Dress History Resources

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Copyright: 2026. The Textile Wiki pages are a publication of the Textile Specialty Group of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. The Textile Wiki pages are published for the members of the Textile Specialty Group. Publication does not endorse or recommend any treatments, methods, or techniques described herein.

General Western Dress

Cunnington, C. Willett, and Phillis Cunnington. 1951. The History of Underclothes. Garden City, NY: Dover Publications.

Fukai, Akiko, ed. 2006. The Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute: Fashion: A History from the 18th to the 20th Century. Cologne, Germany: Taschen.

Laver, James. 2020. Costume and Fashion: A Concise History. 6th ed. London: Thames and Hudson.

Historical Patterns

Arnold, Janet. (1964) 2021. Patterns of Fashion 1: The Content, Cut, Construction & Context of Englishwomen's Dress c. 1720-1860. Rev. ed. London: The School of Historical Dress.

Arnold, Janet. (1966) 2022. Patterns of Fashion 2: The Content, Cut, Construction & Context of Women's Dress c. 1860-1940. Rev. ed. London: The School of Historical Dress.

Arnold, Janet. (1985) 2023. Patterns of Fashion 3: The Content, Cut, Construction & Context of European Men's and Women's Dress c. 1560-1620. Rev. ed. London: The School of Historical Dress.

Arnold, Janet, Jenny Tiramani, and Santina M. Levey. (2006) 2023. Patterns of Fashion 4: The Content, Cut, Construction & Context of Linen Shirts, Smocks, Neckwear, Headwear and Accessories for Men and Women c. 1540-1660. London: The School of Historical Dress.

Arnold, Janet, Jenny Tiramani, Luca Costigliolo, Sebastien Passot, Armelle Lucas, and Johannes Pietsch. 2018. Patterns of Fashion 5: The Content, Cut, Construction & Context of Bodies, Stays, Hoops & Rumps c. 1595-1795. London: The School of Historical Dress.

Arnold, Janet, Sebastien Passot, Claire Thornton, and Jenny Tiramani. 2022. Patterns of Fashion 6: The Content, Cut, Construction & Context of European Women's Dress c. 1695-1795. London: The School of Historical Dress.

Grimble, Frances, ed. 1998. The Voice of Fashion: 79 Turn-of-the-Century Patterns with Instructions and Fashion Plates. San Francisco: Lavolta Press.

Harris, Kristina, ed. 1999. Authentic Victorian Fashion Patterns: A Complete Lady's Wardrobe. Garden City, New York: Dover.

Salen, Jill. 2008. Corsets: Historical Patterns & Techniques. Los Angeles: Costume & Fashion Press.

Waugh, Norah. 1964. The Cut of Men's Clothes, 1600-1900. Theatre Arts Books.

Waugh, Norah. 1968. The Cut of Women's Clothes, 1600-1930. London and Boston: Faber and Faber.

Western Dress by Era

Antiquity to Medieval

Norris, Herbert. (1927) 1999. Medieval Costume and Fashion. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications.

19th Century

Regency (c. 1795-1820)

Davidson, Hilary. 2019. Dress in the Age of Jane Austen: Regency Fashion. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

General International Dress

Tilke, Max. 1990. Costume Patterns and Designs. New York: Rizzoli.

International Dress by Continent

Africa

Checinska, Christine, ed. 2022. Africa Fashion. London: Victoria and Albert Museum.