Product Description

Graphic-sha's Costume Encyclopedia series is designed to help manga artists accurately portray their characters in costumes by providing over 4,000 reference illustrations, with manga characters appearing as models in various poses and angles. Includes special sections dedicated to explaining folds, basic fashion knowledge and silhouette lines.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #693306 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Customer Reviews

A kimono and evening gown guide worth owning
As you all may know, this book is pretty much like the other three how to draw manga costume encyclopedia books, but each of them have their own theme of course. Inside this volume they give you some examples of how to correctly draw kimono's and evening wear. This book is comprised of two chapters, but I would have to say that they talk more on the kimono's than the gown section in this book. That can be a good thing, and it can also be a bad thing. I personally liked the kimono part in this book than the gown part. That is the whole reason I bought this book, because of the kimono part in here. The gown part in the second chapter is good too, but it seems to show a good bit of wedding shots than evening wear. They even give an example of two people dancing, which can be a plus if you need a ref shot for your manga. Basically this book is teaching you etiquette in both outfits, how to wear them, and how to correctly draw the outfits. The contents of this book includes:
Chapter one Kimono:
A day in a kimono: Female character
A day in a kimono: Male character
1. Kimono basics
Tomesode as the basic kimono form
Kimono for different occasions: Four designs
Learning the order of dressing
Slovenly kimono

2. Assorted actions while wearing a kimono
Everyday and semiformal kimono shown on figure performing common actions
Inside the house: Doing housework and relaxing
Kimono for stepping out
Kimono worn to festivals (Yukata)
Relaxing in a Yukata
New year's day and the first shrine visit of the year
Kimono for hinamatsuri and shichigosan
Kimono worn to coming-of-age and graduation ceremonies
Wedding kimono
Mourning kimono

Action scenes:
Scenes with exposed flesh/ brandishing a sword/ barehanded combat scenes

3. Kimono accessories
Wide and narrow obi
Dressing up the obi
Handbags and totes
Footwear
Hairstyles suited to kimono
4. Assorted traditional Japanese dress
5. Period kimono

Chapter 2 Gowns
A day in a gown
1. Gown basics
Three main silhouettes
Gowns for formal affairs and bridal gowns
Assorted actions while wearing a gown

2. Bridal gowns
Scenes from weddings
Designing a bridal gown
Indispensable bridal gown accessories
Grooms dress
3. Evening gowns
Three common silhouettes
Elegant outerwear
Assorted evening gown designs
Glamorous hairstyles
Glamorous accessories
Men's formal wear

4. Action scenes

All in all this book is the perfect kimono/ gown guide. I really enjoy this book, and it is very helpful when it comes down to the kimono sections. If you are having some trouble with kimono designs/ drawing the kimono and principles, then this book is so for you!! If you also need some help toward evening wear, then this book benefits as the double package!!! This book is also kid friendly due to this book having nude free scenes in it, but, I don't recommend this book for kids or anyone who is a beginner. Since this book really doesn't give you step-by-step guides on actually drawing the kimono's or evening wear. I do recommend this book for those who are intermediate to advance. Anyway, buy this book, it worth your time and money. Add it to your HTDM arsenal today!!

One of the best books in the "How To Draw Manga" series.
I am an amateur artist training in the art of manga and I had bought this book a few months ago as a reference for kimonos.

I must say, I had no idea how informative this book was when I first bought it. Not only does it have traditional and formal clothing pictures in great detail, but it also has images depicting how it is appropriate for the woman/man to hold themselves while wearing such garb. For instance, how a woman in a kimono should hold their sleeve when reaching out with their hand or how they should properly walk while wearing zori -- that's traditional formal sandals you wear with kimonos. I learned that from this book too. There is so much information and detail in this book, I feel like I took a college course on Japan's traditional fashion.

The last half of the book has a lot of information on western formal wear, this doesn't include renaissance and/or Victorian fashion however (i.e. corsets). But it does have some pictures and information on attire from the old west. It also has a section on wedding gowns, formal hair styles for women and even different types of bouquets.

This is a must buy for anyone wanting to learn more about all and I mean ALL of the specifics in Japanese traditional wear. It even has a small section depicting the wardrobe for people of different social status'; from peasants to oirans, from monks to royalty.

Personally, this book does not come across as being inappropriate for children. But it really depends on your level of modesty. There are about six pages of a woman in a loose kimono in various poses (they are not sexual). You don't see any nudity, but you do see plenty of cleavage and the occasional panty shot. But honestly, she is more clothed than a woman in a bikini on the beach.

I gave this book five stars as I think it should be an essential resource for any new manga artist.

Works Really Well
Received book in great shape from sender. I found it easy to understand and have attempted to design clothes for my attempted manga characters from its pages.