In the years shortly before the Civil War, many Southern plantation owners and their families "summered" in the cooler climate of the northern states, often along the New England coast. These journeys frequently included side trips to New York, Boston, or Philadelphia to replenish the family's wardrobes with the latest fashions. The particularly wealthy occasionally went to Europe, returning home with stylish apparel from London or Paris. Clothing worn during this period by members of antebellum society conveyed a distinct glamor and elegance. Tom Tierney captures the fine details of authentic garments in 29 ready-to-color illustrations. Included are walking costumes, evening gowns, morning and afternoon dresses, and wedding apparel for women, as well as suits, vests, trousers, and handsome military uniforms for the men. Descriptive captions accompany illustrations in an attractive coloring book that will not only please coloring book fans, but will also be of use to costume historians and designers.
Author
Tom Tierney was a prolific creator of paper doll books. He was trained as an artist and worked as an illustrator for department stores before turning to paper dolls in the 1970s. "Meticulously drawn and colored, and annotated with historical information, Mr. Tierney’s paper-doll books are not just for children—and some are not for children at all. His aim, he often said, was to contribute to the visual literature of costume history," noted his New York Times obituary. "Pope John Paul II, shown a copy of Mr. Tierney’s book about him by a visitor to the Vatican, blessed it and asked where he might get one of his own."
