Importedcustom-madeclotheswereusuallybeyondthefinancialreachoftheaveragemiddle-classAmericanwomanofacenturyago;andstore-boughtgarmentswereoftenofinferiorquality.Thisleftmanywomenwiththeoptionsofmakingtheirownclothesorhiringaseamstress.Whileanumberofeconomy-mindedwomendidsewsimplehousedresses,andclothingfortheirchildren,manytookfavoritefashionplatestoadressmakerwhowouldoftenconsultpatternsinamagazinesuchasTheVoiceofFashion.Thisbook,compiledbycostumeauthorityKristinaHarris,painstakinglyreprintsarichselectionofscaleddressmakers’patternsofthe1890s,takenfromrareissuesofthatpopular,late-19thcenturydressmaker’sjournal.Featuringsuchfashionelementsasleg-o’-muttonsleeves,high-collarednecklines,longskirts,andpinchedwaistlines,thecollectionincludesnearly500patternsandillustrationsdetailing50garmentsforwomen.EverywardrobenecessityfortheVictorianladyiscovered--fromnightgownsandwrappersforboudoirandbreakfast,aridinghabitandtennisoutfit,towalkingdressesfortownandvisiting,elegantdinnerdresses,andelaborateeveninggowns.Anintroductionandbriefinstructionforusingthepatternsarealsoincludedinavolumethatwillnotonlyfindpracticaluseamongcostumedesignersandstudentsoffashionhistory,butwillalsodelightbrowsers,Victorianenthusiasts,andanyoneintriguedbytheevolutionofclothingstyles.498illustrations.
AUTHENTIC FASHION SJOURNAL VICTORIAN
