Great Resource for Costume Designers and Fashion Buffs

This book is cover to cover color photographs of an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, including interestingly arranged vignettes that display an array of eighteenth century fashion, architecture, and furniture. It's a beautiful book with wonderful descriptions of each scene depicted. And it offers a unique examination of the eighteenth century haute ton. If you're interested in fashion history, need a resource for costumes or scenery, or are just interested in the links between high society, fashion, furniture, and architecture, then this is an excellent book to invest in. Well worth the price.

Hmmm

I bought this sight unseen from all the rave reviews. I have to say I was disappointed. Looking through the other comments, I have to agree with the reviewer that referred to it as an 'overblown production'.
I love costuming and the 18th century is my favourite period, but from the reviews I was expecting something a little more flashy.

If you've never had any exposure to 18th century clothing and furnishings before then I could see how this could be a revelation, but to a serious costumer, it's a bit average to say the least.

I think boobs and debauchery on stiff looking models would have to be a better title - these have to be the worst costume models I've ever seen.

It's hard to see details in the gowns, the lighting and photograpy are poor, the paintings are ok, but seem to revolve more around sex then clothing and the whole thing is just lacking in presentation in my opinion.

Not sure whether to cut this up for reference or donate it to the library.

Sorry I bought it.

Fabulous!

This book is gorgeous. The costumes are exquisite, and the arrangements of 'scenes' are fun and intriguing. A lovely coffee table book and excellent as a costumer's reference too.

Love it!

I'm a Theatre Costume Design student. For me it's very important to be as historically accurate in my designs as possible. Sadly, there are more bad costume books out there than good ones. Since this book features pictures of actual historical costumes (costumes that were, at the point they were originally cut and sewn, physically worn), there's no doubt of its reliability as a source.
I highly recommend this book not only to people like myself, who need a great book for research and inspiration, but to anyone and everyone. The pictures are high quality and excellently posed and, of course, the clothes and furniture are beautiful. Then again, 18th century France? How can they not be?

18th Century Costumes and Furnishings

This book contains some very nice images of historic costumes and furnishings from the 18th Century, including detail views. It should be of value to costume designers, set designers, historians and re-enactors. The quality of the book makes it a great bargain.