Before the Industrial Age, fashion was relegated to the rich and powerful. Kings, Pharaohs, ladies of the court and other high and regal persons were the only ones that could afford high fashion.
Common people, peasants and laymen, had very few clothes to choose from. Clothes were made from scratch in a very time-consuming fashion. First animal hair, hides or plants had to be processed, spun on spinning wheels, painstakingly wove or tanned or cut and then painstakingly assembled with thread, hide or even worn in one solid piece such as an animal hide.
When the Industrial Age arrived manufacturers were able to turn out clothes in an assembly line fashion. Weaving machines were run by water or electricity and giant looms made huge swatches of fabric quickly and relatively inexpensively.
Before long the man on the street could afford to buy clothes ready made and sized to fit.
But man, being the vain and fickle creator he is, decided that clothes made for strictly utilitarian use were not enough. Before long manufactures began making clothes in different colors and cuts, decorated with lace and other frills and suited for different types of weather or occasions.
Soon cloths changed into fashion and the merchandizing and advertising of apparel became a big business.
Manufacturers hired marketing and advertising agencies to promote their new fashion lines. People bought clothes because they had been cleverly manipulated into believing that clothes change with the season and that clothing became not just a necessity but a personal statement and emblem of social standing.
Today fashion is a multi-billion dollar industry. Fashion designers and models demand huge salaries and what one wears is often seen as how important or 'with it' one is.
I've always found fashions fascinating and I often use fashion outfits from years past to cloth my drawn figures. Sometimes I mix and match clothing from different eras and I'm always on the look out for good reference material that I can use.
I found it. Schiffer Publishing has a huge library of books specifically about fashion. My favorite series is their Fashionable Clothing From The Sears Catalogs broken down by decade and split into Early, Middle and Late times.
Fashion books in the series start in the Early 1930s with illustrations instead of photos of fashions for women, men and children. Photos are incorporated in later books including the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
All of the photos are taken directly from Sears Catalogs and feature classic Sears model poses and group shots. As the decades progress the Catalog photos become more colorful until finally the last books feature all full-color photos.
Beside clothes the catalogs feature shoes, accessories and undergarments. This is an excellent series that offers a fascinating glimpse of fashions from years past and make excellent reference and historical material.
Three standalone books are also worth noting.
Fashions In The Groove by Joe Poltorak glimpses back to the fabulous fashions of the 1960's and 1970s with all their wild colors and designs. Prices for the vintage clothing is also included.
Fashion Plates 1950-1970 by Constance Korosec and Leslie Pina also has value listings.
High-end fashions from this era are spotlighted in natural settings displayed on mannequins. Accents, such as buttons and stitching, are spotlighted along with fashion labels.
Vintage Style 1920-1960 by Desire Smith also contains high fashion dress photos along with purses, jackets, gloves, lingerie, shoes and several other fashion accessories. A Price Guide is also included.
All three standalone books are brimming with photos, historical notes, prices and interesting tidbits of information.
Recently I expanded my drawing classes to include more material about artists. Since I live in the South I thought it might be a good idea to familiarize myself with current popular Southern artists.
100 Southern Artists by E. Ashley Rooney is the perfect resource. 3D and 2D artists using all styles and techniques are included in the large hardbound book.
Photos of examples of their individual works are shown along with helpful biographical information about each. This is a book I plan on studying page by page and passing the information along to my students.