Frequently Asked Questions
TOPICS:
What is the Fashion Color Database (FCD) Project?
How to Read the FCD Color Information
Fashion Color Index:
Search for Color Definitions / Descriptions
Bibliography: Search by Specific Publication
Volunteering for the FDC Project
COLOR NAME INDEX
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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 the
FDC Bibliography.The FCD started as a college project in 1996 by
The 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 our
Costume Research Library, and provide links to the webpages of the documentation.
HOW TO READ THE FDC COLOR INFORMATION:
- The results from a specific keyword search, will show you a primary listing of a color, time frame, and possibly some comments. Note that some color names may not have comments on this listing page.
- The number displayed at the top of the results listing tells how many entries are listed for that keyword search. Ex. 1 to 10 of 27 entries. To view the next 10 entries, go to the bottom of the webpage and click on the number "2."
- From the initial listing pages, you may click on details of any color name. The **Details** link is always located on the lower right side of each color record. Click on the link, and a single webpage will open with all documented information for that color name entry. Mandatory fields on every color entry are: Color Name, Time Frame, and Comments. (You do not need to put all three of these fields in the search form.)
- Reading the Details Page:
- Color Name: The documented color name
- Description: The documentation description as written in the original source.
- Time Frame: This may be the time of usage or of the original publication.
- Usage: This field may include:
- A description of the original usage or original text containing the text the fashion color name.
- An abbreviated description of the original usage for the color.
- A description of the color that was too lengthy for the **Description** field.
- A pronunciation of the color name.
- URL: A link, if available, to the webpage in our
FASHION COLOR INDEX: DIRECTIONS FOR USAGE:
COLOR NAME INDEX
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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 complete
Bibliography 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:
- Ability to read period publications and scan for pertinent fashion/color information. Must have knowledge of period fashion terminology. We try to keep interns in the specific periods of fashion that they are interested. Presently we are working with the 19th and 20th Century fashions.
- To input and edit information into the database. Database input can be taught to interns. Editing skills need to have the content copy ready. Interns will be given one week, to prove editing skills. Generally this trial period is during the last week of the month.
- Needs to be an independent worker and self-starter at given tasks. This project requires the intern to stay on task and self-motivated.
- At least, a high school graduate, 18 years old, and have outstanding written and verbal skills.
- Own your own computer, Pentium 3 processor or higher, with a reliable internet connection, at 56K, DSL, or Cable connection. I am sorry, but if you are using standard AOL software, it will be too slow to upload the type of work on our site.
- Internship may be terminated at any time by the owner of The Costume Gallery without reason. All interns are asked to sign a confidentiality clause, due to the nature of the past, present, and future projects, websites’ security, and site passwords.
- Interns understand that we have spent thousands of dollars and man-hours of work on our website’s content. All intern work is exclusive property to The Costume Gallery websites. Our websites, passwords, trade secrets, and copyrights, are legally protected by U.S. laws.
- If you think you would like to be an intern and agree to the above terms, email: HERE. Please make sure to put in the subject header of the email FCD Internship. Write a three paragraph essay, as to why you would like an internship on this project.
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, .orgCostume Classroom,
www.costumeclassroom.com, .org, .netCostume Research Library,
www.costumelibrary.com, .org, .netCostume Encyclopedia,
www.costumeencyclopedia.com, .org, .netFashion Color Database,
www.fcdatabase.com, .org, .netOnline Costume Ball,
www.onlinecostumeball.comThe 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:
- Requestor’s first and last name (no nicknames), institution affiliation, mailing address of institution, email address of person making request.
- Purpose of usage, means of distribution, number of people receiving distribution, and duration (one week, monthly magazine, etc.) If information is given in a school’s classroom setting, please state that in the purpose.
- Reference Quote or Credits: When quoting the FCD or Costume Research Library, please use the following:
- The Costume Gallery: Fashion Color Database,
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.