LibGuides: Fashion Merchandising and Design Subject Guide: Background Info

Why Use Reference Sources?

These sources can help you get your research off the ground. They offer...

Basic info on topics and concepts
Ideas for possible research topics
Keyword ideas for searching the catalog and databases
Suggestions for further reading

Recommended Resource: Credo Reference

Credo Reference is an online reference database that includes dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, biographies and more.

Credo Reference: Image Search

Gale Reference Search

Gale Reference is an award-winning electronic collection of quality reference sources.

Oxford Reference

Oxford Reference Online Search Box Example

Costume History with Illustrations

World Clothing and Fashion: An Encyclopedia
This interdisciplinary work brings a new perspective to the diverse and colorful global history of human attire from prehistoric times to modern day. It illuminates dress as a reflection of social status, aesthetic trends, economic conditions, cultural exchange, and modern media marketing, covering the evolution of clothing styles in diverse historical periods, regions, and countries, as well as the diversification of materials, production methods, and commerce.
The Book of Costume (R 391 D27)
The Chronicle of Western Costume: From the Ancient World to the Late Twentieth Century (R 391.009 P313c)
Historical Encyclopedia of Costumes (R 391.005 R11)
What People Wore: A Visual History of Dress (R 391 G68)

Dictionaries

Complete Costume Dictionary (R 391.003 L58c)
Fairchild Dictionary of Fashion (R 391.003 C125f)
Fashion Production Terms (R 646.04 G43)
Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Fashion and Fashion Designers

New Resource~Berg Fashion Library

Berg Fashion Library This link opens in a new window
This resource offers scholarly information on all aspects of dress and fashion worldwide and throughout time. It contains the Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion, along with academic ebooks and museum image collections.

To create an account in Berg you will need to open a separate browser and copy and past the following link into a tab: https://www.bloomsburyfashioncentral.com/sign-up

Then you will receive an email to create your password. Once your account is set up you can save articles and images to folders you create. If you experience any issues, please reach out to a librarian via chat or my email, both of which is located below.

Encyclopedias

A Cultural History of Dress and Fashion by Susan J. Vincent (Editor); Susan Vincent
Call Number: R 391.009 C899
ISBN: 9781472557490
Publication Date: 2016-12-15
A cultural history of dress and fashion' presents an authoritative survey from ancient times to the present. This set of six volumes covers over 2,500 years of dress and fashion.

Contemporary Fashion
Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion
Encyclopedia of Textiles (R 677 Am3e1)
Fairchild Encyclopedia of Menswear (R 391.103 G24f)
Fashion, Costume and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations, and Footwear Through the Ages
Greenwood Encyclopedia of Clothing Through American History: 1900 through the Present
Greenwood Encyclopedia of Clothing Through World History (R 391.009 G856)

Reference Books

Celebrating Life Customs Around the World by Victoria Williams
ISBN: 9781440836589
Publication Date: 2016-11-21
This book documents hundreds of customs and traditions practiced in countries outside of the United States, showcasing the diversity of birth, coming-of-age, and death celebrations worldwide.
Women in American History by Peg A. Lamphier (Editor); Rosanne Marie Welch (Editor)
ISBN: 9781610696029
Publication Date: 2017-01-23
Offers comprehensive coverage of women of a diverse range of cultures, classes, ethnicities, religions, and sexual identifications, this set identifies the many ways in which women have helped to shape and strengthen the United States.

Library of Congress Country Studies

Library of Congress Country Studies

Statista

Statista
Statista provides statistical data on many topics including media, business, politics, society, fashion, clothing, technology and education. Sources include market reports, trade publications, scientific journals, and government databases.

Fashion Merchandising and Design Subject Guide

American Decades

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