Costume Close Up: Clothing Construction and Pattern, 1750-1790

If only Linda Baumgarten would write more books like this! This is one of my favorite costuming books, because its format embraces a lot of different styles and the combination is much stronger than any of them singly. The book presents information both in articles and text-box asides, and uses line drawings and period illustrations as well as photographs and patterns of the actual garments. BEST of all, the book shows clear photographs of the INTERIOR construction of these garments, which is lost in most other books. (Janet Arnold shows a few interiors, but Nancy Bradfield seems to be the best about remembering to include construction.) I'm so very, very happy that Quite Specific Media decided to bring this one back into print!

Priced fairly for what it is, this book is a high-quality source for people who want to specialize in the 18th century fashions but do not want to settle for the imitation genre of historical sewing like the kind of costuming typical for Halloween and theater projects. This book is especially appropriate for civilian (non-military) interpreters in the Revolutionary War period re-enactment community. That's the main reason I purchased it. It's an ideal guide to show accurate patterns and the layout of a sewing project in very nice color. Even though it's not a series of step-by-step photos of someone piecing each part of a garment together, it still presents good facts to help the reader imagine how a garment was made, including what kinds of fabrics it was made of. The variety of garments presented is very satisfying too. Certain designs explain certain functions, such as working-wear as opposed to fancier attire. There are examples for both men's and women's clothing of that time in history. Consider carefully, for the reader to successfully attempt to actually re-create an example of something that's shown in the book, an intermediate level of prior sewing skill or higher would be recommended. Intermediate for the simpler style of projects, and advanced skill for the more formal-style projects. This book clearly does not appear to be intended for beginners in the construction of clothes in general. However, it's got what it takes to inspire even a beginner historical seamstress or tailor to aim higher. That's definitely the case for me. My favorite aspect of the book is that the content is of a professional nature and is definitely no-nonsense, right from the archives of Colonial Williamsburg!

Great reference for making garb for our local Renaissance Festival.

I just wish this book was bigger because it has lots of great content. It’s a great introduction to 18th century fashion. Lots of extant examples in the book for reference. A great companion piece to another of the authors work on 18th century fashion.

Fortunately, I was able to get it from our library. I guess I'll have to be patient about actually owning it, but anyway.... This book contains excellent information, not only on pattern, but on the textiles used and construction methods on actual garments. I am fascinated with how these period items were put together and amazed at the detail the researchers were able to identify - so much better than iffy descriptions of fashion plates and contemporary paintings. It is also interesting to learn how patterns would've been used with particular textiles, given cost of fabric at the time. (Interesting to me, anyway, I'm a little obsessed.) I highly recommend this book to anyone who is serious about re-enactment costume, or who just wants to learn more history about how things were made.

The photographs are gorgeous, and the descriptions are fairly in depth. I've never hand sewn a piece of clothing, but I look forward to trying! I'll be starting with the shift, and then going from there. Excellent book to get the low down on period costume.

I recently carved a wooden doll based on 18th century Queen Anne dolls, and I wanted more in depth detail as to how the appropriate clothing would have been made. I was thrilled to receive this book, and to be able to not only study extant garments, but also to see the pattern shapes as well. Highly recommend to anyone with an interest in accurate representations of 18th century clothing.

This book is geared for readers with sewing experience, although the front portion of the book has an excellent section on 18th Century sewing techniques that may help non-sewers. I successfully made the man's cloak (pictured on the cover)in an afternoon, a non-sewer may struggle with the diagrams. Perhaps the most helpful aspect of this book is the garment measurements - knowing the bust and waist size of the garment you're looking at gives you a much better idea of the actual size. Next to Fashion in Detail by Avril Hart, and Janet Arnold's excellent Patterns of Fashion series, this book is a must have.

Faced with the task of creating c17th clothing for a special event having decided to make them instead of hiring them, I purchased this book. I read it from cover to cover and found it really interesting. Although the event altered and I don't have to make the clothes now, I plan to have a go as I found the description and pictures encouraging.

Highly recommend! Wonderful, detailed, authoritative resource for anyone keen on historical costuming, who may want to deep-dive into 18th century clothing construction, or to reproduce their own historical garments as authentically as possible. Each extant garment or accessory (12 in total) is dutifully photographed, detailed, discussed, documented and reproduced in a scaled pattern. (These can be, in turn, scaled up for your own usage.) The introduction provides a straightforward account of period construction methods, alterations, stitching, and seams. It saves on purchasing multiple patterns (which may or may not be as authentically sourced/produced from extant garments, as these are) and provides ideal foundational understandings of construction for any novice or advanced sewer. Buy it!

Estupenda entrega. Ha llegado en perfectas condiciones y mucho antes de lo esperado a pesar de que lo envían desde EEUU.

Da die Schnitte von original Kostümen abgenommen wurden, und der Körperbau des Menschen sich seither doch beträchtlich verändert hat reicht es sicherlich nicht aus, die Vorlagen einfach hochzuskalieren. Wobei das anhand der Seitenskala (in Inch und cm!) durchaus möglich wäre, eine Anpassung an eigene Maße ist jedoch unabdingbar. Das Buch liefert unglaublich viel Informationen (Mode, Material, Verarbeitung, Ausputz) doch auch wer schlecht bis gar kein englisch versteht kann durch die zahlreichen Abbildungen und Illustrationen (Schnitte, Muster, "Aufbau" der Kleidung, Innenleben, Verarbeitung) einiges aus dem Buch lernen. Wer nähen kann, kann sich mit diesem Buch die gesamte Garderobe (also auch Unterhosen, Socken..) sowohl für Frauen als auch für Männer (das ist besonders schön, da nicht so oft behandelt) nacharbeiten und in welcher Reihenfolge man welches Kostümteil anzulegen hat, wird einem obendrein noch illustriert. Die Qualität der Photos ist gut, allerdings meist schwarz/weiß, lediglich 4 Seiten in der Mitte des Buches sind farbig gehalten. Aber man erkennt alle Details auch in den s/w Abbildungen und den Preis finde ich unschlagbar (derzeit nicht mehr als 18 Euro). Ein rundum tolles Buch für den Kostüminteressierten und Kostümschneider.

Ho acquistato questo volume per il mio compleanno e sono davvero molto soddisfatta. Il libro è ricco di dettagli e spiegazioni anche sulle tecniche di cucitura del 18° secolo; è in inglese quindi lo sconsiglio a chi non ha dimestichezza con questa lingua, tuttavia le illustrazioni sono molto chiare e presentano una doppia scala di conversione in inches e cm (cosa rara in volumi di pubblicazione americana/anglosassone!) che aiuta non poco a riprodurre i modelli. Questo libro non è destinato a dei principianti ma a chi ha già un po' di esperienza nella modellistica e nella realizzazione di costumi storicamente accurati.