Fashionable Clothing from the Sears Catalogs: Early 1950s focuses on wearable, collectible vintage clothing and accessories. The Sears catalogs provide the basis for a comprehensive evaluation of the fashions of this period. There is no guessing as to the dates of the clothing, and the descriptions are unsurpassed in terms of detail and accuracy. Vintage clothing from the early 1950s is extremely desirable to collectors, but it is increasingly difficult to find. Fashion designers look to the elegant styles of the period for inspiration. Collectors love the beautiful crafted handbags and the carefully tailored suits, jackets, and coats. Shoes have become very interesting to collectors in recent years, perhaps due to their comfortable styling and beautiful craftsmanship. This survey encompasses all aspects of the era's fashions, including: gowns, dresses, shirts, skirts, sportswear, accessories, nightware, underwear, coats, suits, and jackets. Fashionable Clothing from the Sears Catalogs: Early 1950s includes introductory remarks, helpful hints for collectors, descriptions from the catalog, and current values placed next to the original Sears' prices.

This comprehensive survey of women's fashion footwear, with more than 1,000 photos, includes every type of fashion shoe that has walked through the century, from the 1900s through the early 2000s. Along with a decade-by-decade photo timeline, with detailed information on each shoe's design and craftsmanship, every aspect of shoes is also explained. Starting with a clear explanation of the fundamentals of shoe design and the parts of the shoe, this treasure trove of info goes on to cover the great shoe designers and well-known brands, and the many cultural and societal influences and trends that shoes reflected. Special sections explore the health of the fashionable foot, the care and preservation of antique and vintage footwear, and the role of the celebrity shoe designer.

Over 350 color photographs depict a magnificent array of fashion hats from the early 19th century to present day, including the earliest known American straw bonnet. The hats are presented chronologically according to primary materials; straw, felt, horsehair, feathers, silk, velvet, and flowers. Trends in hat designs, Hollywood style, Stetson hats, tips on collecting, and contemporary millinery are also discussed. The captions include specific details about each hat, as well as labels and information about the milliners. This useful reference includes a glossary, a detailed price reference, and index with photographs of designer labels. This beautiful book will be cherished by collectors, dealers, fashion connoisseurs, and everyone who simply loves hats!

Slip into something more comfortable as you peruse this comprehensive overview celebrating the art of womens underwear and lingerie. In this elegant display of vintage, collectible lingerie in satin, lace, silk, and chiffon, experience the evolving designs of modern lingerie from 1920 to 1980. From sweeping changes of a womans role in society to the technological advances that produced a spectrum of new colors and range of textiles, the form and style of lingerie has undergone a significant transformation. Photos, sketches, and vintage ads tell the story behind the designs for bodices, negligees, pajamas, nightgowns, bed jackets, girdles, garters, and more. Ideal for collectors, costume designers, fashion designers, and fashionistas.

This comprehensive new book celebrates over 550 top quality handbags by leading and unknown designers the world over, dating from 1759 to 2004, with detailed information to describe their outstanding qualities. These carefully selected handbags are arranged by their primary materials and chronologically within each chapter, for easy reference and interesting comparisons. Here fine leather, fabric, metal, beaded, skin, and plastic handbags from all over Europe, England, Canada, The United States, and Asia appear in over 600 beautiful color photographs. Examples appear from the design houses of Adele Handbags, Asprey, Bergdorf Goodman, Bonnie Cashin for Coach, Cartier, Chanel, Coblentz, Collins of Texas, deLillo, Elizabeth Arden, Emilio Pucci, Fendi, Givenchy, Gucci, Halston, Hermes, I. Miller, Joret, Judith Lieber, Keiselstein-Cort, Llewellen, Mandalian, Mark Cross, Marvel, Nettie Rosenstein, Patricia of Miami, Pierre Cardin, Raoul Calabro, Rialto, Roger Van S., Ronay, Rosenfeld, sydney love, Tiffany, Tropic, Tyrolean, Virginia Merrill, Viva, Whiting & Davis Co., Wilardy Original, Zandra Rhodes, and many more. An extensive Glossary, informative Resources section, Bibliography, and Index make this book friendly while instructional, securing an important place in the libraries of fashion historians, vintage clothing buffs, antique dealers, and accessories collectors alike.

Fashion fanatics with a passion for the past will find a smorgasbord of wearable oldies in this new study by an expert in twentieth century fashion. Focusing on the great styles that emerged from the diverse eras between 1925 and 1965, the text places the clothing in its cultural habitat while more than 350 beautiful color photographs demonstrate the quality fabrics, dynamic designs, and careful workmanship that made the clothing last, both in condition and popularity. Chapters cover couture designers whose vintage clothes can be found on the market today, with chronologically arranged coats, suits, dresses, lingerie, handbags, shoes, and hats. The hats chapter has a unique and especially useful pictorial dating guide. Vintage Style was written for museum curators and preservationists, students and fashion designers, dealers, collectors, costumers, and reenactors-everyone who lives for fashion!

Turn back the calendar pages for a memorable jaunt through the early '70s! The clothing is very wearable, while being sought after by collectors. Drawn from Sears catalogs of the period, this entertaining book is an invaluable help in identifying and pricing vintage clothing and accessories. The captions provide accurate and detailed information about the many fashions illustrated in over 400 color photos. Today, clothing from the early 1970s is extremely popular on the vintage market, both to retail buyers, who enjoy wearing the styles, and to designers, who use the styles for inspiration. Here are examples of all the trendy styles of the period: mini skirts and dresses; hip-huggers and bell-bottoms; skimp-sleeved pullovers and slink knit shirts; mini and maxi coats; jumpsuits and tunics; chunky heeled and platform shoes. The book focuses on women's fashions, but includes examples of collectible men's and children's fashions as well.

Fascinating, fabulous, and fun twentieth century handbags are a delight to look at, to carry, and to collect. The best make you smile because they are especially well designed, beautifully constructed, and a pleasure to own. Examine 140 special handbags that made the author pause and judge them among the most fun she has encountered over many years in the fashion world. Presented in ten chapters, they range from "Past Pleasures" to "Future Collectibles," in 177 color photographs, including details and makers' labels. Full identification, special comments that individualize their best features, and a value range appear for each handbag; all you need understand what make s them special and fun. The top names in the handbag industry appear along with unmarked bags, but they all possess distinctive features that readers can fully enjoy. A resources section can lead you to more of them. This book is entertainment as well as research, and will be coveted by fashion enthusiasts who know that the best vintage style is creativity and fun!