Resources that cover more than one century
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Dress in Detail from Around the World by Call Number: Art Library GT2050 .D74 2002ISBN: 0810965550Publication Date: 2002This illustrated work celebrates the Victoria and Albert Museum's magnificent collection of dress from around the world with many close-up photographs. -
Encyclopédie illustrée du costume et de la mode by Call Number: Art Library GT513. K814 1980Publication Date: 1980600 pages filled with detailed drawings, photographs and prints of primarily Western European dress.
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Europeana Fashion
Includes historical clothing and accessories, contemporary designs, catwalk photographs, drawings, sketches, plates, catalogues and videos – from more than 30 European public and private institutions. Descriptions are in the language of the owning institution. Enter a keyword and then limit by geography, date (YEAR:[1500 TO 1550]), object type, etc. -
Gallery of Costume, Manchester Art Gallery
One of England's largest costume collections with over 21,000 items covering all aspects of the history of dress from 1600 to the present. The collection is particularly strong in18th century fashion and 19th century women's and children’s dress. Search for "Collection Group = Costume."
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World Clothing and Fashion by Call Number: Terrell Main Library Reference, GT507 .S6 2013, v. 1&2ISBN: 9780765683007From prehistoric times to the age of globalization, articles cover the evolution of clothing utility, style, production, and commerce, including accessories (shoes, hats, gloves, handbags, and jewelry) for men, women, and children worldwide. Includes fashion and design trends across time and the world, the evolution of materials and production methods, as well as clothing for different climates, occupations, and uses are examined in depth. Dress as a reflection of social status, intellectual and artistic trends, economic conditions, cultural exchange, and modern media marketing are also addressed
Subject searching & Keyword searching
Search OBIS with these subject headings or combine them in a keyword search. For visual reference titles add the subheading Pictorial works
Broad subjects:
Clothing and dress
Costume
Dressmaking
Fashion
Women's clothing
Narrower terms:
Fans
Fashion accessories - use Dress accessories
Handkerchiefs
Jewelry
Military uniforms
Pattern design
Uniforms
Veils
Wedding costume
Wigs
Subdivisions:
Jewelry under ethnic groups
Clothing under names of individual persons and under classes of persons and ethnic groups
Research tips
To find images of costumes associated with a specific place and time:
- Look for books in historic costume
- Review clothing catalogs from the era
- Visit museum web sites, looking for costume collections or works of art created in the same location and period.
- Review ads in magazines from the era
Help!
Make a research appointment with the Art Librarian.
Chat with an Oberlin College librarian.
Review our other Research Guides.
Researching an object in the Allen Museum? See our AMAM research guide.
