This book presents full step-by-step instructions for the making of early 17th-century men's clothes and accessories in a technically accurate, visually exciting and easy-to-follow format. Twelve garments - all historical pieces from the Victoria and Albert Museum's collections - are featured: a suit, three doublets and a cloak, as well as a felt hat, an embroidered nightcap and a plain nightcap liner, a pasteboard picadil, a sword girdle and hangers, a pair of mittens and a linen stocking. They have been analysed so that every aspect of the pattern is exact. Scale patterns and precise construction diagrams are accompanied by colour photography of the whole garment as well as an abundance of informative details and X-ray photographs that reveal the hidden structure of each piece, showing the precise number of layers and the types of stitches used inside. The methods and techniques of historical tailoring and plain sewing are shown in detail. The authors have some of the best historical tailoring skills in the world and have worked with world-renowned institutions such as the Globe Theatre in London, creating award-winning costumes for film, stage and television. This book is a unique resource for costume and fashion designers, fashion historians and students.

A definitive resource on 17th-century men's dress patterns, presenting a wealth of new, bespoke imagery and building on the authors' unrivalled level of expertise

About the Author
Susan North is Curator of Fashion, 1550-1800, at the Victoria and Albert Museum. She co-curated 'Style and Splendour: Queen Maud of Norway's Wardrobe' in 2005 and has published several books for the V&A.


Book Information
ISBN 9780500519059
Format Hardback
Page Count 176
Imprint Thames & Hudson Ltd
Publisher Thames & Hudson Ltd
Weight(grams) 1600g