What Clothes Reveal: The Language of Clothing in Colonial and Federal America

by Linda Baumgarten

Paintings of upper-class men and women tell an important part of the history of costumes, but surviving garments reveal even more. Every crease, stitch, and stain in a piece of clothing supplies valuable information about its wearer and its era. This stunning book features eighteenth - and early-nineteenth-century garments from the premiere collection of Colonial Williamsburg. Illustrated with more than 300 color photographs, including many details and back views, What Clothes Reveal treats not only elegant, high-style clothing in colonial America but also garments for everyday and work, the clothing of slaves, and maternity and nursing apparel.
Drawing on contemporary written descriptions and on actual costumes of the period, the book analyzes what Americans in the eighteenth century considered fashionable and attractive and how they used clothing to assert status or to identify occupations. The book also examines the myths and meanings of clothing in British and American society, clothing for the entire life cycle, and a history of clothing alteration. Informative sidebars on a variety of fascinating topics complete the volume.

Genres: History, Fashion, Nonfiction, Fashion History, 18th Century, Sewing, Costume History

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2002

Reviews

[Brook Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly remarkable book. With fascinating detail, Baumgarten has sliced open the intricate and misunderstood fashion of the 18th and Early 19th centuries with scholarly aplomb. The photography and closeups of fabrics and accessories are simply stunning. I have already recommended this book to several author friends who write historical fiction, and will continue to do so. It's an expensive book, but worth every penny!!!

[UChicagoLaw]

An utterly absorbing guide to what the founders—as well as their wives, children, servants, and slaves—wore. With lavish photographs of surviving period clothing, this book reminds us that eighteenth- and early-nineteenth-century Americans were fully embodied people. —Alison L. LaCroix

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An examination of the stories told by clothing, with lots of examples from the collections of Colonial Williamsburg.

[Melanie Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book detailing historical clothing, how it was made and who for. Wonderful photographs.

[Laurie Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Margo Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully organized and illustrated text book is a great reference book for anyone interested not only in the clothing, but in the lives of men and women in 17th through 19th century America. The book is well researched and answers questions that anyone who has delved into either historical literature or first person historical accounts may have—questions such as “what is stuff," “what did slaves wear,"and “did pregnant women really confine themselves for 9 months” are all answered by this book with reference to clothing orders, books, letters, journals, advertisements, and the clothes themselves. What is best about this book is both how it explains the possibilities and limits of using clothing to understand past lives. Most useful, are the discussions interspersed about fabrics—their names, patterns, dates, origins, and uses. Fabric names have changed over the years—so cotton may be wool and checked hose don’t have checks on them. This is extremely useful for beginning researchers. Also, the photographs are plentiful and detailed. They clearly illustrate the points made in the text. Truthfully, I found the Introduction, chapter 1 and chapter 6, which discussed the Williamsburg clothing collection, collecting in general, and the use of altered clothing, to be more textbook-like than the rest of the book, but I learned things in each of these chapters, so they are worth reading. It is a book I will return to, both for its beauty and its information.

[Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wealth of information on Colonial garments and fabrics, from original sourcing back in the day to pattern & cut, to styling. A great compilation of information, and going on my wish-list for my professional costuming library.

[Rachel L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Haven't read the whole thing; I use it more as a reference book. This wouldn't be my favorite of Baumbarten's books, though there's some good information here.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved that the book talked about conservation, would have liked more but the book wasn't really for that. Overall really illuminating on the reuse of clothes.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful pictues, but the text is a little dry.