Selected Readings

These annotated publications have been recommended by the Education staff of The Metropolitan Museum of Art as useful resources for the general public, K–12 teachers, and college students.

print resources, bibliography, general reading, further reading, research, books


African Art	Byzantine Art	Greek and Roman Art	Photography

Ancient American Art	Colonial Art of the Americas	Islamic Art	Prehistory

Ancient Near Eastern Art	Costume	Modern and Contemporary Art	United States, Arts of

Arms and Armor	Egyptian Art	Musical Instruments

Asian Art	European Art	Oceania, Arts of	General Information

Subject

Artist

Timelines/Regions

Thematic Essays

Accession Number

Lists of Rulers

Useful Links

Selected Readings

Costume

Baumgarten, Linda. What Clothes Reveal: The Language of Clothing in Colonial and Federal America: The Colonial Williamsburg Collection. Williamsburg, Va.: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 2002.
This well-written survey of eighteenth-century clothing looks at garments worn by people at all levels of society. The detailed illustrations and sidebars with information on many relevant topics make this a fascinating addition to the literature of the colonial period. Includes a bibliography and index.
Cosgrave, Bronwyn. The Complete History of Costume & Fashion: From Ancient Egypt to the Present Day. New York: Checkmark Books, 2000.
Cosgrave charts the progression of Western style over nearly 5,000 years. Includes hundreds of illustrations, bibliographical references, and an index.
Garrett, Valery M. Chinese Clothing: An Illustrated Guide. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.
Examines clothing worn in China from the Ming period through the twentieth century. Includes many illustrations, a glossary, maps, a bibliography, and index.
Gluckman, Dale Carolyn, and Sharon Sadako Takeda, et al. When Art Became Fashion: Kosode in Edo-Period Japan. New York: Weatherhill, 1992.
The kosode, precursor of the kimono, was the principal garment of all classes in Japan (1615–1868). With the design and manufacture of the kosode as the unifying theme, this interesting, readable, and beautifully illustrated book is a window into the culture and civilization of Edo Japan. Appended materials include an extensive glossary, detailed patterns, a bibliography, and an index.
Hollander, Anne. Sex and Suits: The Evolution of Modern Dress. New York: Kodansha International, 1995.
This is thought-provoking analysis of Western dress styles, from medieval times to the present. Includes illustrations, bibliographical references, and an index.
Kraatz, Anne. Lace: History and Fashion. New York: Rizzoli, 1989.
This comprehensive survey of lace, from the handmade of the sixteenth century to the machine-made of today, encompasses all aspects of lace in trade and society and includes other aspects that deal with this highly valued commodity. Well illustrated. Includes a glossary and bibliography.
Seeling, Charlotte. Fashion: The Century of the Designer, 1900–1999. Translated by Neil and Ting Morris, and Karen Waloschek. Cologne: Könemann, 2000.
This book spans the evolution of twentieth-century women's fashion and considers the effects of world events on the designers, the accessories, and fashion trends. Includes a glossary and index.
Tortora, Phyllis G., and Keith Eubank. A Survey of Historic Costume: A History of Western Dress. 3rd ed. New York: Fairchild Publications, 1998.
A comprehensive, well-illustrated survey of the history of dress from ancient times to the present. Includes several bibliographies, an index, and—because it is a textbook—thoughtful questions at the end of each chapter.

Photograph Credits