Wearable textiles hold their own stories of trade, manufacture and regionalism, just to name a few; they also tell a personal tale of the individuals who created our history. When we look at a piece of clothing, a coat, a dress, an undergarment, we see an item that is more personal, more closely related to the human body than nearly anything else it comes in contact with throughout the day. Garments can do far more for exhibitions and interpretation than merely providing a bit of color and beauty. Clothing is both artistic and utilitarian and is capable of adding so much to the story of who we are and where we came from. The Care and Display of Historic Clothing aims to assist with the full integration of costume collections into the interpretation of the past. Often relied on for their ability to add beauty and color to exhibitions, these collection items provide a very personal side to any story at a given moment in history. The topics explored in this publication range from the care and identification of items in a costume collection to discussions about both physical display and how they can be used to engage audiences. The book's focus is on costume collections and discussion topics will include information in regards to costume collection storage, display techniques, basic identification, and ideas on how to incorporate costumes into exhibitions and programming. A list of further resources at the back of the book helps provide supplemental, in-depth information on individual areas. The layout of this work will aim to provide information that slowly leads from understanding your costume collection and obtaining physical control to incorporating it in a significant and informative way into the work of the organization. Providing all of these resources in one place will make the incorporation of costumes a more obtainable goal for small to mid-sized museums and historical societies.

If youve ever been handed down an old piece of clothing or discovered such a treasure in an attic or closet, youve probably had a variation of this thought: What is one to do with an interesting textile or an intriguing and maybe wearable relic? Alda G. Kaye, who became the curator of a large university historic costume and textile collection, has worked with faculty, students, museums, and other institutions for almost thirty years. Shes even been knighted for her work at a Newport, Rhode Island, mansion that houses a collection of textiles from the medieval and Renaissance periods. She shares fascinating stories from the field and, along the way, provides insights for collectors, individuals conducting research on their own collections, and the everyday person who has stumbled upon a vintage garment that could actually be worn. Historical societies, small house museums with limited budgets, antique dealers, those with a keen sense of fashion, and anyone who wants to preserve the unique and beautiful will be riveted with the stories, surprising adventures, and practical guidance in Conversations with a Curator.

Over 1,450 costumed figures in clearly detailed engravings — from the dawn of civilization to the end of the 19th century. Features many folk costumes. Captions.

"This book was conceived, designed and produced by Ivy Press ... East Sussex"--T.p. verso.

Practical, informative guidebook shows how to create everything from short tunics worn by Saxon men in the fifth century to a lady's bustle dress of the late 1800s. 81 illustrations.

In the Preface of the 5th Edition of Survey of Historic Costume, Tortora and Eubank conclude with the following: "In the history of dress at the beginning of the 21st century, costume might be compared to a constantly moving river. This river divides into many narrower channels that separate, cross, come together, and separate again, and yet that river continually moves on." Building on the previous editions, the authors update their analysis of Western dress to 2008. Survey of Historic Costume has, from its beginnings, taken seriously the need to accompany the text with appropriate illustrations and the major change in the 5th Edition is the move to full color throughout the book to enrich the text and the concepts. Perfect for anyone interested in historic costume, fashion, textiles, drama, and design, this beautifully illustrated book is full of interesting facts and commentary.New to this Edition:-- Over 500 four-color photographs and illustrations-- Updated text to 2008-- Additional influences from one period or civilization to another, including influences from other cultures-- Index - updated and organized to be utilized as glossary with terms defined and page numbers printed in boldface-- Instructor's Guide provides sources for visuals, websites, teaching strategies and evaluation techniques-- PowerPoint® Presentation contains interactive visual presentation with links to Internet