Japanese Costume : And the Makers of Its Elegant Tradition

Tokyo, Japan: Charles E Tuttle, 1986. Book. Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall. The book and jacket are in very good condition, minor shelf rubbing, the slipcase is also in very good condition with some shelf rubbing, the text inside the book appears clean and clear throughout. 'In a word, this book is a story. Nonetheless, it is a true story, even though it is not a textbook. It was told by one who drank it from his own roots and knew it as he knew himself. It has been written by one who prefers to paint pictures, warmly, rather than to ferret out facts, coldly, and who believes that a picture painted in broad strokes of color can convey an impression more faithful, more vivid, and more enduring than that conveyed by a carefully annotated and accurately measured diagram. The picture I would like to paint is not just the history of Japanese costume but the panoramic human background against which that history is traced. It should be, then, a history of taste rather than of tailoring. This is my viewpoint and my perspective. My desire is to pass on to other Westerners a warmer understanding and appreciation of the history of the Japanese people as it has been woven and dyed in the bright silken fabrics that they have always produced so superlatively and worn so handsomely and loved so well.' 374 pages. 7.5 x 10.5 inches. May require additional postage. Pictures available upon request..