The Art of Dress: Clothes and Society 1500-1914 (THE NATIONAL TR)

Ashelford's book is a must-have for the serious costume historian and for those who just enjoy looking at historical clothing. The photographs are beautifully executed so that the details of fabric, embellishment, color and form are easy to see and appreciate. The accompanying period portraits, fashion plates and illustrations are helpful for establishing time periods and decades of fashion styles. Ashelford's text is most insightful and fun to read. Clothes and culture go hand-in-hand, as Ashelford ably demonstrates. Don't miss adding this delightful volume to your personal library!

I first read this at the shakspearen festival in ceader city, and WOW! I didn't even know such old dresses could survive that long! This is an excellent cofee table book!

This is a wonderful book with and opportunity to see how the physical period clothes actually drape on a form. Close-ups on the weave and details of the garments are also informative. This is a great book for costume designers who are tired of guessing from paintings on the historical accuracy of how things fit. Made for the designer not the seamstress, I'm afraid.

This is a wonderful book! And I'm not saying that just because I'm English and I know intimately the Paulise de Bush collection (one of the collections featured in this book.). It deals specifically with the history of European costume (not American or ethnic costume - sorry, US of A'ians!) as reflected in the collections of English houses and collections in the National Trust, and has mouthwatering images. A MUST for all costume historians and fans of the art of antique costume. It is unfair to complain that this will not be of any help to the seamstress, because that was not its aim. It is intended to overview the changes in English fashion as reflected through the contents - paintings, engravings, drawings and actual textiles - of Stately Houses and holdings belonging to the National Trust. WONDERFUL book for the social historian of English fashion, and of interest to anyone who appreciates costume for its own sake.

This is a beautiful book which provides an interesting view of clothing and society. The book is full of paintings, primary resources, and best of all, wonferful photographs.