The Costume Book: The Non-Professional's Guide to Professional Results (Schiffer Book for Designers) [Paperback]

Mary Burke Morris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2002 | Series: Schiffer Book for Designers

This beautiful new book guides readers with intermediate to advanced level sewing skills toward the successful creation of costumes for theatrical or dance performances, and for re-enactments and interactive fiction. Nearly 250 beautiful color photographs and detailed line drawings of many types of costumes, along with solid design principles, provide a wealth of easy to understand information and how-to instructions. Practical tips concerning theatrical production teams, lines of authority, budgets, scheduling, and post-production storage of costumes are included. An annotated bibliography and a resource guide are both useful references.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mary Burke Morris has designed costumes for the American Youth Ballet. She has acted as the primary editor of newsletters for the Washington, D.C., based G Street Fabrics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing; illustrated edition edition (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764314858
• ISBN-13: 978-0764314858
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #292,077 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For experienced sewers only, mostly dance costuming needs will be met by this book, October 18, 2006

By 

Kim F (Leawood, KS United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Costume Book: The Non-Professional's Guide to Professional Results (Schiffer Book for Designers) (Paperback)

While this is a good resource for those of us who are experienced sewers, there is not much helpful information on theatrical costuming. Starting about 1/3 of the way through the book there are chapters on ballet, irish dance, ballroom dance, etc. and are very useful if that's the type of costuming you're involved with. The photographs of the costumes used in historical re-enactments are simply, amazing, and probably useful if that's what you're looking for. I would say this book is very light on theatrical costuming, and while I've gotten some good tips from the book that I've actually used (an easy way to make a 9 gore skirt w/o a pattern), it mostly gets ignored.

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Requires intermediate to advanced sewing skills, August 6, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Costume Book: The Non-Professional's Guide to Professional Results (Schiffer Book for Designers) (Paperback)

Mary Burke Morris' The Costume Book requires intermediate to advanced sewing skills and a prior interest in costume creation, but any working with theater or dance productions who regularly sew such costumes will find it an invaluable reference. Chapters come packed with photos and line drawings, overviews of basic design principles, and instructions which quickly lend to production efforts.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book as described, quick delivery, A-1 Seller!, January 11, 2009

By 

Lawrence Burdick "Chaotician" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Costume Book: The Non-Professional's Guide to Professional Results (Schiffer Book for Designers) (Paperback)

An excellent item, perfect for aspiring costumers and designers. The photos are crisp, and the accompanying illustrations are clear and concise. Very easy-to-understand text.

This book is destined to become a classic in its field.