Survey of Historic Costume

Survey of Historic Costume examines the evolution of Western dress from ancient times through the late twentieth century. The text covers the development of clothing, textiles, and accessories across different cultures and time periods. The book includes over 500 photographs and illustrations that document historical garments and fashion trends. Technical information about construction methods, materials, and terminology provides context for understanding how clothing was made and worn throughout history. Each chapter focuses on a specific era and includes details about the social, economic, and cultural factors that influenced fashion during that time. The authors present costume history within the broader framework of art, politics, technology, and social change. The work serves as both an academic resource and a visual chronicle of how clothing reflects human civilization. Through its comprehensive scope, the book demonstrates the interconnected relationship between dress and society across centuries.

Students and educators call this a comprehensive but dense textbook on fashion history. The writing is clear and organized chronologically, with detailed illustrations and photographs complementing the text. Likes: - Strong focus on social/cultural context of dress - Quality diagrams and visual references - Chapter summaries and key term definitions - Global coverage beyond Western fashion Dislikes: - Heavy and expensive ($160+ new) - Text can be dry and academic - Some readers note factual errors in newer editions - Small font size and dense layouts As one student noted: "Thorough but reads like a textbook. Not something you'd pick up for fun." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (278 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (176 reviews) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (22 reviews) Most reviewers recommend renting or buying used copies due to the high price. The 7th edition (2021) addresses some accuracy concerns from previous versions.

A History of Costume by Carl Köhler Chronological examination of clothing from antiquity to the 19th century with detailed technical drawings of garment construction and draping.

20,000 Years of Fashion by Francois Boucher Documentation of costume history from prehistoric times through the 20th century with emphasis on social context and cultural significance.

The Book of Costume by Millia Davenport Reference work containing period illustrations and photographs of historical garments with focus on construction details and fabric types.

Costume and Fashion: A Concise History by James Laver Analysis of Western dress from ancient civilizations through modern times with connections to art movements and societal changes.

What People Wore by Douglas Gorsline Illustrated chronicle of clothing styles from ancient Egypt to 1940s America with precise drawings of historical garments and accessories.

🔷 The book remains one of the most comprehensive and widely-used textbooks in fashion history education since its first publication in 1989 🔷 Author Phyllis Tortora pioneered the study of cultural aspects of dress and was a professor emerita at Queens College, where she developed the first undergraduate degree program in costume studies 🔷 Each chapter features "Influences on Dress" sidebars that explore how politics, technology, economics, and cultural movements shaped fashion during different periods 🔷 The text covers over 5,000 years of costume history, from ancient civilizations through the early 21st century, including detailed analysis of non-Western dress 🔷 The 6th edition (2015) added expanded coverage of global fashion influences and included over 1,000 illustrations and photographs, many in full color