Chinese clothing: an illustrated guide

Abstract

With nearly 300 illustrations and an accessible, energetic text, Chinese Clothing: An Illustrated Guide fills a noticeable gap in the literature on Chinese costume: to present 600 years of the development of Chinese dress, from the beginnings of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to the present day, in a style written with the English-speaking reader in mind. Previous books in English on this topic have most often focused on a single subject, such as court dress, embroidery, or women's costume, or been imperfectly translated from the original Chinese. While providing a full treatment of Imperial robes and textiles, Chinese Clothing also documents several areas of costume design overlooked by earlier writers, such as children's wear, rural clothing and wedding and funeral attire. Copiously illustrated with line drawings and photographs, many in full colour and never before published, this book puts particular emphasis on twentieth-century costume. Fashion design students will find it a source of inspiration, particularly in the twentieth-century and minority costume sections, while theatre, film, and television costume designers will value its clear illustrations and useful text. Collectors of Chinese textiles and lovers of fine design everywhere will welcome this book as a guide and reference to the many rich colours and delicate cloths of Chinese fabric design.