Frequently Asked Questions
Fashion Color Index:
WHAT IS THE FASHION COLOR DATABASE PROJECT:
The Fashion Color Database (FDC) is a compilation of documented color names, their definitions, usage, and/or trends throughout history. All the color names are documented in various publications listed in theFDC Bibliography.
The FCD started as a college project in 1996 byThe Costume Gallery’s owner, Penny E. Dunlap Ladnier. At the time, the working title was "Color Names Throughout the Centuries." The FDC project originated from trying to find out what the fashion color name "Dead Spaniard" definition was during the 1500s. Since then, Penny has been documenting color names and their usage. In 1998, she lost her entire database of over 4,000 documented color names. What you see in the FCD today, is her original college work, and the additions since 1998.
The FCD is a continuing effort to document color usage in fashion. Our primary goal was to document color names from the app. 600 A.D. to the 1930s. Our current objective is to document all the color names used in the primary sources in ourCostume Research Library, and provide links to the webpages of the documentation.
HOW TO READ THE FDC COLOR INFORMATION:
FASHION COLOR INDEX: DIRECTIONS FOR USAGE:
COLOR NAME INDEX
All the colors listed in the Fashion Color Database are listed in the master index. The color names are listed alphabetically and by the usage years, or documented publication. The names are on the left side of the webpage and the years of documentation are to the right of the color name. When a color has more than 10 documented years, it will display the number of entries that exist in the FCD. Example, the color White: (98 entries).
Whenever you see the Fashion Color Index, as shown above, you may click on the letter of the alphabet that you wish to view. The master index is to be used as a reference. There are no links from the master index to the color names in the Database.
SEARCH BY COLOR NAMES:
If you want to see available data for a specific color name in the Color Name Index, we strongly suggest that you copy the color name only and paste it into the advanced search feature. All color names need to be searched with the first letter of the color name capitalized, such as Blue or Cardinal. Otherwise, all color names are indexed as they were written in the documented source. Note, that a specific color name may have been spelled differently over different time periods.
SEARCH BY SPECIFIC YEAR:
All the color names are documented by years of usage or documentation. They may be listed by specific year (ex. 1922), decade (ex. 1920s) or several decades (ex. 1620-1660). When doing an extended database search, you can narrow down the search by using these dates as written in the master Color Name Index.
SEARCHING FOR COLOR DEFINITIONS / DESCRIPTIONS:
The color descriptions or definitions are mainly from the publication, The Language of Fashion, published in 1939. There are over 300 entries in the database from this source. Use the extended search feature, and enter:
Time Frame: 1939
Source: The Language of Fashion
There are entries from other sources, but are scattered throughout the database.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: SEARCH BY PUBLICATION:
We have posted a completeBibliography of the publications used on the FCD. You may search by publication sources that we have listed in the bibliography. Only copy the name of the publication listed in the Bibliography section when performing an extended search. Example:
Delineator Magazine, Butterick Publishing Co.: Toronto, Canada, Vol. LVI, No. 3, Sept. 1900, pp. 274, 301.
In the extended search form, only search for Delineator Magazine in the **Source** field of the form.
All the color names in the database have a documented source listed in the **Source** and **Comments** field. Full bibliographical source is documented in the **Comments** field. Please do not do a search for a source from the comments area of the form. It will not show the results.
VOLUNTEERING FOR THE FCD PROJECT:
We have several interns (volunteers) for the FDC and our Costume Research Library. Our interns live all over the world. All work is done online. Interns for the FDC needs the following skills:
TERMS OF USAGE:
Penny E. Dunlap Ladnier, is the sole owner of the following websites housed under the business name, The Costume Gallery:
The Costume Gallery,www.costumegallery.com, .org
Costume Classroom,www.costumeclassroom.com, .org, .net
Costume Research Library,www.costumelibrary.com, .org, .net
Costume Encyclopedia,www.costumeencyclopedia.com, .org, .net
Fashion Color Database,www.fcdatabase.com, .org, .net
Online Costume Ball,www.onlinecostumeball.com
The Fashion Color Database (FCD) website layout, graphics, content compilation are the property of The Costume Gallery. This website has been developed and maintained as an educational resource of fashion history.
The contents of the FCD website may not be duplicated via the internet/electronics media (email, email or news groups, websites, webpages, blogs, online journals, newsletters), saved on personal, public, government, or business computers, CDs, disks.
Limited printed copies of content maybe used or distributed to instructors or students in educational institutions, reenactments groups, living historians/sites, museums, and non-profit organizations when permission has been granted from Penny E. Dunlap Ladnier.
Qualified usage request must include the following:
Note that we loan images ONLY to non-profit organizations (museums, living history sites, etc.), OR professional services such as the press, advertising media, magazines, television, film, and newspapers. We do NOT loan images to students, private collectors/individuals, hobbyists, etc. If you fall into one of the latter, please do not write begging for an image. We do not reply to those messages.
Passwords are given on a monthly basis to the FCD and Costume Research Library subscribers only. If the passwords are given to non-subscribers, the violators privileges to ALL The Costume Gallery’s websites will be suspended immediately.Library subscriptions are sold on an individual (one person) or group rate. The FCD is part of the Library subscription. Please note that we do keep a careful eye on our website logs and statistics, and will block non-subscribers access.
Please respect our copyrights. We have spent 10 years collecting, purchasing resources, compiling, and developing our websites. We have also spent several years in college, costing lots of $$$, to learn how to present our work professionally. If you know of someone stealing work from our websites, please email HERE.
All contents of the websites associated with The Costume Gallery Website are protected by copyright laws. Questions??? email:HERE.
© Fashion Color Database, 1996-2005.
© Costume Research Library, 1996-2005.
© Costume Encyclopedia, 2004-2005.
© Costume Classroom, 2000-2005.