THE Antique & Vintage Clothing Book List!

Thanks Linn, I edited the 20th century fashion category and added it in.

Keep it coming guys as I want this to be a useful list for everyone to refer to

Lei

 

Here a few of my "can't live without" books.

50 Popular Fashions by Roseann Ettinger
Handbags by Roseann Ettinger

A Century of Handbags by Kate Dooner

Hollywood Jewels by Proddow,Healey,Fasel

I hope I haven't repeated some of the above.

 

Wonderful lists, Lei, and thanks for your fantastic work on this! Jonathan's book, The Seductive Shoe, is indeed fabulous!!!!!!

A great general-purpose book (at least I have found it so) for beginning research is the Antique Trader Vintage Clothing Price Guide, edited by Husfloen & Kirsh. Not necessarily for the prices (though those are more realistic than other price guides I've seen), but for the plethora of photos of garments from pre-1850 up to 1980. A bit light on menswear, but has separate sections on hats (lots & lots of pics and different styles), purses & bags, shoes, and other accessories. A great help in dating, I think.

 

I like that Antique Trader price guide too. I found mine 2nd hand at an antique fair a couple of years ago, think I paid £3 for it. I take the prices with a grain of salt (by now, they are probably outdated) but I find the photos are helpful for beginning research too.

Lei

 

Thank you so much, Lei!

 

I think I've managed to add all the books you guys have mentioned plus I found some more Sears books for you Linn!



Lei

 

Thanks Lei, Got loads of books on order from this great list, ok they're from the library, but then I can decide which ones I want to buy...which will probably be all of them! One of the books I borrowed awhile back I really miss (so got to buy) and is good for newbies like me:

Vintage fashion : collecting and wearing designer classics / foreword by Zandra Rhodes (Publisher Carlton 2006)
"It provides an awareness of the fashion skills and techniques, as well as pointers on what to look for when sourcing original vintage pieces"

Sarah

 

Lei, you're a marvel! I will be adding some of these wonderful books to my Christmas list. Looks like I'll have a lot of reading and researching to do next year! :excited: Thank you for taking up your valuable time to do this. It's very much appreciated

 

Hi Lei,

When I was looking up some of the books listed, I noticed that there's now a revised edition of John Peacock's The Complete Sourcebook which now includes 155 new drawings called:

Fashion since 1900 : the complete sourcebook / John Peacock (2007) IBSN 9780500513453

Sarah

 

Darn it! Looks like I'll have to get an updated copy of that one!

 

Sarah I have the designer classics one and it is fabulous.
I was able to buy my copy and other vintage books at Anthropologie.
As I mentioned before, these books make great night time reading or an escape when one has a bad day.

 

Yes it is a lovely book. lots of lovely illustrations and I like the summary at the end of each decade. I will check out Anthropologie....thanks!

Sarah

 

What a fantastic and comprehensive list! It had me running to my shelves to see if there was anything I could add. And making notes for Santa too . . . ;)

I hope I've not duplicated any here, but here's some books that I've found useful and/or gorgeous:

'In Vogue: Six Decades of Fashion' by Georgina Howell - this is quite old but it gives a year by year account of all the major trends from 1916 to 1975 and is chock full of lovely pictures. It was my first dress history book, and I still consult it to this day.

The Look: Adventures in Pop & Rock Fashion by Paul Gorman - recently revised and republished, this one is particularly good for pop/youth culture and menswear.

'Mrs Tinne's Wardrobe: A Liverpool Lady's Clothes 1900-1940' by Pauline Rushton - this was published by National Museums Liverpool to coincide with their wonderful exhibition, which was basically the wardrobe of a wealthy Liverpool woman with a bad shopping habit! This really is an excellent book which catalogues every item in the 700 piece collection - including her children's clothing - and is beautifully photographed.

'Through the Looking Glass: A History of Dress from 1860 to the Present Day' by Elizabeth Wilson and Lou Taylor - a great primer on dress history that was published to coincide with a BBC tv series (that they should repeat!) Its essential reading. And no, I'm not the least bit biased because Lou Taylor was my tutor at university ;)

'A History of 20th Century Clothing' by Elizabeth Ewing - another great general history of dress, which is particularly strong on the growth of the ready-to-wear industry in Britain.

'The Savile Row Story: An Illustrated History' by Richard Walker - I think this is out of print, which is a shame because there's very little published about Savile Row. This is the only one you need!

There's a ton more I could add, but I've gone on long enough, sorry! :embaressed:

Sarah

 

Wow Sarah! Can't wait to check your library out! I'm off to find the Vogue (6 decades) and Mrs Tinne's Wardrobe - it's the nosey nature in me! I just can't wait to see what she had in her wardrobe. Sounds fascinating! Thanks for sharing.

 

The Mrs Tinne's Wardrobe exhibition was held at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool three years ago, and it really was fantastic. There's still plenty of info about it on the museum's website:

http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/exhibitions/wardrobe/

And you can still buy the book from them there too (although it might well be cheaper elsewhere) ;)

 

I don't mess about! Just ordered 3 of your recommendations Sarah. Total price including shipping came to £21.15 - what a bargain!! hehehe! Ordered used copies of Vogue and Through the Looking glass and new copy of Mrs Tinne's wardrobe. Check the prices out!

In Vogue: Six Decades of Fashion' by Georgina Howell - £2.97
Mrs Tinne's Wardrobe: A Liverpool Lady's Clothes 1900-1940 - £9.39
Through the Looking Glass: A History of Dress from 1860 to the Present Day - £0.54p

Postage was almost as much as the books but £21.15 is still an absolute bargain and will provide me with hours and hours of drooling time!

All purchased from Amazon.co.uk

Thanks again for the book info and the link. It's just up my street!

 

You certainly don't mess about!

Great deals on all of them too, congratulations!