Chronicle of Western Fashion

I agree with one reviewer that you don't get a sense of fashion for one prolonged period. For example, you get several pictures of what a Russian lady would wear in 1876, but not the men, and sometimes not what they would wear in other time periods. However, I still reccommend this book because of its color pictures, the way the fashion starts as far back as the 11th century up through the 21st, and how the garmet details are explained. I'm writing a book where vampires are prominent and they all still wear clothes from their time frame, so this book was a huge help. At least I was able to write the correct names of the garments, especially the women and know what they would be wearing over the centuries. I reccommend this book if what you need is simple, like just a general sense of what a woman and man was wearing in the 1730's etc., and what the clothes were called. It's not that in depth, but is still very useful. If you can find it cheap (used) it's worth it and check you library for it too, that's where I first saw this, in my local library.

I BORROWED THIS BOOK FROM A COWORKER AND NEARLY CRIED WHEN I GAVE IT BACK. THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE SUPERMAGNIFICENT, AS WELL AS THE INFORMATION REGARDING THE HISTORY OF EACH INDIVIDUAL STYLE. SO METICULOUS WERE THE ILLUSTRATIONS, THAT I WAS ABLE TO SKETCH SEVERAL OF THE RENDERINGS, MYSELF. THIS BOOK... TRULY AWE-INSPIRING AND MOST DEFINATELY PRICELESS!!!

While this book isn't strong on text nor has any detailed clothing construction information, I do find it very inspiring when I'm looking for ideas for my own fashion designs. It's an excellent idea book and a general reference to those only superficially interested in fashion history in the western world. For something more in-depth for a seamstress or historian, you'd need to look elsewhere.

An excellent reference and beginning point for most theatrical costumers, hobbyists, and others looking for ideas, not specific patterns. Literally hundreds of color drawings of both male and female dress from a decent variety of places, times and social backgrounds. Each drawing is labeled, but I'd suggest taking the dates and to some degree the places with a grain of salt-- John Peacock's drawing convey style quite well, but are a bit lacking in accuracy and detail.