What People Wore : 1,800 Illustrations from Ancient Times to the Early Twentieth Century

Rating:
Summary: Best Reference Book
Review: Every library has this book; every one. But if you'd just pull out that card and take a look at the last recent signout date, as I did, you might be surprised. Almost no one has heard of this book, which really is a shame. As a writer, this is the first book I purchased for reference...and just for browsing through. It's just so neat!

Rating:
Summary: Not even a tertiary source - redrawings of redrawings
Review: I do not recommend this volume for anyone doing serious research on costume. I would recommend going with sources closer to the original.

Rating:
Summary: Not even a tertiary source - redrawings of redrawings
Review: I do not recommend this volume for anyone doing serious research on costume. I would recommend going with sources closer to the original.

Rating:
Summary: Great reference, especially for early clothing and hair
Review: I received this book as a gift, and have found it very useful in creating accurate costumes, especially for the Medieval styles. The later (Victorian, Edwardian, etc.) chapters have been less useful to me because they offer limited examples of a few different garments from each time period. Fashions changed so much more quickly after the Renaissance, that a more detailed look at the styles of each decade, or each year, in each locality after the 16th century, would be much more useful. The chapters on medieval and ancient fashions, however, are extremely useful to me, because the images are taken from contemporary manuscripts and illustrations and represent a time period for which we know comparatively little about the garments most people wore, although research continues. The drawings make it easy to see the line of each garment and its shape, which is very helpful in drafting patterns for such garments, and the illustrations of hairstyles and head coverings are also very clear and understandable. This book is most useful as one book in a library of costume publications, as it does not contain much, if any, information regarding fabric weaves, colors, embroidery, etc.

Rating:
Summary: Great reference, especially for early clothing and hair
Review: I received this book as a gift, and have found it very useful in creating accurate costumes, especially for the Medieval styles. The later (Victorian, Edwardian, etc.) chapters have been less useful to me because they offer limited examples of a few different garments from each time period. Fashions changed so much more quickly after the Renaissance, that a more detailed look at the styles of each decade, or each year, in each locality after the 16th century, would be much more useful. The chapters on medieval and ancient fashions, however, are extremely useful to me, because the images are taken from contemporary manuscripts and illustrations and represent a time period for which we know comparatively little about the garments most people wore, although research continues. The drawings make it easy to see the line of each garment and its shape, which is very helpful in drafting patterns for such garments, and the illustrations of hairstyles and head coverings are also very clear and understandable. This book is most useful as one book in a library of costume publications, as it does not contain much, if any, information regarding fabric weaves, colors, embroidery, etc.

Rating:
Summary: Probably one of the 2 best costume books ever compiled!
Review: If you design costumes or want to do any type of research on them ... you cannot survive without this book. For a broad cross-section of clothing across the ages, this has it covered. For a more in depth look at Victorian Era costumes, try Victorian fashions and Costumes from Harper's Bazaar 1867-1898.

Rating:
Summary: Designs minus beauty
Review: This book contains a great deal of visual information on clothing throughout the world and through the ages. It makes a good reference. However, unlike Racinet's dazzling Historical Encyclopedia of Costumes, it is not beautiful. The images are functional, but not inspirational.

Rating:
Summary: Designs minus beauty
Review: This book contains a great deal of visual information on clothing throughout the world and through the ages. It makes a good reference. However, unlike Racinet's dazzling Historical Encyclopedia of Costumes, it is not beautiful. The images are functional, but not inspirational.

Rating:
Summary: A great book 4 anyone who needs a costume
Review: This book is cool for anybody who's interested in clothes from a long time ago. There's stuff on ancient people in Greece and Egypt plus all over Europe and in America too. Minus one star cuz there's nothing on East Asia, or anything past 1925. It includes close-ups on SHOES! and headgear plus other accesories and even hairstyles. Most of the pics are from fashion plates or real-life photos and paintings, redone in b&w line drawings. If U need a cool, realistic, and unique costume, check out this book. There's lots of ideas for anybody who doesn't want to be a witch or a power ranger for halloween. They have some famous people, like Queen Elizabeth and Lord Chesterfield (whoever he was) and everything is labeled by time period, class, and nationality. If you can find a pattern for some of these dresses and jackets, make yourself some beautiful and fancy clothes that you'll probably never wear (but will look awesome hangin' in your closet!)

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book For Research
Review: This book is excellent! The pictures are very detailed, the information is substantial, and the book is extremely organized, which is also a good thing. I especially like his focus on the hair styles and clothing accessories. It is the best book I've been able to find (near and abroad) on historic costumes and outfits. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history, clothes, and hair styles.