Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, if a bit light on detail, July 25, 2000
This book is simultaneously for someone with quite a bit of sewing skill, and not interested in the more finicky details of the period. Simple construction was covered in depth, but the instructions would probably be slightly over the head of someone without some experience at drafting patterns. Most instructions begin with basic commercial patterns and give instructions for altering those into a period pattern - be aware that the instructions are not exhaustive. Muslin mock-ups will definitely be needed before settling on a completed pattern. Also, the detail might have been a bit lacking, particularly on period colors, fabrics, and trims for all social classes. Overall, a VERY useful book if you already know something about this kind of sewing. If not, it is still very good, but be prepared to put a lot of work into mastering some of these techniques and patterns. (In my opinion you'd need to do that anyway, whether using this book or not)
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fine for the performer, not the historian, September 29, 2001
By A Customer
This is a great book if you're looking for ideas of how to design, fit, and trim *costume* for the middle and upper classes, but if you're looking for absolute historical authenticity, stop and go elsewhere. If you *are* looking for faire garb, this is *one* of several key references you will want in your library: Carolyn Savoy (the illustrator) was Director of Costuming for the Renaissance Pleasure Faires during the early 1980's.Three major caveats here make this volume questionable for the historian, and requiring cross-authentication for faire costuming: (1) it is designed to be "simple" for the knowledgeable home-sewer or journeyman costumer, which Winter interprets as license to use such anachronisms as "hidden zippers" and elastic (she does give more appropriate closure options in at least some cases); (2) some of Winter's assumptions are a bit off (for example, that for middle-uppper and upper classes the Spanish surcote was worn directly over the shift, rather than over the loose kirtle); (3) the book was last updated in 1987 and is therefore lacking the input of more recent research, much of it based on primary sources. All in all, it's a great *idea* book, more useful to the performer than to the historian.
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16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Undeserved Reputation, March 4, 2005
While I am, as a historic costumer, extremely disappointed in this book, I would say that both its good and bad reputations are undeserved. The drafting and construction instructions are horrible - true. However, the first-time Fairegoer, beginning sewer, school play's costume department, and those interested in the look without the substance should find this useful. This is NOT a book for anyone interested in accuracy, variety in research (HOW many times will I hear someone tell me that their gown is of "dead Spaniard color"?!), or correct cutting and wearing of the clothes. In short, this is a book for making costumes, as opposed to working garb or reproducion garments.
Caveat emptor.
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