Costume 1066 - 1990s

From the author of the highly successful 20th Century Fashion and The Chronicle of Western Costume - here is the revised, expanded and updated edition of this unrivalled collection of drawings - ranging over ten centuries of English historical costume. More than a thousand illustrations, based on surviving garments and contemporary paintings and photographs, demonstrate the astonishing changes in men's and womens clothing over the centuries - from the simple tunics and gowns of the eleventh century to the petticoat breeches and ostrich-plumed bats of Charles II's reign, to the casual T-shirts and shorts of the 1990s. The evolution of particular garments can easily be traced, from their origins through their fashionable epochs, to their inevitable demise and resurgence. Designed for quick reference, the book is divided into the reigns of the British monarchs, and the costumes have been chosen to reflect analogous developments in the United States and Europe. Clear and detailed drawings, and notes to pinpoint specific features such as fabric, decoration, accessories and cut, make each costume immediately comprehensible. With six pages of new illustrations to bring it completely up to date, Costume 1066-1990s is an essential reference for students of theatrical design and fashion, amateur drama groups and all those interested in the history of costume.