Books like Fashion in photographs, 1880-1900 by Sarah Levitt

Inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, this book traces the evolution of fashion exhibitions and their gala celebrations, featuring iconic shows, Vogue collaborations, and celebrity moments from 2001 to 2014.

In Dressed for the Photographer, Joan Severa gives a visual analysis of the dress of middle-class Americans from the mid-to-late 19th century. Using images and writings, she shows how even economically disadvantaged Americans could wear styles within a year or so of current fashion. This desire for fashion equality demonstrates that the possession of culture was more important than wealth or position in the community. In presenting a broad overview of common fashion, Severa gathers letters and diaries as well as photographs from various sources across the United States. She provides graphic evidence that ordinary Americans, when dressed in their finest attire, appeared very much the same as their wealthier neighbors. But upon closer examination, these photographs often reveal inconsistencies that betray the actual economic status of the sitter. These fascinating photographs coupled with Severa's insights offer an added dimension to our understanding of 19th-century Americans. Intended as an aid in dating costumes and photographs and as a guide for period costume replication, Dressed for the Photographer provides extensive information for understanding the social history and material culture of this period. It will be of interest to general readers as well as to social historians and those interested in fashion, costume, and material culture studies.

A pictorial collection of more than 750 captioned illustrations from 1920s Sears, Roebuck, and other mail‑order catalog fashion pages, showcasing clothing and accessories for men, women, and children.