Product Description

The latest entry in the successful In Detail series is a lavishly illustrated book celebrating 19th-century fashion. Featuring glorious, specially commissioned color photographs of close-up details alongside accurate line drawings that demonstrate the underlying structure of each garment, the book’s 150 pieces capture the opulence and variety of this fascinating era. From the delicate embroidery on ballgowns to the vibrant synthetic colors of crinolines, the major themes of 19th-century fashion are highlighted as never before in a single volume.

“ Perfect for those who want an authentic take on the latest Victorian trend.” –In Style

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #494733 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Review
'Stirs up the 19th century in all its sumptuousness and diversity' The Daily Telegraph 'A treasure for anyone fascinated by the history of fashion' Publishing News 'Perfect for those who want an authentic take on the latest Victorian trend' In Style

About the Author
Lucy Johnston is curator of 19th-century fashion in the V&A’s Department of Furniture, Textiles & Fashion.

Customer Reviews

Essential book for the historic costume fan
I just got 19th Century Fashion in Detail by Lucy Johnston from Amazon.com and it is worth every penny. For those of us on the U.S. side of the pond, it is a companion volume to Fashion in Detail(17th and 18th centuries)and the photographed fashions(from the V&A collections)are every bit as drool worthy. The format is the same as the previous book and the World Fashion in Detail(I don't own both have seen this one): The left-hand page has a complete description and line drawing of an entire garmet or garmets. The right hand side of the page has a stunning full-color view of a detail and sometimes the entire garment or garments. The book covers men's and women's fashions, including shoes. It is divided into the usual sections like the other books that are a little offbeat as it is subjects, not strictly chronological. On the cover is a stunning magenta bustle dress of the mid 1870's that lovers of the bustle era will itch to copy. The dress is actually three pieces with two separate bodices which was pretty common among surviving dresses of the last half of the 19th c, and has both a back view of one bodice and a side view of the entire ensemble. One bodice is for day and the other a dinner(not short sleeved formal ball)bodice.

Get this as a Christmas gift for self or a friend who loves beautiful surviving fashions.

A Wealth of Eye-Candy for Costume Lovers
Like the previous "Fashion in Detail" books, this volume has excellent, close-up color photographs of beautiful finishing details. Unlike the previous "Fashion in Detail" books, there are also full-length photographs of a good many of the items featured--not simply line drawings as in the other books. A must-have for 19th century costume enthusiasts, and great fun for any lover of historic costume or fine sewing.

ALL the details!
The only thing you could wish for after reading this book is that the late, great Janet Arnold had graphed patterns of all them. This book is absolutely essential if you re-create older clothes and you want to know what fabrics actually looked and draped like. I found it especially helpful to have the descriptions give the fabric names and weaves, as well. The close up photos show the stitches, pleating, and trimmings. And what colors! The trims! Buy it before the unthinkable occurs--that the book goes out of print! If you can only buy one costume book this year, let this be the one.