The Complete Costume Dictionary

Significantly greater in scope than anything currently available—online or in print—this comprehensive resource includes more than 20,000 fashion and costume terms as well as more than 300 illustrations.

The dictionary contains more than 3200 entries on all aspects of costume. Articles of clothing from all over the world and from all periods of history are included. More than 2000 drawings accompany the text, illustrating every aspect of the subject. Details of accessories and underwear, hairstyles and cosmetics, clothing materials and embellishments such as embroideries and lace are included. Ruth Turner Wilcox is the author of Folk and Festival Costume of the World.

- What is an earthquake gown? - Who wore eelskin masher trousers? - What did the word "dudes" mean in the 16th century? A Dictionary of English Costume by C. Willett Cunnington, Phillis Cunnington and Charles Beard was originally published in 1960. A monumental achievement and encyclopaedic in scope, it was a comprehensive catalogue of fashion terms from the mid-medieval period up to 1900. It was reissued and updated several times, for the last time in 1976. For decades it has served as a bible for costume historians. The Dictionary of Fashion History completely updates and supplements the Cunningtons' landmark work to bring it up to the present day. Featuring additional terms and revised definitions, this new edition represents an essential reference for costume historians, students of fashion history, or anyone involved in creating period costume for the theatre, film or television. It also is fascinating reading for those simply interested in the subject. Clear, concise, and meticulous in detail, this essential reference answers countless questions relating to the history of dress and adornment and promises to be a definitive guide for generations to come.

Stephanie Davis has combined her painting and art teaching with research into costumes as depicted through the centuries. Dozens of carefully drawn and detailed illustrations embellish the text and give a visual dimension. She includes lists of couturiers and designers, costume collections and exhibitions of ancient civilisations.--[book cover].

This quick and ready reference thoroughly defines thousands of words associated with wearing apparel and spans nearly 2,000 years of fashion history. From abacot, hacketon, helm, jipocoat, and jump, to xainture, ysgyn, zatayn, and zibelline, this unique and comprehensive book is profusely illustrated with over 1,300 detailed line drawings of subjects.