Magnificence of the Tsars: Men's Dress at the Imperial Russian Court 1721-1917

by Svetlana Amelekhina, Alexey K. Levykin, Value and Service (Design)

With specially commissioned photographs of never-before-seen clothing, Magnificence of the Tsars celebrates the majesty of masculine uniform in Russia at its finest. The luxurious, opulent lifestyles enjoyed by the Russian tsars, their families, and courts were among the world’s most extravagant for nearly two centuries, continue to be a source of endless fascination today. In this exquisitely illustrated collection, the grandeur of Imperial Russia is displayed in full. Starting in the 1730s with exquisitely embroidered coats and elaborately patterned silks from the wardrobe of Tsar Peter II these resplendent garments document a unique dialogue between military uniform, court dress, European fashion, and traditional Russian dress.

Genres: History, Fashion, Russia, Nonfiction, Fashion History, Historical, 18th Century

112 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Laura]

It's a privilege to see these clothes, particularly since many were presumedly destroyed, altered or reused after the fall of the Tsarist state. The skill involved in the making of these clothes is simply awe-inspiring, and from a historical point of view, it's particularly poignant to see pieces actually worn by Nicolas II and Tsarina Alexandra.

[Elizabeth]

Excellent photos though outlines/diagrams for the whole outfit would have been helpful.

[Liam Ostermann]

Fascinating book, beautiful photographs, but obviously not for everyone - for a start it is actually an exhibition catalogue - which isn't bad, just limited. Clearly court dress isn't for everyone but it is incredible to see such beautiful fabrics, embroidery and exquisite tailoring from the 18th century in particularly - I wonder do the French have as many originals from the Court of Versailles? What we see is only a fragment of what is in the Kremlin Armoury collections, in fact because they were buried away and ignored during the years of the Soviet Union helps explain their survival - but it is fascinating, and surprising what is in Russian museums - if you want to see pre Civil War English silver you have to go to Moscow because almost all silver that was in England was melted down but what was given as diplomatic gifts survives in the Moscow Kremlin. Anyway this book is a great pleasure - but not a substantial one.