Corsets and Crinolines (Paperback)

~ (Author) "THE soft, flowing lines of the mediaeval period followed the natural figure; no artificial shape was given to the body..." (more)
Key Phrases: sixteen inches today, spoon busk, bust bodice, L'Histoire de la Crinoline, London Magazine, Madame de Matignon (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Corsets and Crinolines is a study of the changing shapes of women's dress and how these were produced, how simple laced bodices became corsets of cane, whale-bone and steel, while padding at shoulders and hips gave way to the structures of farthingales, hoops and bustles. Added are contemporary tailors and dressmakers accounts, illustrations, index, a glossary of terms and materials, appendices on the repair and manufacture of corsets and crinolines.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (December 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878305262
• ISBN-13: 978-0878305261
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #125,275 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great info, but poorly organized, September 30, 2000

By	Jennifer Davis-Wilson "Jen DW" (Menlo Park, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book contains a lot of good information, but you'll have to search through pages and pages of quotes from contemporary sources to find it. The chapters are organized by type of garment, rather than by period, so if you're looking for a specific period you'll have to familiarize yourself pretty well with the entire book. Each section has a couple of pages of description and history, and then many pages of quotes. The most useful aspect of this book are the illustrations and patterns, which are rare to find elsewhere. The pictures are scattered throughout the book in no real order. There is an appendix with some very useful construction tips and instructions. Overall, a good resource for those interested in making period undergarments from the 1500's to the 1920's.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book!, July 9, 2004

By	Caroline V. Stine "LaviniaSpeaks" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I had to use this book for my final project in my Costume Technologies class and I loved it! I made the 18th century woman's stays (1776) and they worked out wonderfully!

Warning, though: this book is not for people who cannot draft costumes. The patterns are in miniature and are original period patterns; in other words, they will not be sized for you. You will have to draft and make many a mock-up before you are ready to make the actual piece.

All in all, I love this book and intend to make even more of the pieces in it!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Incredible Resource, February 7, 2002

By	ReeQueen (Salt Lake City, UT United States) - See all my reviews

Not only does this book provide historical background on various undergarments (corsets and crinolines, as the title suggests), but it also provides the patterns to construct these garments. It is an excellent resource, and one I most definitely recommend to anyone building a costume library of their own.