Patterns of Fashion: The Cut and Construction of Clothes for Men and Women c1560-1620

Patterns of Fashion by Janet Arnold is a detailed study of the cut and construction of clothes for men and women from about 1560 to 1620. This digital edition is offered as an instant PDF download, with clear pattern diagrams, drawings, and photographs taken from original garments.

Written and illustrated by Janet Arnold, the book combines close analysis of surviving specimens with portraits and visual sources. It serves as a practical guide for costume makers, textile conservators, archaeologists, art historians, students, and theatre practitioners.

Book Overview

Janet Arnold examines surviving examples of late sixteenth and early seventeenth-century dress across European collections. The volume is arranged in three main sections: the art and craft of the tailor, portraits and visual sources, and a series of measured patterns, drawings, and photographs of original specimens.

Contents include men’s doublets, jerkins, trunk-hose, cloaks, and gowns, as well as women’s gowns, kirtles, bodices, sleeves, and accessories. The book also discusses Spanish tailoring manuals by Juan de Alcega and Francisco de la Rocha Burguen, and includes historical pattern diagrams from a Milanese tailor’s album.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• Pattern diagrams for surviving garments from museums and collections across Europe.
• Drawings and photographs showing stitching, fabrics, linings, padding, and trimmings.
• An introduction to the tailor’s craft in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.
• Comparisons with early tailoring books by Alcega, Burguen, and the Milanese tailor’s album.
• Guidance on measuring, converting old measurements, using patterns for full-scale work, and a table of measurements.
• A select bibliography for further study.

Why This Book Matters

This is a key reference for anyone working with historical dress. The careful study of individual garments and tailoring techniques helps conservators and archaeologists reconstruct fragments from excavations, and assists art historians in identifying and dating paintings.

For costume makers, the detailed patterns offer a practical foundation for cutting and constructing period clothes. The book covers the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I in England and includes garments from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and beyond.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download, so no physical item will be shipped. Access is available immediately after purchase.

The PDF can be used with popular reading applications on tablets, desktop computers, and mobile devices, including appropriate Kindle apps. You can download, store, and read it across multiple compatible devices.

FAQ

When will I receive my download? You will get instant access after purchase, with the PDF file available through your digital library.

Will a physical book be shipped to me? No. This product is a digital file only, delivered by download.

Can I read this PDF on my device? The PDF is compatible with common reading apps for tablets, desktops, and mobile phones, including Kindle apps that support PDF files.

This digital edition offers a practical and scholarly look at period clothing. Download the PDF and keep a reliable reference for your costume research, making, and study.