Costume: Books

• According to the New York Public Library, ". . . the bulk of publications on fashion history cover the period from the mid-to-late nineteenth century to the present, with emphasis on individual designers and their work." This means that you can expect to find more information on 19th, 20th, and 21st century fashions than on older fashion.
• Even then, you need think creatively when looking for books on fashion and costume history. Begin by searching the online catalog. Use keywords to get started and subject headings to find broad areas of coverage.
• ECUstudents and faculty can search for books and request them from regional libraries through .
• Look for books in libraries all over the world in WorldCat and request them through ILLiad.
• The bibliographies in books and print journals can serve as bread crumbs, leading you to excellent peer-reviewed sources. So browse the shelves, too.

Useful subject terms (not an exhaustive list) in the area of Fashion and Costume:

• Clothing and dress
• Costume
• Costume -- history
• Costume -- social aspects
• Fashion -- history
• Fashion -- social aspects
• Hairstyles -- history

 **You might also want to browse books in the TT 500 range located on the 3rd floor.

One Search is a great place to start your research. It allows you to simultaneously search through a variety of databases and the ECU Libraries' catalog.

This collection includes dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories, handbooks, and yearbooks. Reference sources for this subject are found in the Reference Room, on the First Floor.