Customer Reviews

Great Sewn Clothes (Threads On)

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One of my favorite books. A fascinating combination of history and construction techniques, art and technology. If you've ever been curious about how Chanel constructed her famous boxy jackets (that were still flattering) or who did the embroidery for those amazing Schiaperelli creations - this is for you!

I was looking for a book that had more information on couture. I have Susan Khalje and Claire Shaeffer's books and wanted more information on the fabulous world of couture. In this book I found history about couture as well as several articles on fit, fabric, and techniques. It has helped me increase my sewing skills.

I wholeheartedly agree with the other reviewers on this book. This was recommended as "additional reading" in Claire's couture book and I could not believe what all is included. Each article has valuable information about specific designers' techniques. These are not just "overviews" of a couture house. While the articles are not more than a few pages each, each is chocked full of wonderful bits of information. The writers of these articles are to be commended for their thorough research and writing style! And the designers... I started with Balenciaga - After a paragraph of biographical notes, they launch into the analysis of his designs...as one example, all have heard of Balenciaga's unique collars that stood away from the neck just enough to "let the wearer's pearls breath". Well, one picture shows he accomplished this by putting a series of small shaped darts in the undercollar! In addition to the finished coat photo and a muslin with the darts stitched in place, there is also the detail from the muslin, marked for the darts laying flat. So much information and lots of photos with fabulous detail. Vionet is covered also - the author sets out to "solve the mystery" of how Vionet manipulated bias. She met the extraordinary technician (vionnet's name for herself) and got information that everyone who loves to sew should find out about. So interesting and insightful!!!! I have the book about Vionnet written by the author of this article and I highly recommend that book! However, the information in the article is very very thorough and insightful and you will enjoy reading it. Chanel, Schiaparelli, Kawakubo, norell, Kleibacker, Madame Gres, to name a few more who have articles about their work. Also, there are wonderful articles on tailoring, zippers, interfacings, hand stitches, lapels, buttonholes, pockets on and on. I have sewn for over 40 years and love hand sewing - have lots of couture instruction books and was taught in my teens by sewing vogue designer patterns with my mother. In short, I have a lot of knowledge already, but these articles are wonderful!!! It is filled with so much information - and one thing is certain - anyone who sews is always on the lookout for a "better" way to get the look. If you love working in your sewing room and read sewing books like other people read novels.... you will love this book. Don't let the dated photo on the cover fool you into thinking it is just another "80's fluff" book.

It's a shame that Taunton has allowed such a fantastic collection of Threads articles to fall by the wayside, especially with the resurgent interest in couture sewing techniques amongst home sewists. If you own the archive (or all the old magazines) these are all "in there" scattered amongst the first 26 issues but having them together in this handy form is very nice too. As another reviewer pointed out, the cover and title just do not do justice to this close up look at some of the techniques of the world's great couturiers.