59 Authentic Turn-of-the-Century Fashion Patterns

The dressmaker`s patterns for the more than 50 different garments included in this volume first appeared in the 1890s in issues of the quarterly "The Voice of Fashion". Most of the patterns are for stylish day wear for women, but there are house dresses and nightwear as well, along with a selection of suits and dresses for young boys and girls and several garments for men. Reproduced from rare original issues of "The Voice of Fashion", these patterns show that although most ladies` fashions of the 1890s were designed to conceal the body behind high necks, long sleeves and full, floor-length skirts, a lively interest in revealing the female figure persisted. Most styles emphasized a tiny waist, which in turn accented the bosom and rounded hip line. Elegant hand craftsmanship and the luxuriant draping of rich fabric further enhanced this statuesque idealization of femininity. An informative general introduction to dressmaker`s patterns and concise instructions for using them...