The Victorian Age, named for the British Queen Victoria, was a time of unprecedented social change. Clothing went through great transformations as well—new inventions like the sewing machine, paper patterns, and synthetic dyes allowed for mass production of inexpensive clothing, and the rise of the department store, the fashion press, and the catalog allowed people living in London or San Francisco to buy the latest Paris fashions. Spanning the years from 1837 to 1901, The Victorian Age examines fashion during this era, when social position could be determined by a person's dress. Specific coverage includes the rising popularity of facial hair, the crinoline, the industrialization of fabric production, beaver hats and whalebone corsets, the invention of colors such as mauve and magenta, the recycling of clothes, Little Lord Fauntleroy suits, mourning dress, military clothing, and New York High Society.

Contains 184 authentic sewing patterns and instructions for women's garments. Includes special rulers that enable drafting to custom sizes. Quotes from original fashion magazines and other sources give additional information on construction, materials, and wardrobe planning. Also included is an 87-page, illustrated manual on period dressmaking and millinery. For theatrical and reenactment costumers, vintage clothing collectors, brides, and doll artists.

From hoop skirts to bustles: a practical book that's also fun to colorAn era that saw women's fashions go from hoop skirts to softly draped bustles, the late Victorian and Edwardian periods also provided well-to-do ladies with elegant day dresses featuring leg-o'-mutton sleeves and lavish evening wear with plunging necklines. Twenty-nine colorable illustrations of fashionable apparel from the 1860s through 1910 depict — among other outfits — opera capes, frock coats, top hats, and knitted swimwear for men; and for the ladies, walking suits with narrow skirts, bathing outfits that completely cover the figure, and billowing bloomers for bicycling. A dazzling collection for theatrical designers, fashion historians, and style mavens; delightful entertainment for colorists of all ages.

A 26 minute color video that features the clothes of this era, how they were worn, by whom, with what, and when. Great for costume designers as well as history and fashion students.

The Victorians adored fancy-dress parties: what better way to escape the rigidity of social conventions than to spend a festive evening disguised as Cleopatra, a Swiss milkmaid, or Alice in Wonderland? Well-to-do party-goers of the era consulted Fancy Dresses Described, an elaborate guide to hundreds of glorious costumes. The book was so popular that it was updated several times; this is the sixth and final edition, originally published in 1896. Time has transformed it into an important historical document as well as an abundant cosplay resource. Twenty color and 40 black-and-white illustrations enhance the alphabetical entries, which are mostly for women's costumes but include a section on children's dress. Costumes range from the peasant garb of Austria, Italy, and Ireland to the finery of the six wives of Henry VIII, Marie Antoinette, and other members of French and English royalty. Additional entries spotlight characters from Shakespeare and Dickens; traditional apparel of Egypt and ancient Greece and Rome; Cinderella, Maid Marian, and other folkloric figures; as well as outfits suggested by astronomy, the seasons, the animal kingdom, and other thematic subjects. Costume desig... [Read More]

Contains 160 authentic sewing patterns and instructions for women's garments. Includes special rulers that enable drafting to custom sizes. Quotes from period fashion magazines and other sources give additional information on construction, materials, and wardrobe planning. For theatrical and reenactment costumers, vintage clothing collectors, brides, and doll artists.

During the first quarter of this century, the pen-and-ink illustrations of Charles Daba Gibson (1867‒1944) set the tone for illustrators everywhere, and their intrinsic charm continues to captivate. A brilliant social satirist and later an accomplished painter, he put his indelible stamp on an era with his lovely creation, the Gibson Girl.With unusual deftness, directness and economy of line, Gibson, barely in his 20s, idealized the glamor and sophistication of the American woman in masterly pen-and-ink drawings. The appeal of his beautiful, animated young ladies was instantaneous — and universal — and the Gibson Girl's manner, hairstyles and dress were eagerly imitated by women around the world. At home, his illustrations of the Gibson Girl swimming, golfing, boating, seemed to give impetus to the liberation of the American woman.For this lavish volume, artist Tom Tierney has painstakingly recreated the Gibson Girl as a paper doll, in full color, while retaining the essence of the originator's virtuosic pen strokes. This charming collection includes two Gibson Girl paper dolls with 24 exquisite period costumes and complete accessories: a stately presentation gown worn at the... [Read More]

A feast of opulent styles for colorists and fashion devotees, this entertaining and informative coloring book features a grand array of the sumptuous clothing style of the Victorian era. Each page offers a captivating glimpse of the gloriously embellished gowns of this bygone age, all carefully researched and accurately rendered by artist Tom Tierney.This collection of 45 illustrations, adapted from the pages of such vintage fashions publications as Modes des Paris and Godey's Lady's Book, reveals in lovingly detailed vignettes a wealth of fashions from the years 1837 to 1877. Newlyweds Queen Victoria and Prince Albert open the collection of ready-to-color line drawings in a portrait of formal evening wear. A dazzling array of elaborate, narrow-waisted, full-skirted gowns follows. The ensembles, trimmed with all manners of lace, tassels, ribbons, and bows, feature dainty accessories such as flowered and feathered bonnets, fans, kid gloves, and parasols. Outfitted for riding, swimming, walking, and visiting, the well-dressed ladies occasionally appear with gentlemen in formal suits or smartly attired children.

A royal assembly of British monarchs, spanning over 1,200 years of history, fills the pages of this exciting coloring book. Beginning with Alfred the Great (who ruled from 871‒899) and ending with the reigning queen, Elizabeth II, this regal parade invites you to have fun coloring while you learn fascinating facts about thirty rulers who have played important roles in English history.In addition to the two sovereigns mentioned above, you'll also find detailed, well-researched drawings of William the Conqueror (1606‒1087) setting sail from France to claim the English throne; Richard I, "the Lionheart" (1189‒1199) leading Crusaders into battle; Elizabeth I (1558‒1603) at the knighting of Sir Francis Drake aboard the Golden Hind; the execution of Charles I in 1649; and numerous other scenes depicting Richard III, Henry VIII, Mary I ("Bloody Mary"), Queen Victoria, King George VI, and many more.Each monarch is shown in authentic costume, in a setting or event from his or her reign. Brief captions describe the scene illustrated.

In the years shortly before the Civil War, many Southern plantation owners and their families "summered" in the cooler climate of the northern states, often along the New England coast. These journeys frequently included side trips to New York, Boston, or Philadelphia to replenish the family's wardrobes with the latest fashions. The particularly wealthy occasionally went to Europe, returning home with stylish apparel from London or Paris.Clothing worn during this period by members of antebellum society conveyed a distinct glamor and elegance. Tom Tierney captures the fine details of authentic garments in 29 ready-to-color illustrations. Included are walking costumes, evening gowns, morning and afternoon dresses, and wedding apparel for women, as well as suits, vests, trousers, and handsome military uniforms for the men.Descriptive captions accompany illustrations in an attractive coloring book that will not only please coloring book fans, but will also be of use to costume historians and designers.

Tracing the evolution of fashion--from the early draped fabrics of ancient times to the catwalk couture of today--a stunning guide illustrates more than 3,000 years of shifting trends and innovative developments in the world of

From the momentous invention of the needle some 40,000 years ago to the development of blue denim, this classic guide covers the landmarks of costume history, the forms and materials used through the ages, as well as the ways in which clothes have been used to protect, to express identity, and to attract or influence others. For the fifth edition, Amy de la Haye, former Curator of Twentieth-Century Dress at the Victoria and Albert Museum, has revised the final chapter and included a new section addressing the fashion industry in the twenty-first century. She discusses the expansion of the Asian

Dress codes: The ultimate compendium of clothing Clothes define people. A person's attire, whether it's a sari, kimono, or business suit, is an essential code to his or her culture, class, personality, even faith. Founded in 1978, the Kyoto Costume Institute recognizes the importance of understanding clothes from sociological, historical, and artistic perspectives. With one of the world's most extensive clothing collections, the KCI has amassed a wide range of historical garments, underwear, shoes, and fashion accessories dating from the 18th century to the present day.Showcasing the Institute's vast collection, Fashion is a fascinating excursion through the last three centuries