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. ( )