What do you think?
Rate this book
Authentic Victorian Fashion Patterns: A Complete Lady's Wardrobe
Imported custom-made clothes were usually beyond the financial reach of the average middle-class American woman of a century ago; and store-bought garments were often of inferior quality. This left many women with the options of making their own clothes or hiring a seamstress.
While a number of economy-minded women did sew simple housedresses, and clothing for their children, many took favorite fashion plates to a dressmaker who would often consult patterns in a magazine such as The Voice of Fashion . This book, compiled by costume authority Kristina Harris, painstakingly reprints a rich selection of scaled dressmakers' patterns of the 1890s, taken from rare issues of that popular, late-19th century dressmaker's journal. Featuring such fashion elements as leg-o'-mutton sleeves, high-collared necklines, long skirts, and pinched waistlines, the collection includes nearly 500 patterns and illustrations detailing 50 garments for women. Every wardrobe necessity for the Victorian lady is covered — from nightgowns and wrappers for boudoir and breakfast, a riding habit and tennis outfit, to walking dresses for town and visiting, elegant dinner dresses, and elaborate evening gowns.
An introduction and brief instruction for using the patterns are also included in a volume that will not only find practical use among costume designers and students of fashion history, but will also delight browsers, Victorian enthusiasts, and anyone intrigued by the evolution of clothing styles. 498 illustrations.
While a number of economy-minded women did sew simple housedresses, and clothing for their children, many took favorite fashion plates to a dressmaker who would often consult patterns in a magazine such as The Voice of Fashion . This book, compiled by costume authority Kristina Harris, painstakingly reprints a rich selection of scaled dressmakers' patterns of the 1890s, taken from rare issues of that popular, late-19th century dressmaker's journal. Featuring such fashion elements as leg-o'-mutton sleeves, high-collared necklines, long skirts, and pinched waistlines, the collection includes nearly 500 patterns and illustrations detailing 50 garments for women. Every wardrobe necessity for the Victorian lady is covered — from nightgowns and wrappers for boudoir and breakfast, a riding habit and tennis outfit, to walking dresses for town and visiting, elegant dinner dresses, and elaborate evening gowns.
An introduction and brief instruction for using the patterns are also included in a volume that will not only find practical use among costume designers and students of fashion history, but will also delight browsers, Victorian enthusiasts, and anyone intrigued by the evolution of clothing styles. 498 illustrations.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
17 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 4, 2012
Well, yesss, these are technically a large number of 1890's sewing patterns for women's garments. However ...
They are nowhere near ready-to-use. They are not drawn to any scale or exact shape. The Victorian dressmaker was expected to use these patterns as a general guide, drafting her own variation of them based on her client's measurements, using a specially scaled drafting tape which isn't included.
They also do not include much in the way of assembly instructions, or information about trimming or linings. You're basically on your own.
If you are already an accomplished pattern drafter, this book can be very useful. But it is not for beginners.
They are nowhere near ready-to-use. They are not drawn to any scale or exact shape. The Victorian dressmaker was expected to use these patterns as a general guide, drafting her own variation of them based on her client's measurements, using a specially scaled drafting tape which isn't included.
They also do not include much in the way of assembly instructions, or information about trimming or linings. You're basically on your own.
If you are already an accomplished pattern drafter, this book can be very useful. But it is not for beginners.
August 5, 2018
I definitely recommend reading this alongside "Authentic Victorian Dressmaking Techniques", otherwise some things might be utterly confusing.
January 4, 2018
Enjoyed this book that discussed various specifics around Victorian dress and had copies of patterns from the times. I think I would need to take a basic drafting course before attempting some of them but definitely one to come back to.
November 11, 2020
Easy to understand and good details.
January 2, 2016
Love books showing patterns. Thank you Dover! Nice variety of styles from wrapper to riding habit. Only a single sketch and brief description for each outfit. Period patterns are seldom easy to decipher but these are fairly clear and give a good idea of shapes required. Now if Dover could only package and sell ambition to go along with these books.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews