Customer Reviews

Corsets and Crinolines

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I had to use this book for my final project in my Costume Technologies class and I loved it! I made the 18th century woman's stays (1776) and they worked out wonderfully!

Warning, though: this book is not for people who cannot draft costumes. The patterns are in miniature and are original period patterns; in other words, they will not be sized for you. You will have to draft and make many a mock-up before you are ready to make the actual piece.

All in all, I love this book and intend to make even more of the pieces in it!

I find this book to be very informative on the subjects, but as an avid seamstress, I would have been even more thrilled with this book if it had more illustrations regarding patterns and pattern pieces. Even though the book lacks in a broad range of patterns, I still believe this book to be great reference material to any and all interested in costume construction from the skin out.

Not only does this book provide historical background on various undergarments (corsets and crinolines, as the title suggests), but it also provides the patterns to construct these garments. It is an excellent resource, and one I most definitely recommend to anyone building a costume library of their own.

I'm in costume studies at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. This book is one of the second year textbooks. It's really fun to look at, I adore this book =)

I'm in costume studies at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. This book is one of the second year textbooks. It's really fun to look at, I adore this book =)

I am surprised by the so-so reviews of this book here because it is a fabulous resource!
It is a must have book for the serious costume historian with great period and "source" information. It also has the advantage of patterns and information on early corsets ect that other books (and pattern companies) tend to skip. True, the patterns are not for the timid or novice. I am in the process of making one of one the corsets (and it is a challenge but) I have friends who have successfully made these garments. If you are serious about historical fashion don't pass this book up!

This book contains a lot of good information, but you'll have to search through pages and pages of quotes from contemporary sources to find it. The chapters are organized by type of garment, rather than by period, so if you're looking for a specific period you'll have to familiarize yourself pretty well with the entire book. Each section has a couple of pages of description and history, and then many pages of quotes. The most useful aspect of this book are the illustrations and patterns, which are rare to find elsewhere. The pictures are scattered throughout the book in no real order. There is an appendix with some very useful construction tips and instructions. Overall, a good resource for those interested in making period undergarments from the 1500's to the 1920's.

A well researched book with many hints on the lifestyle of those that lived in corsetted eras.

This is a neat book to just look at but to someone who has a background in costume it is a reference not to be passed up. The pattens, like almost all old ones, can be confusing and at times inacurate but with experience, they are easily adapted.

This book is the best available for anyone who wishes to make a corset or find the corset's place in history. It is absolutely filled with photographs, illustrations, scale drawings of patterns, and quotes from historical sources. A great read, and a valuable reference.