A Visual History of Costume: The Sixteenth Century

A Visual History of Costume

by Jane Ashelford

Beginning with a description of the prominent features of male and female dress throughout the 16th century, this book also provides a brief historical and sociological background against which the sequence of changes in fashion can be better appreciated. The book begins with a description of the prominent features of male and female dress throughout the sixteenth century, and also provides a brief historical and sociological background against which the sequence of changes in fashion can be better appreciated. The development of male and female dress is then examined in detail with carefully chosen illustrations accompanied by extended captions analysing the various garments. The book includes the dress of many different social classes and professions, together with examples of contemporary foreign dress, children's clothing, tournament and masque dress.

Genres: Fashion, History

4 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1983

Reviews

[S.C. Gregory]

This was a quick read as it is mostly visual in nature with descriptive information between the pictures and depicted paintings.

I wanted to take a look at dress and costume during this era for research purposes and although it shows a lot of interesting items of clothing and the people who wore them, I did find this book mostly depicted royalty/aristocracy/nobility and well-to-do folks. I would have liked to see what common folk were wearing at the time, but it was still a good book.

[Kathryn Baron]

Wish the illustrations were in color.