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August 21, 2016 1:44 PM Subscribe
Matthäus Schwarz was a 16th Century German accountant with a taste for fine clothing who managed to parlay his fashion sense into a noble title. He documented his life and clothing in an illuminated manuscript that has been recently translated, annotated and republished as The First Book of Fashion by Professor Ulinka Rublack and Maria Hayward, and includes reconstructed outfits by Jenny Tiramani. The process of remaking one of Schwarz's outfits is shown here. As befits a scholarly tome about a work often likened to modern style blogs, there is a First Book of Fashion Tumblr. Schwarz's son, Veit Konrad, also made his own illuminated style diary, but did not continue after his father's death in 1574. A slightly inaccurate copy was made in the 18th Century, a scan of which is available on Wikimedia Commons. Prof. Rublack puts Schwarz in context as a man of the Renaissance.
It's a great book, I love seeing what he was wearing right around the time the Diet of Augsburg happened. My church and fashion history intersect in odd ways.
posted by Stynxno at 2:16 PM on August 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Stynxno at 2:16 PM on August 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
> He caught the eye of Ferdinand, brother of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who invited Schwarz to his wedding.
This makes it unclear whether he was invited as an interesting person or as interesting scenery.
posted by ardgedee at 3:59 PM on August 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
This makes it unclear whether he was invited as an interesting person or as interesting scenery.
posted by ardgedee at 3:59 PM on August 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
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posted by Kattullus at 1:47 PM on August 21, 2016