François Boucher (1)Critiques

Costumes & Fashion

I loved checking this book out from the library when I was younger. It was fun.

As TRINA (LT) points out, fashion can be extremely frivolous, and also can speak volumes about ourselves in seconds.

{We've only been living in Cities for 6-8000 years; only had Agriculture for 12-18,000 years. Only had language for what, maybe 50,000 years? The earliest known humans are the 160,000 year old Huerto skulls from Ethiopia.}

{But back 30,000 years when we were first limning the Chauvet Cave with paint, and carving Venus, lo, the decorative cordage, the shell-nut necklace, the delta skirt. [22] We had yet to build cities or temples or palaces, but we most certainly had "Fashion"!}

Clothing is covering of the body. Costume is the particular choice of form of garment, reflecting physical conditions, technology, and social factors--beliefs, status, aesthetics. [9] Two theories of Costume: (1) The Greek/Chinese -- the covering starts from the physical, a protection from elements. (2) The Biblical -- the covering is invoked for modesty, magic, or the desire to please.

(Both of these grand theories, and neither of them, are correct.)

Two Helpful (accurate) Chronologies:

II. Prehistoric - on page 31.

III. Western Asia - 75.

Note the history of "pants" -- first introduced to civilization by horse "barbarians" [53, 68]. As late as Rome, men wore skirts.

Omits details on non-European parts of the world, which may be understandable in light of the differences of costume, village by village; still, the title promised so much more. Also neglects the history of Sumptuary Laws, and class restrictions coming under color of usually false "religious" mandates, with their influence on fashion.

My mum got this for me for my birthday, and i love it! It's got lots of beautiful pictures of people and dresses, and covers many centuries rather well detailed. I just love looking at the pictures and dreaming about the dresses!

A Beautiful read and well, mostly, view.