Everyday Dress of Rural America, 1783-1800: With Instructions and Patterns (Dover Books on Costume) (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Comprehensive study of late-18th-century clothing worn by settlers and Abenaki Indians of New England. Full descriptions and line drawings with complete instructions for duplicating a wide range of garments: shifts, petticoats, gowns, breeches, waistcoats, headgear, more. Four bibliographies. List of resources. 54 black-and-white illustrations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; Updated edition (December 29, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486273202
• ISBN-13: 978-0486273204
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #421,806 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for beginners!, July 10, 2001

By A Customer

This is a great book for those looking to get basic knowledge of late 18th century clothing. It has clear illustrations of the everyday garments worn by men, women, and children. It shows layer by layer the many garments being used at this time. I have seen other "beginner" costume books leave the reader baffled as to how and when a garment was used; that isn't a problem with this book. One thing to remember is that fashion was in transition at this point in history so the patterns are really only good if you are trying to reproduce dress specific to that time frame. I have been studying this field for over ten years so this book was not of much use to me, but I would definately recommend it as a good foundation for a beginner.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Help the way I like it, June 25, 2001

By	Karen Lahey "littlehuggs" (Rockford, Il USA) - See all my reviews

I ordered this book a few weeks ago. I have been looking for books to help make costumes to take my grandchildren to reenactments, which has stimulated their intrest in history. This book is the most balanced book I have seen-in that it tells you what you want to know, why it was what it was, and it is easy to read and understand. It covers men and women's clothing, with illustrations and graft patterns, along with fabrics and sewing techniques. I find this book delightful with information put in a fun and usable way. There are not enough book's that I have found on everyday dress, so this is a great and much needed addition.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good resource, but missing a huge chunk, June 25, 2009

By	Emily's Mom - See all my reviews

I really like the way that this book is laid out. It has a very basic overview with sample patterns. The one big disappointment is that there is no pattern for the outer gown worn by women. There is a discussion of such, but the author refers you to other sources saying "...bearing in mind that these sources show English and French rather than American examples." I purchased this book specifically for American examples, so this was a surprise. Otherwise, I do really like the book.