Costume and Fashion Source Books

The colorful new ""Costume and Fashion Source Books"" set provides a fascinating reference for those who want to find out what people of a particular era wore. These accessible books bring to life the costumes and fashions of different eras of the past through the plays, movies, ballets, and re-enactments or pageants set in those time periods. Context is provided on the time, place, and history to help students understand why certain clothing items were worn. Key elements of each costume are clearly identified and named, including all-important accessories, and practical information is given on how to make costumes and accessories with an authentic look and feel. Colors and fabrics used during the period are described, as well as suggestions for modern fabrics that can be substituted for the materials of the period. In every title, detailed full-page photographs and illustrations from historical figures and characters in representative plays, movies, and musicals show five to six generic costumes of the period that can be readily re-created for performances. The special features include: photographs of actual performances that show characters in costume and stills from movies that depict the filmmakers' interpretations of period clothes; fact boxes that provide fascinating information about materials used, accessories worn, and clothing customs; quotes from literature and plays that show the connotations of costume in that particular era and how clothing has indicated social status throughout the centuries; and, a timeline and summaries of plays, musicals, and movies that typify the era and its fashions.