"Visual Reference" resources provide drawings, photographs and detailed images to aid the construction, application, and understanding of costumes. For resources by century see the Historic Costume: North America and Western Europe research guide.
Museums, Galleries and Library Collections
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All Sewn Up: Millinery, Dressmaking, Clothing and CostumeThis digital collection from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries includes millinery, dressmaking, clothing and costume books from the first half of the 20th century (1907 – 1940’s).
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Démodé - Extant CostumesA librarian-curated list of international historical costume and fashion collections available online. Provides a list of digitized costume collections arranged by country.
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Digital Public Library of America
All of the materials found through DPLA—photographs, books, maps, news footage, oral histories, personal letters, museum objects, artwork, government documents, and so much more—are free and immediately available in digital format. The cultural institutions participating in DPLA represent the richness and diversity of America itself, from the smallest local history museum to our nation’s largest cultural institutions. -
Europeana Fashion
Includes historical clothing and accessories, as well as contemporary designs 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 (example: YEAR:[1500 TO 1550]), object type, etc. -
The Fashion Collection: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Spanning five centuries, the V&A fashion collection is the largest and most comprehensive collection of dress in the world. -
Fashion Museum BathA selection of items from the Museum's collections, complemented by detailed descriptions.
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University of Washington Libraries - Fashion Plate CollectionA digital collection of over 400 fashion plates, 1806-1914, organized into seven periods: Empire (1806-1813), Georgian (1806-1836), Regency (1811-1820), Romantic (1825-1850), Victorian (1837-1859), Late Victorian (1860-1900), and Edwardian (1901-1915).
Visual Reference Surveys
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This fabulous century. by Call Number: Main Library Oversize, E161.T55, 8 volumesRecommended by theater designers, This Fabulous Century covers American culture from 1870 though the end of the 1970s.
Prelude: 1870-1900; Vol. 1: 1900-1910; Vol. 2: 1910-1920; Vol. 3: 1920-1930; Vol. 4: 1930-1940; Vol. 5: 1940-1950; Vol. 6: 1950-1960; Vol. 7: 1960-1970
Visual Reference Series
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Ad*Access (1911-1955) This link opens in a new windowPrint advertising images from U.S. and Canadian publications; organized by product category: Radio, Television, Transportation, Beauty and Hygiene, and World War II.
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All-American Ads series by Call Number: Art Library, NC998.5.A1 (for the series)ISBN: 3822811580A primary source showing popular dress, the All-American Ads series (Taschen Publishing, Jim Heimann, editor) covers the 1920s through the 1970s, one decade per volume.
Dover Pictorial Archive Series
Dover reprints of period titles provide easy access to primary documents.
Fashion in Detail series. Victoria and Albert Museum, London
From the most comprehensive fashion collection in the west comes a series detailing the construction and sewing techniques of garments from the 17th to the 20th centuries. For more see the Historic Costume LibGuide
Sears Department Store Catalogs. Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears annual merchandise catalogs provided fashionable styles, appliances and even pre-made houses to small town and rural America. The Sears Catalog Series provides a glimpse into the material goods available in America for a century.
Sears: [Catalog]. 1897, 1928/29 - 1957 (incomplete), 1961, 1970
Call # 658.872 Se17; Location: Storage
Everyday fashions of the [decade here]|
Selections from the Sears Catalog grouped by decade.
Art Library, GT615 .E89 through GT615 .E93
Magazines
Magazines contain both images of contemporary clothing and hints about the broader cultural context.
American Heritage. 1949-2012 (incomplete)
Print: Main Library (1949-2012 incomplete)
Online: 1990 - 2012
Esquire. 1979-present
Print: Main Library, through 2003
Online: 1996-present
Harper’s Bazaar. 1867-2018
Print: Main Library, 1867-1975 (incomplete)
Online: 1867-1912; 1994-2018
Life magazine. 1936-2001
Print: Main Library, 1936-1972
Online: through 2001
Marg. 1951-2004; 2007 to present
Print: Art Library, 1951-2004
Online: 2007-present
National Geographic. 1959-present
Print: Main Library. 1959-present
Online: 1959 - three months ago
Saturday Evening Post. 1821-present (incomplete)
Print: Main Library, 1899-1974
Online: 1821-present (incomplete)
Women's Interests
Delineator: A Monthly Magazine; Illustrating European & American Fashions. 1886; 1879-1920 (incomplete)
Includes patterns for dresses
Print: Art Library, 1879-1920 (incomplete)
Online: 1876
Godey's Lady's Book. 1840-1890 (incomplete)
Print: Main Library Special Collections, 1840-1890 (incomplete)
Online: 1840-1858
Good Housekeeping. 1887-1976 (incomplete)
Print: Main Library, 1887-1976 (incomplete)
Online: 1994-2018
Ladies’ Home Journal. 1884-1976
Print: Main Library,1889-1976
Online: 1884-1907