Gentle readers, this YouTube video and these images provide only a sampling of the content of this remarkable book, edited by Natalie Rothstein, who worked in the textile department of the Victoria and Albert Museum before her death. During her lifetime Barbara Johnson (1738-1825) kept a meticulous record of the dresses that were made for her, attaching swatches of fabric and including images from ladies magazines.
Sample pages from the book
- Order the book: A Lady of Fashion, Amazon.com
- Natalie Rothstein, obituary at the Victoria & Albert website
Jane Austen's World 
How gorgeous! Aren’t the colours vivid!
Thank you, Vic, for such a wonderful post. I’ve zoomed up to 200% and just so wished that I could see them in reality (the book is out-of-print on Amazon).
What a lovely thing of Barbara Johnson to have done!
I was hoping to do something like that – sticking in pieces of material from gowns – in my book ‘I was Jane Austen’s Best Friend’, but alas, money came into it and colour is a prohibitively expensive and only to be used in young children’s books.
I love this book, all the fabric swatches are amazing and the notes fascinating.
That video feature was great. I’ve kept record of dresses and outfits I made for my daughter as she grew up by making a quilt from the fabrics. Not quite the same but a record nonetheless.
I remember first seeing this book years ago when it was new, and having total research-book-lust. I couldn’t afford it at the time, and regretfully put it back on the shelf. Now I STILL want it, but wow, when I see how much the resellers want for it, I really wish I’d bought it then!
Susan, I was lucky to find the book for under $100. I believe its limited run and the full color images must have kept its price high over the years, even valuing it higher than the original price.
I believe you can access an online facsimile at the V&A online collections.
Swoon!
This is a fascinating book! I have been making a similar book on 19th century fashion, not, of course, nearly as accurate, and this would be great for ideas and such! The lowest price I found was $160. does anyone know of a less expensive source?
Thanks for posting!