Ranging from the elegant garments worn by citizens of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome to the dramatic clothing of nineteenth-century French, English, and German societies, this stunning pictorial encyclopedia chronicles the full sweep of historic dress through the centuries. Carefully gathered from a rare portfolio originally published in 1906, over one thousand detailed engravings are presented here in a continuous chronological format. An unparalleled history of costume design, this collection includes the garb of kings and laborers ... ladies and warriors ... peasants and priests. Scores of accessories are also illustrated, including shoes, jewelry, wigs, and hair ornaments, along with furniture, musical instruments, and weaponry from a fascinating array of time periods. Exquisitely rendered and magnificent in scope, the Pictorial Encyclopedia of Historic Costume is a visual delight for designers, artists, historians, and everyone captivated by fashion's timeless allure.

Reproduced directly from a rare nineteenth-century publication, these splendid engravings serve as a guide to more than four centuries of high fashion. Full-length portraits of impeccably dressed men and women reveal what the style-conscious were wearing from the late fifteenth century to the mid 1800s. Fur-trimmed robes, brocaded gowns, and beautifully embroidered apparel are on display in adaptations of portraits by Dürer, Titian, Holbein, Rubens, van Dyck. and other celebrated artists. Included are handsome representations of Tudor monarchs, the Doge of Venice, a noble lady of Antwerp, as well as members of the elite — and lower classes — in Poland, Spain, Persia, Turkey, India, China, and other Asian and European countries. A valuable sourcebook for commercial artists, designers, and crafters, this collection will also serve as a handy reference for students of fashion history.

This authoritative resource presents a comprehensive history of clothing and accessories. "A mine of information" (Choice), the book covers every world culture with 650-plus entries, more than 2,100 black-and-white drawings, and eight pages of color illustrations. A detailed index makes it easy to locate garments from any era.

Panoramic display of evolving styles ranges from hoop-skirted gowns of the mid-1800s to turn-of-the-century fashions that produced diminished bustles and close-fitting skirts. "A superb resource." — History in Review.

The most beguiling guide to fashion and style through the centuries now adds another 500 years to its coverage-so it's thoroughly up-to-date with the most recent international movements. From the simplicity of eleventh century dress to the excesses of punk, from the chic Madame de Pompadour to Dior and St. Laurent, this invaluable, thoroughly illustrated work showcases kings and courtiers, soldiers and dandies, musicians and models, adults and children. Informative captions accompany every color plate, providing significant details on the garment, the wearer's rank, and the period. Designers, photographers, wardrobe mistresses, historians, and anyone who loves beautiful clothing will find this a pleasure.