Classic Tailoring Techniques: A Construction Guide for Men's Wear (F.I.T. Collection) (Language of Fashion Series) [Paperback]

Roberto Cabrera (Author), Patricia Flaherty Meyers (Author)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Roberto Cabrera teaches at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 245 pages
• Publisher: Fairchild Pubns; Student edition (March 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1870054318
• ISBN-13: 978-1870054317
• ASIN: 0870054317
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #86 in Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Textile & Costume

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

185 of 186 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best men's tailoring book I have ever seen., May 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Classic Tailoring Techniques: A Construction Guide for Men's Wear (F.I.T. Collection) (Language of Fashion Series) (Paperback)

I have wanted to write a review of this book for months, but forced myself to finish a suit before writing. I made a sport coat and pants for my husband a couple years ago using an advanced Vogue Pattern and skills from a women's tailoring class and was not impressed with the results. I bought this book because I wanted to learn how to do men's tailoring the right way. Yesterday, I finished a suit, sport coat and pants following the directions of Classic Tailoring Techniques. All I can say now is, Wow! I have been sewing for 15 years, took several construction classes in college including a women's tailoring class and this was the most work of any sewing project I have ever done. The jackets are easily over 100 hours each. For every 10 minutes of machine sewing, I spent about 10 hours of hand sewing. In the middle of the project I thought I had lost my mind - I could have gotten a job at Burger King and purchased twice as many suits. But...the end result was absolutely worth it. Actually, I am going to start another suit tonight! Classic Tailoring Techniques has been the best sewing book I have ever purchased. Although my basic pattern was from Vogue, I didn't look at their directions even once during the project. The directions in the book are very different from Vogue or anything else I had ever seen. But the author's directions are very clear and with plenty of illustrations. If you follow the steps exactly (yes, every time he has you hand baste it's for a reason), I promise your results will be beautiful. This book has completely revolutionized how I sew - most notably pockets and collars, which have always been troublesome for me. Since I can now speak with the voice of experience, make sure you spend extra time in the fitting section of the book. Mr. Cabrara has very detailed instructions for correcting a pattern and getting the perfect fit. Making the muslin is worth the time. Also, it is a must to get the right understructure supplies. Good wool canvas interfacing feels very different from the stuff you will find at fabric stores. I called local tailor shops to ask where they buy their supplies. Most companies will send samples and let you order over the phone.

If you buy good fabric, good supplies and follow the directions in the book - your suits will be fantastic. My husband has always been spoiled with expensive suits, usually about $1,000 each. He has decided that the suit and sport coat I made are nicer than his purchased suits and has offered to do more cooking and cleaning if I will make him more suits. That has to be the best endorsement a book could get!

115 of 115 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! A clear professional guide for tailoring, February 29, 2000

By 

Big Girl "Big Girl" (MESA, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classic Tailoring Techniques: A Construction Guide for Men's Wear (F.I.T. Collection) (Language of Fashion Series) (Paperback)

I checked this book out of the library hoping to tell me how to make those welt pockets. I have 10 books in my library that have tailoring instructions, but I was stumped with the pockets until I read this book. He went step by step and assumed you didn't know anything about sewing pockets. This author uses the same common sense layman language throughout the whole book. The pictures are black and white, but helpful. He makes you feel as if he was passing down all his tailoring secrets from generations before along to you. This book is not about speed tailoring with fusible interfacings. He goes into great detail to show you the exact hand stitches to look like a pro did it. I like the way he warns people of the common mistakes and how to avoid them. I am an avid sewer, but I have never made a suit. I am trying to make a tuxedo for my husband, and I am excited about how it will look when it is done. He has given me the confidence and knowledge to be able to accomplish it with just intermediate sewing skills.

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful tailoring guide., September 2, 2002

By 

Karen Butler Easter (Potsdam, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classic Tailoring Techniques: A Construction Guide for Men's Wear (F.I.T. Collection) (Language of Fashion Series) (Paperback)

I bought this book when I decided to make my 20-year-old son a Prince Charlie jacket to wear for Scottish dancing and piping events. It's the Scottish equivalent of a formal tailcoat with satin lapels, meant to wear with a kilt. I wanted it to fit him perfectly, and I wanted to use all the custom-tailoring techniques with no shortcuts. The sections on fitting were worth the price of the book. The fitting information available for working with women can be adapted, of course, but it was tremendously helpful and reassuring to have a tailor's view of fitting men. From there, the construction steps were clear and easy to follow. The finished product is truly fine. I would have tackled this project anyway, without the book. But I know the jacket is better because of it.