The Encyclopaedia of Fashion
"The Encyclopaedia of Fashion" by Georgina O'Hara Callan
PDF | 1986 | 272 pages | ISBN: 0810908824 | English | 65 MB
PDF | 1986 | 272 pages | ISBN: 0810908824 | English | 65 MB
The encyclopaedia describes fashion's essential ingredients in A-to-Z format, beginning in the 1840's–when the sewing machine, the cornerstone of the ready-to-wear industry, came into use–through the first half of the 1980s. Over 350 illustrations and photographs.
O'Hara defines fashion broadly, and her knowledgeable book includes biographies of trend setters, ranging from Madame Recamier to Madonna, as well as illustrators, manufacturers, retailers, and, of course, designers. The definitions of styles, articles of clothing, and fabrics are accompanied by excellent illustrations. Fashion magazines are also covered. Though the arrangement is alphabetical, the reader is led from one topic to another by cross references; e.g., under mini skirt there are references to Bates, Courreges, and Quant. Carolyn Houck's Fashion Encyclopedia ( LJ 5/15/82), intended as a consumer's guide, is more limited. This work will be an invaluable source of information for fashion historians and students, and entertaining to those merely intrigued by the subject.