Twentieth-Century Fashion : The Complete Sourcebook

Rating:
Summary: Charming yet Incomplete
Review: "Fashion book" was on my running wish list, and I needed one as a resource for my penchant for dressing for the period and theme of the symphonies and theater I attend. While looking for a 1940s hat in a vintage clothing store in Fort Collins, the storekeeper kept "20th Century Fashion" by John Peacock as a resource. I glanced through it and decided, without any other information on fashion books, that this one would work. There are some drawbacks to the book in general. The title is quite misleading: It should read "Nine Decades or 90 Years of Women's Fashion." It does NOT include the entire 20th century, missing the entire last decade. Further, the book includes only women's fashion; no men's fashions here, but it seems Peacock has written a special one for that. The layout is a bit difficult, with the descriptions as a chunk at the end of each decade chapter instead of on the opposing page for each category. All the colors seem a bit muted; and, of course, varied female body images are not portrayed. Last of all, much of the fashion seems to be just that, "fashion" and most likely not what was seen on the run-of-the-mill, average woman on the streets and in the homes of these nine decades. The couturiers and designers biographies appendix seems to lack some prominent later 20th century designers (Vanderbilt, Claiborne, etc.); but the Chart of the Development of 20th Century Fashion appendix makes up for that. Overall, the drawings are simply charming, the categorization by class of clothing in each half decade for each decade chapter, and the hairstyles and depiction of hat styles make this book worthwhile.

Rating:
Summary: Charming yet Incomplete
Review: "Fashion book" was on my running wish list, and I needed one as a resource for my penchant for dressing for the period and theme of the symphonies and theater I attend. While looking for a 1940s hat in a vintage clothing store in Fort Collins, the storekeeper kept "20th Century Fashion" by John Peacock as a resource. I glanced through it and decided, without any other information on fashion books, that this one would work. There are some drawbacks to the book in general. The title is quite misleading: It should read "Nine Decades or 90 Years of Women's Fashion." It does NOT include the entire 20th century, missing the entire last decade. Further, the book includes only women's fashion; no men's fashions here, but it seems Peacock has written a special one for that. The layout is a bit difficult, with the descriptions as a chunk at the end of each decade chapter instead of on the opposing page for each category. All the colors seem a bit muted; and, of course, varied female body images are not portrayed. Last of all, much of the fashion seems to be just that, "fashion" and most likely not what was seen on the run-of-the-mill, average woman on the streets and in the homes of these nine decades. The couturiers and designers biographies appendix seems to lack some prominent later 20th century designers (Vanderbilt, Claiborne, etc.); but the Chart of the Development of 20th Century Fashion appendix makes up for that. Overall, the drawings are simply charming, the categorization by class of clothing in each half decade for each decade chapter, and the hairstyles and depiction of hat styles make this book worthwhile.

Rating:
Summary: Among the best costume history books...
Review: Comprehensive, but brief enough so that one does not get lost in a tangle of illustrations and texts. Excellent discriptions for the clothing, and accurate, well drawn pictures. A must have for every costumer or clothing lover.

Rating:
Summary: Well organized, comprehensive, clothes beautifully presented
Review: Considering the rapid changes of fashion in the 20th century, this is an ambitious work that largely succeeds. Shame on Amazon for listing Christian Lacroix as photographer. Lacroix only wrote the preface! The book is NOT a photograph collection; it is all Peacock's artwork. His choices are probably better in the earlier years. In the later decades he tends to feature extremes rather than standard wear. I remember the 50s on and never saw in real life some of the things he depicts. Still it's a beautiful book! His renderings are charming. He draws the clothing very well (not so good with hands and feet and his heads vary wildly in size but I niggle).

Rating:
Summary: Well organized, comprehensive, clothes beautifully presented
Review: Considering the rapid changes of fashion in the 20th century, this is an ambitious work that largely succeeds. Shame on Amazon for listing Christian Lacroix as photographer. Lacroix only wrote the preface! The book is NOT a photograph collection; it is all Peacock's artwork. His choices are probably better in the earlier years. In the later decades he tends to feature extremes rather than standard wear. I remember the 50s on and never saw in real life some of the things he depicts. Still it's a beautiful book! His renderings are charming. He draws the clothing very well (not so good with hands and feet and his heads vary wildly in size but I niggle).

Rating:
Summary: great "handbook"
Review: I'm a vintage clothing dealer and use this book constantly. Not as a reference for myself (there are many better books on this subject) but as a guide to show customers a general guide to the "look" of a certain period. The picture outline format is great for just illustrating trends in outfits from the time. I show them how you can capture a look with certain styles or accessories that may or even may not be period. It is a wonderful tool that I have used many, many times. I may not recommend it as a comprehensive guide to vintage, but as a visual tool for a quick education at a glance, you can't beat it.

Rating:
Summary: great "handbook"
Review: I'm a vintage clothing dealer and use this book constantly. Not as a reference for myself (there are many better books on this subject) but as a guide to show customers a general guide to the "look" of a certain period. The picture outline format is great for just illustrating trends in outfits from the time. I show them how you can capture a look with certain styles or accessories that may or even may not be period. It is a wonderful tool that I have used many, many times. I may not recommend it as a comprehensive guide to vintage, but as a visual tool for a quick education at a glance, you can't beat it.

Rating:
Summary: Like a book of paper doll cutouts
Review: The book is filled with illustrations which are very nice, but I wasn't too impressed. Had I not bought it through Amazon, and was able to flip through it beforehand, I probably would not have bought it. Still, it looks pretty good on a coffee table.

Rating:
Summary: Like a book of paper doll cutouts
Review: The book is filled with illustrations which are very nice, but I wasn't too impressed. Had I not bought it through Amazon, and was able to flip through it beforehand, I probably would not have bought it. Still, it looks pretty good on a coffee table.

Rating:
Summary: It shows pictures of clothes and accesories from 20thcentury
Review: This is a great book! It groups similar years and shows their fashion together. There is a also a description of clothes. It shows Couture , Underware, Leisure, Day, Evening, & Bridal Wear. It also shows accesories like hats, shoes, &purses. There are plenty of pictures for each year! **Each one includes accesories! 1900: 9 pictures 1901: 8 1902: 9 1903: 12 1904: 15 You get the idea