A Practical Guide to Costume Mounting

by Lara Flecker

The effective preparation of garments for display is essential for exhibitions of contemporary and historical dress. Costumes not only need to be visually appealing but also fully supported and historically accurate. This book provides a comprehensive guide to mounting costumes from the eighteenth century to the present day. It includes methods for adapting and shaping figures to create historical silhouettes, constructing underpinnings and making replicas and toiles using inexpensive and simple techniques. A Practical Guide to Costume Mounting is an invaluable resource for conservators, historians and all those working with clothing in museums, private collections and throughout the fashion and theatre industries.

Trained as a historical costume maker, author Lara Flecker is the textile display specialist at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. She has worked extensively with the museum’s world-class costume collection, preparing garments for display. Her simple mounting methods are clearly explained and can be used by people with a wide range of experience, including those with few sewing skills.

274 pages, Hardcover

First published June 29, 1905

About the author

Lara Flecker was the Senior Textile Conservation Display Specialist at the Victoria and Albert museum for 13 years. She is a leading expert in dress display and is the author of A Practical Guide to Costume Mounting. In 2019 she published Midnight at Moonstone, a children's book about a mysterious costume museum that comes to life at midnight.

Reviews

[Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting book that very thoroughly explains costume mounting and troubleshoots any potential issues you may run into. The pictures were great too!