Couture Bridalwear Design: Fashio (or Pattern?) Layout and Design [Paperback]

Margot Arendse (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2000

A comprehensive guide to making your own couture bridalwear. Dresses, trains, veils, head dresses, and the use of decorative techniques are covered with step-by-step diagrams, photographs and detailed instructions.

Written for the design student, teacher and professional alike, it deals with every stage of the process, including:  an introduction to bridalwear design  choosing a style  making-up patterns  designing and cutting necklines, collars, sleeves, boned bodices, skirts, trains and underskirts  fabric selection  trimmings, beading and embroidery  designing and making head dresses.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Margot Arendse is a bridalwear designer, specializing in period styling in contemporary bridalwear. Her work in the industry included supplying Marks and Spencer. She now teaches at Bath University and the London College of Fashion.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Brassey's (June 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574882740
• ISBN-13: 978-1574882742
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.2 x 2.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,526,352 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For the experienced only, April 2, 2001

By 

"dcdes" (Aiea, HI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Couture Bridalwear Design: Fashio (or Pattern?) Layout and Design (Paperback)

The idea of creating a couture bridal gown goes far beyond what you can find in this book. It has many illustrations of bodices, sleeves, skirts and trains throughout the process of creating the designs, and gives the basics of slicing your ordinary sloper to create bridal stylelines. In that, it is great for the patternmaker. You can see how bustles, portrait necklines, leg o'mutton sleeves and stays are updated to be used in today's bridal fashions. The section covering the boned bodice has many diagrams to help you visualize where the seams and darts are placed. There is minimal information on the construction of the bodice as well. The book also tries to touch on the construction of a head-dress (veils, tiaras, headbands) and offered rather skimpy information on the subject.

As it says on the cover, "Pattern Layout and Design." That is all you will find worthwhile in this book. If you are not an experienced seamstress with pattern drafting expertise, this book is not for you. "Patternmaking for Fashion Design" by Helen Joseph-Armstrong is an excellent book to start with, and will teach you all the basics you need to create your own styles. "Couture Bridalwear" is a supplement to my library. It is one of the few books available on the subject, but I was hoping for much more than was covered here.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now I know how to make the patterns, March 27, 2002

By 

Debby Kuijt (Heemstede, N-H Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Couture Bridalwear Design: Fashio (or Pattern?) Layout and Design (Paperback)

To make your own, or somebody elses, wedding dress you have to know how to make the pattern. This book tells you how to make up a pattern in any style starting from a basic bodice, sleeve and skirt.
For me it's the book I needed. I had my training in patternmaking, but it's the basic and the daily casual wear for women.
Now I can make the pattern for the wedding dress I like.
It's easy written, but I think the knowledge I have about patternmaking makes it more easy to understand.
It's a great supplement to my libary.
I also had my traing in sewing garments, but sewing a wedding dress, I think is quite a different cookie. So I need another book next to this one. So that will be my next buy. And it will probably be "Bridal Couture" by Susan Khalje.
In The Netherlands it's hard to find books to expant my knowledge about these subjects so I'm very pleased to find them even it's in another language.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Experienced Sewers, January 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Couture Bridalwear Design: Fashio (or Pattern?) Layout and Design (Paperback)

It is hard to find books that raise the level of an experienced sewer's knowledge. This book will do it. This is not a book on technique, but a book on manipulating design--what bridal customers all want. This book will help a special occasion couture seamstress put together a truly unique wedding gown design by addressing the planning stage before cut out of fabric.