Elizabethan Costuming

by Janet Winter

How-to book for making Elizabethan costuming. Includes construction, fabric selections and history of the clothing of that time in England.

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

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Alessandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not nearly as useful as it could be, this is a sort of cheat sheet for people who attend Renaissance fairs. It is of no use at all for anyone with a serious interest in history or authenticity. It gives very general advice on how to construct costumes, with hand-drawn sketches which illustrate in a general way how to do things. There are no real patterns, nor are there any actual original images, just the author's sketches. If one doesn't already have quite advanced pattern drafting and sewing skills the book will be frustrating and baffling. If one does, one hardly needs this book.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

go-to book for Ren Faire garb which is true to the period

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you need cheap, down and dirty costumes for Halloween, this is the book. If you want really Elizabethan clothing patterns and history, start with Patterns of Fashion by Janet Arnold.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

While a lot of the research in this book has since been superseded, everyone has to start somewhere and you could do worse than this book.

It's pretty useful in helping you understand how various pattern pieces and garment shapes go together, as well as a quick overview of clothing styles of the period. But then you should really move on to more more solidly-researched stuff.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

There might be better ones now, but you can create a Faire costume from this book.