Auguste Racinet was a French illustrator who is known for his colorful books that gave people insight into the visual culture of the world. He is known for works such as “L’Ornament Polychrome” or “La Céramique Japonaise”, but his most popular work is definitely “Le Costume Historique”.
This book contains 500 plates, 300 of which are in color, that detail the various clothes of different cultures throughout the ages. It was first published in France between 1876 and 1888 and was at the time the most wide-ranging study of clothing and fashion ever attempted. “Le Costume Historique” – “The Historic Costume” covers the way people dressed from antiquity to the 19th century in many parts of the world, covering from the clothes of ancient Etruscans to traditional clothes worn the Eskimos in the 19th century. The book also contains imagines of women’s couture and a series of patterns.
The illustrations featured in the book are crafted with great detail and have become a reference point to anyone studying the world of attire. His book is an invaluable reference that inspires publishers to this day, in terms of aesthetic and layout.
Besides the tremendous effort that went into this book, the contents are also extremely fascinating and noteworthy. Putting people in different types of attire as they evolved in time next to one another, anyone opening the book can notice a very interesting cultural and artistic evolution, namely that the clothes seem to evolve organically. It seems that the clothes that follow a certain outfit are a normal, expected modification of these, which puts fashion into perspective.
It can be concluded that fashion is in many ways a process that is more strongly tied to the evolution of society and cultural psychology than it was thought before.
Thus, it can be said that “Le Costme Historique” is a veritable cultural treasure: it gives us insight into the past that, if attempted a few years later, might have not been possible. The six volumes of the book can be still bought today in reprints, and make a great addition to anyone’s personal library or as a gift.
Anyone with an interest in style and clothes or simply in history and anthropology will find this book absolutely amazing and inspiring. We sure did!
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Further reading:
Attire Club Mood Board: German court clothes
AC Mood Board: Dutch clothes of the 18th century
AC Mood Board: The Renaissance in world fashions
AC Mood Board: Basel fashion in the 1630s
AC Mood Board: Medieval clothed horses
AC Mood Board: Royal, military and court costumes from the Jacobean era
P.S. We want to hear from you! Have you checked out Racinet’s “Le Costume Historique”? Which historical fashion period do you like best? Why? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!