Clothing, Uniforms
Assembled from vintage issues of Peterson's Magazine, a popular nineteenth-century ladies periodical that premiered in 1842, here is an authentic gallery of Civil War-era clothing patterns for women, children, and men. The author of many books on historic fashion, Seleshanko has compiled this new, original volume of wonderfully usable antique garment designs to delight costume designers, historians, Civil War reconstructionists, and antiques collectors alike! During the 1860s, the Civil War left Americans with shortages of all kinds -- including clothing resources. Peterson's pattern diagrams were of enormous help to women who no longer had the opportunity to purchase their clothing abroad or visit their local dressmaker. This one-of-a-kind collection showcases sixty historically accurate nineteenth-century garment designs. Included are a Chemise, the Madeline Wrapper, and a Polonaise Dinner Dress for ladies...a Knickerbocker Suit and Loose Jacket and Waistcoat for boys...and a Tunic and Cape and Basquine Dress for girls...and, for men, a handsome Smoking Cap. 60 patterns. Over 300 diagrams and illustrations. Publisher: Paperback, 120 pages. Measures 8.25" x 11" x 0.3". Weighs 12.6 oz.
Since the invention of photography there has not been a history of fashion completely illustrated by photographs -- until this one. Photography historian Alison Gernsheim first studied Victorian and Edwardian fashion in order to be able to date photographs in her collection. Of course the photos soon proved to be the best of all fashion plates -- authentic, detailed, as decorative and charming as top fashion illustration. When united with identifications and descriptions of the chief costume articles, and a commentary that includes childhood memories of the period, the resulting history is doubly indispensable -- equally useful and delightful to serious and casual readers. The invention of photography preceded that of the crinoline by about a decade. Pre-crinoline bonnets, stovepipe hats, and deep décolletage are featured in the first of these 235 illustrations -- including a beautiful 1840 daguerreotype portrait of a lady that is the earliest study of its kind extant. From 1855 to the 1870s the crinoline gave shape (whether barrel, bell, teapot, or otherwise) to English women, and their shapes fill many of these full and half-page photos. English men went beardless in top hats and frock coats; as in other eras, the sporting wear of the previous generation became acceptable morning and evening town attire. Styles and accoutrements came and went -- moustaches, straw hats, bustles and bodice line, petticoats, corsets, shawls and falsies, flounces, ruffles, lace, and materials -- satin, silk, velvet, woolen underwear, full-length sable, and osprey feathers. Many of the models for these fashions were already fashionable enough -- Oscar Wilde, Aubrey Beardsley, Lillie Langtry, Winston Churchill, many archdukes, duchesses, counts, princes, and Queen Victoria herself. Photographers are identified where possible, and include Nadar, Lewis Carroll, and the Downeys. Every photograph is captioned and annotated. Publisher: Dover Publications. Paperback, 152 pages. Measures 6.25" x 9.25" x 0.25". Weighs 13 oz.