Vintage Clothing 1880-1980

This book deserves better reviews than it has received here. First of all, it was one of the very first "guides" written for vintage clothing collectors, and I still appreciate and value the nearly 300 pages of fashion images both illustrative and photographic. As for the "value" guide; we know, or should know, that prices of vintage clothing can vary wildly depending on where you live, what is hot and what is not, if the seller wants to sell low and if the buyer wants to buy high. I think the prices indicated in this guide, though nearly ten years old, are still fairly accurate, adding 30 to 40 percent to the higher-end, rarer pieces and giving or taking 10 to 20 percent on the low end. I believe Maryanne Dolan knows vintage clothing, and knows the field well. Her historical research is good, and her appreciation and passion for costume is inspiring. Her overviews of the periods at the beginning of each chapter are well-written, clear and easy to read.It is true, however, that the book needs an index, some copy editing and perhaps a more sophisticated design layout for today's collectors. All seriously considered books need an index; just a fact of life in a costume or fashion researcher's world. Perhaps in a next edition?It is wise to note that one isn't going to get rich buying and selling vintage clothing today -- a nice living perhaps, if you have a decent collection already established -- but a fantastic hobby is always a possibility.An update is in order, but all in all, this is a good book worth having in your fashion history, vintage clothing or collecting library. Besides, when you can get 300 pages of pretty decent material for less than $10, how can you go wrong?

Dolan's Guide is good, but not great- it is in need of some extra editing, and a wider variety of fashions. But, it is a -vast- improvenment over the first edition. Her price estimates, while they may seem high, are actually accurate reflections of the prices paid in large cities. Here in the Midwest, we cut her prices by 2/3 in order to get fair, practical prices and values. Also, the book is targeted not toward the fashion lover, or vintage clothing store owner, but to the -collector- of vintage fashion; this is why the prices are high: it's not a guide to the vintage fashion industry, but a price guide (of course, as its title suggests) for antique dealer and collector. (Personally, I find this a little unrealistic, as I've never met anyone who actually -collects- vintage fashions, but maybe I'm just mixing with the wrong crowd.) It is also a -fun- read; I own few other books I can always enjoy this much, for as little as five minutes to as long as two hours. Also, be sure to read the long introductions at the beginning of each chapter; they are as much fun as the illustrations, and provide an excellent overview of each period. Her guide to rhinestone jewelery is also good, better even than this.