What people wore when : a complete illustrated history of costume from ancient times to the nineteenth century for every level of society / Consultant Editor Melissa Leventon

Includes bibliographical references and index

The grammar of costume -- The ancient world -- The Roman Empire -- Europe in the middle ages -- Renaissance Europe -- Modern Europe, 1650-1840 -- East and Southeast Asia -- South Asia -- Anatolia, Persia, and Central Asia -- European regional dress -- Africa, Oceania, and the Americas -- The elements of costume -- Clothing through the ages -- Accessories through the ages

What People Wore When combines the studies of two classic nineteenth-century illustrators Auguste Racinet and Friedrich Hottenroth for the first time. Their works are presented first by chronology and then by subject, so that illustrators, historians, and students alike can choose to follow the path of fashion through the centuries, or study in detail the contrasting styles of individual clothing and accessories. Silhouettes reveal the shape of style through the ages, detailed cross-references draw attention to recurring motifs, and navigation bars help the researcher to travel the complex chronology of costume. With authoritative narrative from leading experts in the history of costume, extraordinary contemporary quotes that reveal the impact of style in its day, detailed annotation, and an extensive glossary, the book provides a magnificent study of the rich vocabulary of style through the ages