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Product Description
Product Description
A valuable sourcebook for costume designers, dressmakers and those involved in historical reenactments, this book contains all the information you need to create authentic clothes from the Tudor period. Computer-generated, historically accurate patterns enable you to make a wide range of garments, such as doublets, hose, bodices, skirts, hats and headdresses -- even underwear. There are also plenty of ideas for decoration and embellishment such as ruffs, cuffs, collars, embroidery and other surface decoration. The full range of Tudor society is represented, including lower- and middle-class clothing as well as the more sumptuous costumes from the courts of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. There is also information on how to store and look after your finished clothing. In addition to the patterns, there are detailed drawings of each costume and information about historical context, including original paintings and source material.
About the Author
Jane Malcolm-Davies has a Doctorate in Heritage Interpretation and was responsible for costume interpretation at Hampton Court Palace from 1992 to 2004. She trains staff for historic properties, including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, and consults for the National Trust. Ninya Mikhaila has run a business making reproduction historical costume since 1988. Her clients include The Royal Armouries, The National Trust, English Heritage and the Public Records Office.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 46 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have had this book in my possession for less than a week and I'm already beating it up, creasing the pages and getting it dirty and telling everyone I know about it.
I used to be a hardcore renaissance faire actor and boothie, and I own the usual sources: Janet Winter's and Carolyn Savoy's "Elizabethan Costuming for the Years 1550-1580"; Janet Arnold's "Patterns of Fashion" and Herbert Norris' "Tudor Costume and Fashion." All are commonly relied on by ren faire/SCA participants, though all three have their commonly-agreed-upon weaknesses.
Ms. Mikhaila and Ms. Malcolm-Davies should be commended for the scope and depth of the manual they have created. The writing is succinct, intelligent and accessible. The book dives right in with an assessment of researching historical costume, the strengths and weaknesses of primary sources, and a thorough overview of what was being worn by whom and why. There is even a series of small line drawings (over 40) showing what was worn by the common people and the nobility, basic sorts of silhouettes to work from. The first chapters are filled with portraits, line drawings and photographs of actual clothing of the time period, including some works and pieces I have never seen reproduced in other art, history or costume volumes. There is an entire chapter on fabrics and garment creation and structure, including a table discussing the various materials.
Then the book plunges immediately into construction techniques. Although experts won't need the descriptions of stitches or instructions on using patterns, part of the appeal of this book is in its completeness and the details. The subject of Tudor costuming is covered meticulously, and yet, there are no wasted words, no filler, nothing that won't be useful, informative or entertaining. It's comprehensive, but not exhaustive. I read the entire book, cover to cover, in a couple days' time (admittedly, I read it at every opportunity, often foregoing sleep and whatever else that did not seem important).
Amazingly, the majority of this book covers the actual pieces of clothing to be made. It starts with the foundation pieces for both genders, moves along to all the various possibilities: hose, doublets and more for men; gowns, bodices, kirtles, partlets and more for women, plus ruffs, cuffs, collars, hats, even hair -- and each one is carefully described as to the construction, with careful illustrations and actual photographs of garments during creation. "Henrician" (I have not heard such term before), Elizabethan and late Elizabethan costumes are covered in equal detail. With all due respect to Ms. Winter and Ms. Savoy, I was floored by the instructions, and I felt far more confidence in the process than I did with "Elizabethan Costuming." I am not a beginner, but my feeling is that a novice with a basic sewing background, after carefully reading the instructions, could construct any of the described garments.
Has footnotes, a bibliography and a small but quality list of suppliers.
There are not enough superlatives to use to describe this delicious book. I disagree with the earlier reviewer; I think this book is approaching perfect. I highly recommend it, would give it six stars if the rating system would let me.
I used to be a hardcore renaissance faire actor and boothie, and I own the usual sources: Janet Winter's and Carolyn Savoy's "Elizabethan Costuming for the Years 1550-1580"; Janet Arnold's "Patterns of Fashion" and Herbert Norris' "Tudor Costume and Fashion." All are commonly relied on by ren faire/SCA participants, though all three have their commonly-agreed-upon weaknesses.
Ms. Mikhaila and Ms. Malcolm-Davies should be commended for the scope and depth of the manual they have created. The writing is succinct, intelligent and accessible. The book dives right in with an assessment of researching historical costume, the strengths and weaknesses of primary sources, and a thorough overview of what was being worn by whom and why. There is even a series of small line drawings (over 40) showing what was worn by the common people and the nobility, basic sorts of silhouettes to work from. The first chapters are filled with portraits, line drawings and photographs of actual clothing of the time period, including some works and pieces I have never seen reproduced in other art, history or costume volumes. There is an entire chapter on fabrics and garment creation and structure, including a table discussing the various materials.
Then the book plunges immediately into construction techniques. Although experts won't need the descriptions of stitches or instructions on using patterns, part of the appeal of this book is in its completeness and the details. The subject of Tudor costuming is covered meticulously, and yet, there are no wasted words, no filler, nothing that won't be useful, informative or entertaining. It's comprehensive, but not exhaustive. I read the entire book, cover to cover, in a couple days' time (admittedly, I read it at every opportunity, often foregoing sleep and whatever else that did not seem important).
Amazingly, the majority of this book covers the actual pieces of clothing to be made. It starts with the foundation pieces for both genders, moves along to all the various possibilities: hose, doublets and more for men; gowns, bodices, kirtles, partlets and more for women, plus ruffs, cuffs, collars, hats, even hair -- and each one is carefully described as to the construction, with careful illustrations and actual photographs of garments during creation. "Henrician" (I have not heard such term before), Elizabethan and late Elizabethan costumes are covered in equal detail. With all due respect to Ms. Winter and Ms. Savoy, I was floored by the instructions, and I felt far more confidence in the process than I did with "Elizabethan Costuming." I am not a beginner, but my feeling is that a novice with a basic sewing background, after carefully reading the instructions, could construct any of the described garments.
Has footnotes, a bibliography and a small but quality list of suppliers.
There are not enough superlatives to use to describe this delicious book. I disagree with the earlier reviewer; I think this book is approaching perfect. I highly recommend it, would give it six stars if the rating system would let me.
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm very impressed. Over the years there have been a number of books published with the intention of being a resource for costumiers, amateur and professional, theatrical and academic, but this is best I have seen.
For the less experienced costume maker, re-enactor or Ren-Faire participant, there are the clearest instructions I've seen, including basic techniques which many books assume their readers already understand. The patterns provided are flexible and scaleable to help readers produce even more designs than the examples featured here.
For the expert costumier there is a wealth of advice and guidance on designing costumes, drawing on multiple sources to create composite costumes. Incidently the first chapter also addresses a particular bugbear of mine (the constant quest for "authenticity") with a more focussed and concise thesis than I could have ever managed.
All this is wrapped in a beautiful package, with about half the illustrations in full colour including glorious full page reproductions of some wonderful artworks.
It's not without fault. It could have been twice as long for a start, I feel the most interesting first three chapters are worth a book on their own. And despite a commitment to explore ordinary dress alongside the fashions of the elite, there could have been more full patterns and notes on diverse examples of lower class dress that are only hinted at in line drawings and some black and white photo. For example I particularly missed more on the academic style adopted by doctors, students and clerics than one tiny line drawing and the black and white upper body photo on page 141.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I own several books pertaining to re-enactment costume and this is one of the first that I have found to be genuinely workable. There are no obscure and impossible to come by materials and the instructions are thorough and easy to follow.
As a British book, I also found it easier to follow as the authors referred to products by the names I am used to rather than the unfamiliar ones used by our american cousins.
The book is well rounded - it doesn't just teach you how to make the costume, it also teaches you how to wear it and even how to do your hair! Altogether a wonderful and brilliantly illustrated book.
As a British book, I also found it easier to follow as the authors referred to products by the names I am used to rather than the unfamiliar ones used by our american cousins.
The book is well rounded - it doesn't just teach you how to make the costume, it also teaches you how to wear it and even how to do your hair! Altogether a wonderful and brilliantly illustrated book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Perfect
This book is everything i have ever wanted. I am certainly going to make a Tudor gown. My favorite queen is Jane Seymour and my gown is going to be based on her picture. Read more
Published 3 months ago by LILZ
Terrific Tudor
I must compliment Amazon on the Look Inside feature they have for lots of their books. It helped immensely when choosing a present for Christmas and this book lived up to all that... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Karl
Tudor Tailoring Made Easy
On the re enactment network the word was this is an incredible book, and I know everyone is used to the hype of a book not matching the reality. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Greg House
Tudor Garments Explained
I needed information quickly on this subject to be able to make a costume for an appearance at Hampton Court Palace with our hawking team. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Boatman
Rare insight into the lives of Tudor people
I would recommend this book simply for the introductory chapters on the practicalities and economics of Tudor clothing - the many well-research patterns that follow are a great... Read more
Published 15 months ago by PlanckPige
COSTUME SOURCE BOOK
A VERY EASY BOOK TO FOLLOW, CLEAR AND INFORMATIVE.
NICE TO USE, ALL THE BASICS YOU NEED FOR HISTORICAL COSTUME MAKING.
NICE TO USE, ALL THE BASICS YOU NEED FOR HISTORICAL COSTUME MAKING.
Published on 13 Feb 2010 by Mrs. J. Newsome
Not good enough
whilst there are some reasonable pictures, the instructions are not in-depth enough. Saying "sew down the seam" is all well and good; I'd like to know WHICH seam please. Read more
Published on 25 July 2009 by B. Giles
Amazing!!!!!!
As a Tudor and Medieval enthusiast, this book covers everything from a detailed history of how clothes were viewed in society to useful patterns and easy adaptations to turn them... Read more
Published on 4 May 2009 by Catie C-M
I did not like this book
As a costume maker and a teacher (with 25 years professional experience), I discourage my students from buying this book. Read more
Published on 13 April 2009 by Lizzy M
A step-by-step guide
This book is surely a must-have for all who want to recreate 16th century clothing. It is consisted of two parts, the first is theory (what was worn, examples of existing garments... Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2008 by Zuzana Kraemerova
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