Well-illustrated view of Western dress, from prehistory to mid-20th century. Footwear, headgear, accessories, typical colors and materials for each era. 491 black-and-white illustrations.

"The definitive guide to the history of western costume."—AntiquesInfo

"A survey of 'Western costume from ancient Egypt to 1980. Presented chronologically, the 8 to 10 illustrations per page are lavishly colored and use color schemes appropriate to each period. All illustrations are labeled with country of origin and wearer's societal status. Every century is followed up by concise captions corresponding to the illustrations.'" Booklist.

Here is an updated edition of Joan Nunn's detailed survey of costume in the Western world over the past eight centuries. She not only gives the reader a vivid visual impression of the clothes themselves, but also outlines the historical and social background and the changes in manufacturing techniques and fashionable life that have influenced the way costume has developed and the manner in which it has been worn. The book is illustrated throughout with hundreds of line drawings.

This authoritative resource presents a comprehensive history of clothing and accessories. "A mine of information" (Choice), the book covers every world culture with 650-plus entries, more than 2,100 black-and-white drawings, and eight pages of color illustrations. A detailed index makes it easy to locate garments from any era.