Book review: Seventeenth Century Women’s Dress Patterns vol. 2, Jenny Tiramani and Susan North, editors
by Sahrye Cohen, First published for the July/August 2013 issue of Finery Book two of Seventeenth-Century Women’s Dress Patterns, edited by Susan North and Jenny Tiramani, continues the same meticulous documentation and fantastically detailed x-rays and photographs as book one. This volume contains an open gown, jackets, busks, linen bands and eighteen pages detailing the construction of a pair of […]
Book review of Embellishments by Astrida Schaeffer
by Catherine Scholar, First published for the May/June 2013 issue of Finery Victorian costumers, brace yourselves! There’s a whole new world of inspiration and practical assistance coming your way. I recently had the privilege of previewing the first three chapters of Embellishments by Astrida Schaeffer, an upcoming book that details, well, embellishments. On late Victorian gowns. In here’s-how-you-do-it detail. Interested […]
Book Review: Icon’s of Men’s Style by Josh Sims
by George McQuary, First published for the September/October 2012 issue of Finery Since Beau Brummel, peacockery in men’s clothing has been shunned, innovation foresworn. The only changes in men’s clothing are in functional adaptations for industry, sports and military, which then slowly cross over into men’s fashion. Take aviator glasses. Created to solve a certain set of industrial problems (pilot […]
Book Reviews: Vintage Hairstyling and Retro Makeup by Lauren Rennells
by George McQuary, First published for the July/August 2012 issue of Finery Lauren Rennells’ book Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Techniques, 2nd Edition can be used in two ways: First, as a look book. Take it to your favorite hair stylist, point at a picture, and say “Make my hair do this for tonight”. Or you can take the […]
Last Dinner on the Titanic: Developing the Menu
by Sahrye Cohen, First published for the January/February 2012 issue of Finery The RMS Titanic is remembered not only for the tragic iceberg strike that resulted in 1,517 deaths, but also its incredible opulence. When we first started discussing an event commemorating the Titanic’s centennial, we knew we knew it was an opportunity to do something truly fantastic. One of […]
Book Review: Seventeenth-Century Women’s Dress Patterns, Book I
by Diana Habra, First published for the November/December 2011 issue of Finery This book, edited by Jenny Tiramani and Susan North and published by the Victoria & Albert museum in London, is the first of the Pattern Book series and builds on the publications of Janet Arnold, Norah Waugh, Linda Baumgarten, and several other prominent historical clothing experts. In addition […]
Book Review: Illuminating Fashion
by Cynthia Howell, First published for the September/October 2011 issue of Finery Are you looking for inspiration for your medieval gown? Has Google failed to yield images of extant garments? It’s time to turn to an unusual source: medieval illuminations. Illuminations provide a wealth of information on the appropriate types of fabrics and trims. Accessories often play a prominent role. […]
Book Review: Betsy-Tacy Series
by Catherine Scholar, First published for the January/February 2011 issue of Finery Why review a beloved children’s series for a costume newsletter? It’s a fair question, one the author partially answered herself: “in these Betsy-Tacy stories, I love to work from real incidents.” The Betsy-Tacy books were based closely upon author Maud Lovelace’s own life, and almost all of Betsy’s […]
Book Review: Elephant’s What?
by Betsy Hanes Perry, First published for the September/October 2010 issue of Finery Elephant’s Breath and London Smoke: Historic Colour Names, Definitions, & Uses, edited by Deb Salisbury, is a sorely needed resource; anybody who’s spent time reading old fashion magazines has been frustrated by descriptions such as “a dress of serpent-gray silk”, which would have been transparent to the […]
A Legacy of Linen
by Betsy Hanes Perry. First published for the July / August, 2009 issue of Finery Many costumers, having waited for years for the late Janet Arnold’s Patterns of Fashion 4, will have already either bought or checked out this book. This review is therefore an appreciation and an introduction for those lucky readers unfamiliar with the Patterns of Fashion series. […]
