Author(s): Lucy Johnston

Fashion

This popular book in the "Fashion in Detail" series now available with a new cover, showcases the opulence and variety of nineteenth-century fashion through exquisite colour photography and line drawings of the complete garments. From the delicate embroidery on neoclassical gowns to the vibrant colours of crinolines and the elegant tailoring of men's coats, the richness of the period is revealed in breathtaking detail. The garments revealed here, drawn from the V&A Museum's world famous collection, were at the height of fashion in their time. They display a remarkable range of colours, materials and construction details: from the intricate boning on women's corsets to the patterned silk of men's waistcoats. Seen in close-up and further illuminated by detailed commentary and line drawings that show the ingenuity of the underlying construction, these carefully chosen garments illustrate some of the major themes of nineteenth-century dress.