Tudor Costume and Fashion (Dover Fashion and Costumes)

I know of no other study of the 16th century that attempts to as throughly cover everything from French hairdressing to textile design than Norris' work on Tudor costume and fashion. It's a magnificent mess of a book, full of illustrations, odd antidotes and a rambling sort of structure that makes finding things sometimes an entertaining challenge. Despite all this, I think it has a place in very costume history collection.Perhaps the most telling thing about Herbert Norris opus on Tudor dress is that it was first published in the 1930s. Dover's excellent reprint of the work is well worth having on the shelf as an accessory volume to other more modern sources, but it remains very much a work of its era. When Norris was writing, historical dress studies were rarely held to the same academic standards as other branches of historical works. While Norris does provide some limited citation, it is hardly the sort of detailed annotation that a person expects from a historical work today.Many of Norris' claims have been refuted by current scholarship; however, I firmly believe that his clear illustrations and the broad reaching nature of this work redeem it from the flaws of it being nearly 80 years old. It's a good solid work on Tudor costume, but I wouldn't suggest that it be someone's only work on Tudor costume.And, as several people have mentioned, this isn't a pattern book. It won't help you sew stuff.

I've used the Norris book for Medieval Costume before and I love it, and this one is that much more. In addition to plates and figures, that show the costumes in period illustrations, the book is organized by reigns, and includes sections on orders of chivalry, headdresses, hats, shoes, jewelry, and discussions of usage of every part of the costume. The biggest danger is allowing Norris to be your only source, just because it has everything. Enjoy, I have already spent several evenings just perusing the book, and I have several plans for costumes.

I loved this book! While it is a comprehensive guide to Tudor era fashions, it is also a great history of the era. I suppose that if you are not interested in history, it might not be what you are looking for. However, if you are a history buff as well as having an interest in the clothing of the time, this is one book you should have.

Love how detailed it is!!Can't wait to read through it and get some awesome ideas!!Thanks so much for this awesome deal!!The book looks better than described.

One of the bibles of Tudor Era costuming! Lots of detail and research went into this book. The only problem is the organization could have been a little clearer. But I can overlook that due to all the wonderful infomation included.

Has a lot of detailed diagrams and patterns. Good reference for styles, colors, oddities and basic patterns for garmetns and decorations.

This book is a good resource for the serious historic costumer, and fun to peruse through for anyone who enjoys this sort of thing. The reason I do not say this is a good resource for any historic costumer is that not all of the information in here is completely accurate, and if you are trying to recreate an historically accurate costume (or write a paper on historic costume, etc...) you will need to know what things in here you can believe, and what you should be wary about. Many of the terms used to refer to articles of clothing are not terms in standard use in the costuming world today, and some of the information that Norris presents as fact has since been proven wrong. The only reason I still gave this book four stars despite all that I have previously mentioned is that the pictures are wonderful. I have never seen a book that has such a plethora of sketches of so many different things relating to costume. Girdles, headpeices, hair styles, articles of jewelery, embroidery motifs, and trim are all shown in more detail than one can usually see, even in full-page color photographs. Not many of the pictures are in color, but the colors used in the original portraits are described in the accompanying commentary. This book is a good supplementary peice of information, but be careful not to take everything in it as absolute truth.

This book is a must have for anyone who is interested in fashion of the 1500s. It is the best tool I have found so far for Tudor fashions in most of Europe. It gives a great deal of information that is valuable to anyone who is recreating dress of the era. However, it does have some flaws. Norris tends to draw conclusions without giving reasons. Some of these appear to be incorrect. Also, there is a a profoundly English slant to information. Overall however, it is the best resource for Tudor fashion. For Elizabethian, "Elizabethan Costuming" by Janet Winter & "Patterns of Fashion : The Cut and Construction of Clothes for Men and Women C1560-1620" by Janet Arnold are better for the money.

For anyone who loves Historical Costumers this book is a treasure. Small little notelets about each person and their styles with wonderful diagrams and pictures. A must for any fan of historical clothing.

Unlike so many modern books this does things in depth. Also covers a wide range of fashion acessories, such as jewelry and carrages (but not armor) !!!

This is a thick book with plenty of information in it, but I found the lack of depth (which is what I bought it for) somewhat missing.

Good value for money. Bought for my sons A level studies.

A wealth of information in this book as I am making costumes for the play A Man for all seasons - part of the Arundel Festival