Your Wardrobe Unlock'd

This month on Letters, Questions & Answers, Melissa Barton reviews "The King's Servants", the latest release from Ninya Mikhaila's new publishing company.

Meanwhile, Naath Cousins shares the secrets of how a relative beginner can pull off an entire underwear-out SPP entry without even appearing to break a sweat!

Marion traces the beginnings of the second bustle era by reviewing fashion illustrations of 1868-1869 from Peterson's, Arthur's and Godey's magazines.

If that isn't enough, also included are all patterns published by Peterson's in 1869!

If you’re used to the modern approach to sewing, then the Victorians' methods might seem a little strange at first. Once you’re used to them, however, they truly make sense and help to make your clothing look authentic.

This pink satin evening bodice gives a good overview of late Victorian construction techniques. Katherine shares her observations as well as fifty photos of the detail of the inside and outside of an evening bodice from the 1880s.

‘Flowermaking is an art rather than a craft.’

Many of the techniques for making artifical flowers are simple. The effect, with some effort and practice, can be wonderful. They can either mimic real flowers or merely suggest them, conveying what G.I. Somerville calls ‘the form and feeling of a flower’ .

I hear, frequently, “My husband wants me to make him a tailored 1880's coat, uhm... perhaps one day!” or simply “Tailoring is hard, why try?” This seems to be the natural response for people when they hear the word “tailoring”.

So begins our fascinating new series on historical tailoring, starting with the complete basics and working through to advanced techniques to construct a late Victorian lounge (informal) jacket. As well as allowing you to stop avoiding your husband's requests for something for him to wear, the dressmaker can learn an enormous amount from the genteel rules and precise approach of the historical tailor, giving her a great deal of tips and techniques to take back into ladieswear!