Your Wardrobe Unlock'd

An outstanding primary source for the history nerd and dressmaking masochist. Ava begins to translate the directions for 21st c sewers!

A fabulous gown doesn't happen by accident! Designing for a big event takes thought, planning, research and creativity. Here's how.

A closer look at fashions for Winter 1812 from Ackerman's Repository and La Belle Assemblée, presented here to aid DPP hopefuls!

Janyce Hill has once again consulted her collection of antique magazines to pass on authentic, specific 1912 fashion trends & styles.

Sunny finishes her deciphering of a black velvet Teens evening gown, with the bodice opening and velvet tabard.

Sunny continues her examination and deciphering of a black velvet Teens evening gown, focusing on the bodice and sleeves.

Sunny continues her examination of a black velvet evening gown with many of the characteristics of Teens high fashion.

Janyce gives us the fashion forecast for summer 1912, including wedding fashions drawn from magazines of that year.

Sunny examines a very complicated early Teens black velvet evening gown with  many of the characteristics of high fashion in this era.

What books would have influenced fashion choices for a lady of 1912? What dress advice would a "stout" lady have been given?

Some you know, some you won't, but in any case, the next time you travel, consider incorporating your passion for fashion.

Early medieval clothing: a potato sack with a girdle? Not necessarily: here lies an astonishing wealth of fabric, colour & detail.

Charles Frederick Worth is remembered as the father of haute couture, and Suzi Clarke has a couple of treasures of his to show us...

The Winterthur Collection  has many fantastic historical clothing and accessory catalogs. Here's the best  from 1850-1919

Looking for some last minute gift suggestions? Cathy reviews two new books from 2010: Fashioning Fashion and High Style.

When making a costume, an extant garment is the ideal research source. Once you have one,  how do you analyze it?

Making sense of the vast array of shirts, breeches, trousers, waistcoats, jackets and coats, stocks, stockings, garters and cravats.

An eye-opening combination of machine sewing and delicate hand stitching.

Bonus article from FR

Making sense of ladies' underwear 1876-82.

2: What to wear over the corset and under the dress, plus fabrics.

How to design an original Victorian costume—something new, that would be right at home on the pages of La Mode Illustrée.