Costume History and Style

In a nutshell, I really like having this book as a reference. I was taught from it and wouldn't give it up for anything in my historical collection. None of the photos are in color but that doesn't bother me because all the historical information that is needed is there and it's all divided by male and female. It's a really great read. If anything, buy a used version unless you really want to stay away from highlighting and such. It's worth having in your collection!

Russell's Costume History and Style is a very good resource for students, theatrical designers, or anyone interested in learning more about the history of fashion. The book accurately covers what is known about the evolution of costume from the Prehistoric to modern times. I was introduced to the Russell's text as a reference for a university History of Costume course, and it soon became a favourite reference for the class's research. The book not only gives an accurate description of the costumes for each period, but also outlines the events of the era, as well as interesting stories surrounding the adaption of various styles. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a general overview of fashion history, or as a supplement to more period-specific and detailed works.