each around $100. Stay away from Auguste Racinet, his information is sketchy. He didn't cite his sources and redrew a lot of the costumes and missed or changed details. I agree the "History of Costume" is a very good book (see post #2). Covers a wide range of time periods and very accurate information. Pictures of original sources like sculptures, paintings, extant costumes, etc. BTW it is $64.39 on Amazon right now and you can also buy it used for slightly less.
k2sealer Call me K2 Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,033

Oct 28th, 2009, 11:40 PM	#2
BigPurseSue Member Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Amid the prairies of the Midwest with the tiger swallow-tail butterflies. Posts: 1,315	The textbook I had for my costuming class many, many years ago Was "History of Costume" by Blanche Payne, Harper & Row, 1965. That was the quintessential text at the time and I'm sure there are copies floating around for sale on the Internet. I still have my copy. I also love Rozsika Parker's "The Subversive Stitch: Embroidery and the Making of the Feminine," The Women's Press, Britain, 1984. Although it's a history of embellishment it's also a history of women's costume and women's social roles through the ages. It's full of fascinating photos. I have found a lot of obscure and hard-to-find costume-related history books on the web site of a Wisconsin company called The Scarlet Letter (www.scarlet-letter.com). Like "Dress at the Court of King Henry VIII" by Maria Hayward.
	__________________ "My wife would not think of leaving the house for even a half hour without sufficient possessions in her purse alone to establish a comfortable wilderness homestead." -- Dave Barry

Oct 31st, 2009, 01:00 AM	#6
nycfashionlvr Member Joined: Apr 2009 Location: New York City Posts: 420	Ok this is not really a textbook but I feel like anyone who is well informed about the fashion industry and it's history should read it. "Deluxe: How Luxury Lost It Luster"

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