Vintage Details: A Fashion Sourcebook

by Jeffrey Mayer, Basia Szkutnicka

Vintage Details is a stunning collection of over 550 beautifully photographed details from previously unseen 20th-century vintage clothing.

The images are arranged by necklines, collars, sleeves, cuffs, pockets, hems, darts and fitting devices, stitching, fastenings and buttonholes, pleats, frills and flounces, embellishment, texture, and print. Inner construction shots will also be included, along with images of the full garments providing context for the details shown.

Easy to navigate and packed full of inspirational images, this book will become an indispensable reference to vintage detailing for fashion design students and professionals.

Genres: Fashion, Sewing, Nonfiction

368 pages, Hardcover

First published February 16, 2016

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant sourcebook for anyone doing fashion design, costume design, or is just into vintage styling. There is NO TEXT in this book. It is all photographs of vintage clothing from all angles. It starts with a visual index, with items ranging from 1913 to 1995. Each item has thumbnail pictures of it front and back; then it states what sections of the book detailed photos can be found in. The sections include necklines, collars, sleeves, pockets and many more, including construction details- pictures of the insides of the clothing. It’s great fun to browse through the book and get ideas. The construction of many of the pieces is so much better than what you see in clothing today- today’s clothing seems to be styled for fast production. I see more details in my clothing in the future!

[Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ironically, the lighting in many of the photographs was so poor that I could not see any vintage details. Same items shown 3-4 times. I'd prefer each item broken down once with all of its best features highlighted, and an index for categories (shoulders, sleeves etc.).

[Jane Dugger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cool pictorial. My favorite "chapter" was the construction photos. I only wish there was more narrative about some of the unusual techniques.