During Queen Victoria's long reign there were constant, often subtle, changes to men's clothing in the large, diverse and growing population. This practical book guides you through the male fashions of the time and includes eighteen garments typical of the era. Each project is carefully grounded in historical research, while traditional tailoring techniques are simplified for the modern costume maker. It is an essential handbook that describes fabrics and tools for pattern drafting, tailoring and costume construction, and explains how to get the best results from each. It covers a wide variety of gentleman's attire adaptable for different occupations and social status, including assorted shirts, trousers, breeches, a tailcoat, a jacket, a frockcoat and several waistcoats. There is a full set of patterns for each outfit, along with clear, full colour construction photographs and finally, the author suggests how outfits can be adapted to fit different sizes and characters, and gives practical insights into the making process. It's ideal for anyone interested in Victorian costumes including theatre designers, theatre makers, re-enactors, historical enthusiasts and live action role-playing (LARP). Superbly illustrated with 232 colour photographs and patterns, it is written by Sil Devilly, a costume maker with over twenty years of experience in both design interpretation and construction.

Starting with the early years of Victoria's reign, this practical book examines the developments and evolution of fashionable dress as it progressed throughout her six decades as queen. From the demure styles of the 1840s to the exaggerated sleeves of the 1890s, it explores the ever-changing Victorian silhouette, and gives patterns, instructions and advice so that the amateur dressmaker can create their own versions of these historic outfits. Contents include: information on tools and equipment; a guide to transferring pattern pieces; a concise guide to the various layers of Victorian underwear; and step-by-step instructions with colour photographs to help construct the patterns and advice on how to personalize each outfit. Illustrations of fashion plates, Victorian carte de visite photographs and original surviving garments provide visual inspiration and reference. There are seven main project chapters, each starting with an overview of the main fashions characteristic to that style of dress, and giving patterns, instructions and advice to enable the amateur dressmaker to create their own versions of these historic outfits. With 309 beautiful colour photographs including illustrations of fashion plates and Victorian carte de visite photographs, this will be an invaluable resource for the dressmaker.

Practical, informative guidebook shows how to create everything from short tunics worn by Saxon men in the fifth century to a lady's bustle dress of the late 1800s. 81 illustrations.

Edwardian fashions for women were characterized by the S-shaped silhouette, embellished with lace, tucks, ruffles, tassels, frills and flounces. This essential book includes eleven detailed projects, which form a capsule collection of clothing and accessories that might have been worn by an Edwardian governess, a woman travelling on an ocean liner, a campaigning suffragette, or a wife overseeing a busy household in a large country house. It explains making sequences in full and advises in detail on how to give the garments a fine, authentic finish. Eleven detailed projects are included, based on the dress collections at Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove, and Worthing Museum and Art Gallery. Each project includes a detailed description of the original garment, with an accompanying illustration alongside photographs of the original pieces, and scaled patterns are included for all projects with a list of materials and equipment required. Includes step-by-step instructions with information about the original techniques used and close-up photographs of the making process, with further chapters on tools and equipment, fabrics, measurements and sizes, and how to wear Edwardian fashion with ideas on creating new outfits from the featured projects. Also includes advice on how to adapt garments to make them suitable for both wealthy, leisured women, and for their poorer counterparts. Aimed at costume makers, museums and re-enactors and beautifully illustrated with 200 colour photographs.

Over the centuries, the corset has been a vital garment designed to support and shape the fashions of the day, and has progressed from being an undergarment to bold outerwear. This practical book explains the full process of making a corset with clear instruction and supporting photographs. Packed with information, it explores methods of creating modern corsets, whilst acknowledging the pioneering techniques of the past. Whatever your reason for creating a corset- be it for theatre- re-enactment or personal wear - this book is an invaluable guide to making a well-constructed, figure-flattering garment. Includes: a list of helpful tools, equipment and materials; step-by-step illustrated instructions showing how to self-draft or personalize a commercially purchased corset pattern; techniques showing how to correct an array of fitting issues to produce a well-shaped corset; a selection of corset-making methods, illustrated with photographs and, finally, imaginative approaches to decorating and personalizing corsets. There are three main projects showing the development of the patterns and construction techniques to create gorgeous corsets.

Pattern Cutting for Men's Costume is a practical guide featuring patterns for the most important garments worn by men between the 16th and 19th centuries. Easy-to-follow instructions explain how to cut patterns for 'average' and individual measurements - with expert advice on how to adapt patterns to fit men of all shapes and sizes. Introductions to each section describe the major developments in men's dress - revealing how garments evolved - and patterns for period garments for which there are no actual examples are based on contemporary paintings. Illustrated throughout with hundreds of diagrams, this is a much-awaited and valuable addition to the library of costume-makers in all fields. Features a new system of drafting patterns for men's period costume. Includes patterns for the most important non-fashionable garments (worn from the 16th to the 19th centuries) plus clothes in vogue from the middle of the 16th to the end of the 18th centuries. Illustrated with hundreds of diagrams accompanied by step-by-step instructions for period garments, plus a few versatile theatrical designs.

This book traces the evolution of the style of men's dress through a sequence of diagrams accurately scaled down from patterns of actual garments, many of them rare museum specimens. The plates have been selected with the same purpose. Some are photographs of suits for which diagrams have also been given; others, reproduced from paintings and old prints, show the costume complete with its accessories. Quotations from contemporary sources--from diaries, travelers' accounts and tailors' bills--supplement Norah Waugh's text with comments on fashion and lively eyewitness descriptions.

This well-researched guide traces the evolution of English fashion for men and women through hundreds of illustrations. More than a history of style, it's a dressmaker's delight, filled with scaled-down patterns for 67 authentic costumes.

For anyone producing costumes on a small budget, whether for schools, colleges or amateur, semi-professional or professional groups, this basic introduction offers practical advice for every kind of play, together with drawings, diagrams and patterns from which to work. It includes sections onm Greek plays, medieval miracles and mysteries, Shakespeare, 17th-century, 18th-century, Victorian and Edwardian costume. each section covers the details of men's and women's clothes and accessories, as well as methods for adapting and simplifying the style of the period.

Vol.2: Pattern manual 1580-1640. "This book trains you to be a pattern maker. You will learn the most common drafts for men and women from the years 1580-1640"--Publisher's description.