books on the history of fashion and design
La Femme, March 15, 1945. Image via Gallica, BnF
Trade catalogs from manufacturers of clothing and accessories through the ages. Important in tracing the development of trade over the past 200 years, as well as to use as a record that often includes with images, dating, scale, and pricing for products. Links are to digitized copies available for free online, thanks to the diligent digitizing work of many museums and institutions.
Womenswear Catalogs
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Lord & Taylor, 1877, 1882, . New York-based department store.
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Edvabski, 1906, French fur manufacturer.
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Home Book of Fashions, Autumn 1917. Catalog of patterns available from The Home Pattern Company, the "sole manufacturers of patterns for the Ladies' Home Journal".
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Bloomingdales, 1910. New York City-based department store.
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Herbst, Winter 1925-1926. Swiss dressmaker.
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Interiors
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Langlois et Cie. French manufacturer of light fixtures. Early 20th century: Le Lustre Lumière, with designs by Hector Guimard., revival, 1912-1914. French.
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Chambres à coucher & salles à manger. Art Nouveau furniture sets by French furniture manfactor Maxime Clair, as presented at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris. https://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16028coll13/id/7189
Women's Accessories
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Gaghills Slippers, 1906. Slipper company, produced by British shoe manufacturer H.W. Trickett.
Menswear Magazines
American, British, Canadian, and French.
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Geo. D. Doudney's Monthly Fashion Sheet, February, 1835.
Culture / Fashion-Adjacent:
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The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences: Great collection of film fan magazines from the first half of the twentieth century, which often discuss costume design and the off-camera style of starlets of the era.