Covering Western costume from Ancient Egypt to contemporary haute couture this is a fully illustrated companion volume to John Peacock&s " Fashion Sourcebooks" The last 4000 years has seen an astonishing variety of ways in which the human form can be dressed from the relative simplicity of the ancient world through the Middle Ages & Renaissance to the changing conventions of the 18th & 19th centuries & the birth of modern dress The final section brings the story up to date showing the vibrant diversity of 20th-century fashion The range of meticulous colour drawings are based on extensive research Organized in chronological order they are accompanied by detailed descriptions of each figure including the individual items shown & the many types of fabric cut pattern & colour that have been used over the centuries The huge range of drawings reveals not only national characteristics but also social divisions young & old rich & poor countryfolk & town dwellers royalty & commoners & provide a detailed reference for students & professionals alike