James Laver, Costume & Fashion, 1982 Thames and Hudson (this one has very little 12th C. but a lot of 11th.)

Ernst Kitzinger, Early Medieval Art, 1983 British Museum. (lots of carvings and enamels, takes detective work to figure out what they are wearing.)

Georges Duby, Medieval Art Europe of the Cathedrals 1140-1280 1995 Editions d’Art Albert Skira S.A. (fabulous book for pictures of 12th. C. Things- I got it as a bargain book at Borders)

Georges Duby, Medieval Art, Foundations of a new Humanism 1280-1440 lots of great Primary doc pictures.

Herbert Norris, Medieval Costume and Fashion 1999,just republished by Dover- Isbn:0-486-40486-2 (This new edition has some primary pictures added in! Definitely a must. Many people disagree with Norris- but I feel that this is a good reference- especially for the beginner. It shows shoes, jewelry, fabrics, mentions important historical events, etc. It is a somewhat creative exploration on some things, and not everything is correct, but look at it with a discerning eye. I don't think that there is a source for 12 C that is correct- how could they be?

Tamara Voronova and Andrei Sterligov, Western European Illuminated Manuscripts of the 8th to the 16th C. 1996, Parkstone Press. (This is an expensive book and hard to find- but there are many 12th and 13th [more 13th of course] images with pretty clear costuming.)

Nancy Bradfield, Historical Costumes of England 1066-1968, 1970 Costume and Fashion Press. (I just got this book. I disagree with some of her interpretations, but the look is right. She has drawn is a sketchy way what people looked like in their clothes, and has quite a few pages on the 11th-12th.C.)

Mary G. Houston, Medieval Costume in England and France the 13th-15th C. 1996 Dover.( I just bought this book too, on the recommendation of a wonderful lady at Pennsic who gave me half her notebook of copies, and helped me with a list of books to buy. This one has some clear and simple guides to making the tunics with insets and gores.)

John Peacock, Costume 1066-1966, 1992 Thames and Hudson. (This is a good book to peruse the centuries to figure out what the time looked like fashion-wise. Good for newcomers to help them choose garb they might want to make.)

Carl Kohler, A History of Costume 1963 Dover. (this guy has his stuff down with any piece that is extant- measurements and commentary. But he tells how to make (and gives measurements for) a garment I presume to be the Bliaut. His design is totally unbelievable, and he makes up all sorts of details that are hidden by the arm of the girl in the picture he is inventing this costume from. He says that the dress has 2 cut out areas where the breasts are and that fabric is gathered into these cups to fit the breasts. Ludicrous if you look at all the other clothing made at the time! Someday I will write a treatise on my bliaut ideas…

Michael Camille, the Medieval Art of Love 1998 This is an excellent book about non-religious art objects, and gets in to the meaning and symbolism of the artwork, which most of our sources sadly ignore.

Metropolitan Museum of Art Europe in the Middle Ages. Great pictures and good commentary on the physical makeup of the piece, as well as some good Art History type commentary.

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