Period Costume for Stage & Screen: Patterns for Women's Dress, 1800-1909 [Hardcover]

Jean Hunnisett (Author), Janette Haslam (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 191 pages
• Publisher: Players Pr (June 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088734609X
• ISBN-13: 978-0887346095
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Textile & Costume
  • #86 in Books > Arts & Photography > Fashion

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best reference to costume construction I have found yet!, May 8, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Period Costume for Stage & Screen: Patterns for Women's Dress, 1800-1909 (Hardcover)

I believe that Jean Hunnisett has some of the best resources available to the modern dressmaker. I have been trying to find ways of making dresses of certain periods and this book takes a person step-by-step through how to make clothing; from corsets to crinolines to the actual dresses themselves. She shows how to make a variety of styles from one pattern and actually has scaled models of the patterns that are needed to make the articles of clothing. The only information that is not provided in the book is how and where to modify the pattern to make is fit someone that does not have her size. But with common sense and a little patience a person can figure it out. This book is a must for any costume designer or even the intrigued dressmaker looking for a challenge

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars for STAGE and SCREEN!, January 19, 2008

By 

fatal_degree (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Period Costume for Stage & Screen: Patterns for Women's Dress, 1800-1909 (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book for the THEATRICAL costumer. It has scaled down patterns. Suggestions on how to design for and work with a production director or producer. Recommendations on how to "fake" a look for a period so that it will appear correct AND be easy to get in and out of. Notations on points to consider.... i.e.: is this a stage production where the garment will only be seen at a distance? is this a screen production where certain portions of a garment will be super sized on a movie screen?...those sort of scenarios are played out and hashed over. For the historian, interested in period accuracy, this will probably not be of any practical use. This does however give insight into how to get modern fabrics and trims to look convincing. For the intermediate or advanced seamstress. For the daring beginner who isn't afraid of a challenge.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent costuming resource, July 5, 2000

By 

R. Tibbetts (SF Bay Area, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Period Costume for Stage & Screen: Patterns for Women's Dress, 1800-1909 (Hardcover)

I found this book educational and stimulating. Perhaps it's best feature was the combination of historical detail with instructions for practical application. The patterns can be a bit confusing, as can some of her terminology. Both of those hurdles can be overcome with a little patience. This is not a book for the beginning costumer, but I was able to utilize it very well at an intermediate level. For anyone interested in stage costuming technique I'd say this book is a must. It also contains detailed and illustrated instructions for fitting a bodice. WaHey!