The American duchess guide to 18th century dressmaking How to hand sew Georgian gowns and wear them with style

American Duchess is an online purveyor of period-accurate shoes, and now it has published an instruction manual for those who want the clothes to match. With plentiful photos and advice on historically accurate materials, ambitious seamstresses will be able to create their own English gown from the 1740s, cake-like sacque gown, an Italian gown with a false rump, and a deceptively voluminous round gown, with accessories to match all by hand. Although it begins with a primer on basic stitches of the period, this is not a book for beginners instructions assume a knowledge of tools like an awl or thimble and an understanding of scaling the provided gridded patterns. Stowell and Cox also emphasize the importance of proper corsetry while admitting that instructions for such are outside the scope of this book. Still, crafters with experience will appreciate the historical information (say no to cabbage roses!) and the charming, encouraging tone. A very helpful section on how to troubleshoot tricky tailoring, historical citations, an accessible bibliography, and a short list of suppliers adds to the book's usefulness. Plus, smaller projects like the ribbon choker necklace offer some potential programming ideas. A unique addition to any crafting collection that goes beyond the basics.--Maguire, Susan Copyright 2018 Booklist

Stowell and Cox's interest in 18th-century fashion led to their business, American Duchess, which specializes in historical fashion and accessories. In this guide, the authors explore historically accurate dressmaking using techniques and fabric styles typical of the era. Four gowns, as well as their underpinnings (with the exception of stays) and accessories are shown, covering the most popular styles of the mid- to late 18th century. Each gown features a full walkthrough, starting with the undergarments, and the authors provide guidance on fitting, fabric selection, and appropriate accessories. VERDICT Whether the desired look is colonial matron or Georgian royalty, sewists will learn to design and stitch the dress of their reenactment dreams. An excellent choice for -costuming collections. © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.