Underwear: Fashion in Detail

Get intimately acquainted with the V&A’s world-renowned collection of undergarments in this eye-opening visual history. From camisoles to corsets, basques to boudoir caps, Underwear: Fashion in Detail traces the peculiar evolution of underwear. Revealing photographs highlight close-up details in the garments, while intricate line drawings show their masterly construction. A wide range of designs is represented, from rare 16th-century examples to Dior’s curvaceous New Look, to Calvin Klein’s notorious briefs.

Customer Reviews:

continuing a fantastic series . . .

By David O. Roberts - December 11, 2010

I bought this book primarily because I have all the other books in the series, and love them all. But I was pleasantly surprised how good it is ! It is basically a history of undergarments, for both women and men. Like the others in the series, it concentrates on details, which, as another reviewer has commented, means sometimes you would like to see a bigger photo of the whole garment, but the information is excellent. My only complaint is, I would have liked to see more nightwear, negligees, dressing gowns, and even smoking jackets, and maybe a few less corsets , bras, and girdles. But it is a wonderful addition to the wonderful series of studies from the V &A.

Great Book!

By Wants To Share - December 2, 2010

This book is amazing! It gives detailed information about undergarment history--measurements, types of fabric used, types of "support" for corsets and the like, plus history of that particular garment. A must for any fashion enthusiast or historical interpreter looking for a period correct impression. The only down side, is it gives sketches of the garments, but not a full picture--only shows closeups on some. An excellent addition to my fashion library!

Great book!

By C. Filson - December 30, 2010

I still haven't finished completely going through this book as I haven't had time to do much more than leaf through it, but I can already tell that even so I'm going to notice different things each time I pick it up. Great, huge color photos and detail shots. Features a few of the same garments I recognized from this book, which I already have [and which is also excellent]--

http://www.amazon.com/Nineteenth-Century-Fashion-Detail-Johnston/dp/1851775722/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1293738918&sr=8-1

The overlap isn't a big surprise, since the garments are fabulous and come from the same museum, but even so I'm glad I have this book in addition to the other one. The clothing is in mint condition, and the detail shots are huge, very clear and well-lit. The book is very reasonably priced for being a large hardcover with glossy photos-- quality paper, they didn't cheap out. My one complaint of both this book and the other one is that there aren't more photos--... read more