Marvelous ... for the experienced costumer

books:

	• Patterns of Fashion: The Cut and Construction of Clothes for Men and Women C1560-1620 Janet Arnold Drama Publishers, 1985 - 128 pages average customer review:based on 36 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Very good

This book is very informative and has wonderful pictures of actual clothes. It was helpful to making my garb more historically accurate.

Patterns of fashion

This book although rather cumbersome in shape and difficult to read without the aid of a table to lay it up on, it is very through in its content and the patterns are great the amount of work the writer must have done to collect the information is mind blowing, however I would have liked to see a few more colored pictures but this does not detract from the information.

for more information click here

THE go to book for Elizabethan costuming

Far and above the best reference for the cut and composition of Elizabethan clothing. I have been up close to a number of the clothes she references in this book and I can say with certainly that her accuracy and thoroughness is second to no other researcher. If there are any drawbacks to this book they are that there are no color photos of these clothes (but her color descriptions are very exacting) and the way the entire book is laid out can be confusing unless you are willing to spend time and thought into figuring out her methods and the vast scope she is trying to encompass with a limited amount of space.

Overall, one of the crown jewels of my tailoring collection.

for more information click here

great book -

love the book - you can use this book to re-create period fashions. It will also detail the construction and materials used in the period. the sources used are quite extensive.

I do have a major problem ordering from an overseas country - very difficult.

Marvelous ... for the experienced costumer

This purchase was specifically for the purpose of constructing a late Elizabethan wheel farthingale. Although I was disappointed to discover no pattern in miniature, the pertinent drawings were more than adequate for me to put together my own pattern. And the details of the trims, embroidery, etc. are to die for!

If you are an experienced costumer, then you'll have no problem with whatever your project is, in ladies and gentlemen's clothing, including hats. But particularly, the drawings of the men's clothing are the best I've ever seen and in a vast variety of style and era. And I've looked over just about every pattern out there without finding one that suited me. You cannot do better than this book.

Just in case you haven't read the other reviews, the Arnold books do not hold actual patterns--except in miniature. And they are on a grid so that the experienced person can transfer the pattern to paper and make their own. However, of course, you will still have to provide your own tailoring. And for heavens sake remember to make your corset and foundation underthings first.

Be sure to read through the other reviewers as many have valuable things to say. See you at the faire!

for more information click here

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

hot