High Fashion Sewing Secrets from the World's Best Designers

by Claire B. Shaeffer, Glee Barre (Illustrator)

A Step-By-Step Guide to Sewing Stylish Seams, Buttonholes, Pockets, Collars, Hems, And More

Internationally known sewing expert Claire Schaeffer reveals the secrets of high-fashion legends such as Geoffrey Beene, Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, Liz Claiborne, and Calvin Klein. Claire's illustrated, step-by-step instructions let you duplicate the design details made famous in expensive ready-to-wear. Plus, Claire's timesaving patternmaking and copying methods can be used to create one-of-a-kind, original garments.

Only a few simple tools and patternmaking skills are needed to copy your favorite garments.

Genres: Sewing, Fashion, Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference, Couture

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jam-packed with information. I've picked up more from her toss-away mentions of things to keep in mind (which she includes while she's explaining some other technique) than I've gotten from most books on sewing.

Lots of diagrams and step-by-step instructions, as well as helpful hints and photos of how the techniques are used in high fashion. Although the diagrams are clear and useful, many of them will require that readers practice the technique on scrap before implementing them in garments; it's just darned difficult to explain through text something which most people learn kinesthetically and visually. Still, highly recommended.

[Betsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book. The techniques are not hard, but greatly improve the finished look of most of my clothes. I've used this book as my main clothing construction reference book. I do use patterns, but this book has helped my stuff look much more professional & 'finished', rather than the rough 'home-sewn' look.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire has some great shortcuts to share in this book. There are several books on Industrial shortcuts, and since I haven't read the others, I can't comment on whether this is the best. But I like the tips that are in there, though they are catered more toward the advanced sewer.

[Sitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains some sewing tips from designers & fashion industry which can be applied by home sewers. I might not use all methods presented in this book but surely they gave me some ideas & motivate me to do better at garments I make.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lot's of info crammed in this book. I recommend reading it cover to cover before using it as a help guide.
The tip "Inseam pocket with invisible zipper at seam" is as tricky as figuring out the Rubik's cube. I should try it when I figure my clients aren't torturing me enough.

I just wish the books layout wasn't so cramped

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

About to start reading this one

[Gaile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything a Fashiona needs to make her own couture!

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't agree that all the techniques in this book will give the best results, but there are some helpful notes here and there.