brief book review

[anotheranon]

The Tudor Tailor:

Short version: Recommended! Long version: This well-illustrated volume is a terrific overview of of 16th century English clothing - both the history and how to make it - for those who are interested but not familiar with the time period. In addition to silhouettes for the entire time period, both men and women AND all social classes are included, with examples from art and pictures of a few extant pieces.

There is a section on basic hand stitches, gridded pattern layout (one caveat: if you're uncomfortable with pattern drafting or layout, this might be a bit over your head), and fabric selection. And it's reasonably priced!

If you're interested in this making accurate, good looking costumes for this period and want to do it well, this book will never replace Janet Arnold, D'Alcega or primary sources, but it is a fairly comprehensive "startup" guide. Before this I'd have suggested that the best "introductory" text was Winter and Savoy's Elizabethan Costuming, even though it falls incredibly short on historical accuracy and focuses on female costume. (I may sell my copy, as I've kinda "outgrown" it now - any takers?)

Disclaimer: Not affiliated with the writers or publishers, just a happy customer/costumer.

Comments

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Yolanda was raving about it at K'zoo - I didn't get a copy because I figure I can always steal borrow hers if I'm insane enough to try for full early Tudor. It looked like a very good effort.

[flummoxicated.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a good book to ask for as a birthday present. Winter and Savoy is fun to look at every now and then, I think it's because the drawings are like doodles I sketch in the margins of notebooks during class.