How can the cut of a 19th century gown control its shape? Can you re-create a historic profile from a contemporary mannequin? How can paintings help you analyse historic silhouettes and the corsets and petticoats worn underneath?Conservation and historic dress display specialist Janet Wood will help you answer all these questions. You'll learn how historic garments can be safely handled and shown to best effect, with insight into the characteristic features of each piece and how to translate them from the garment to a display support.Concentrating on Western women's wear from 1750-1950, and with over 300 colour illustrations, you'll learn how to interpret an individual garment's display needs and create safe, appropriate display forms.

Full colour step-by-step instructions on how to add padding to a mannequin and make appropriate petticoats to display a garment of any date.

Introduction1. Assessing the Condition of a Garment2. DatePaintingsCartoonsFashion platesPhotographsNewspapers, magazines and other literary sourcesBooksTechnical developments and dressmaking techniquesFabricsAlterationsMediaSummary3. Garment Cut and its Relationship to UnderwearResearch systemCorset timeline18th century1800 - 18201820 - 18301830 - 18401840 - 18501850 - 18601860 - 18701870 - 18901870 - 18801880 - 18901890 - 19001900 - 19101910 - 19201920s1930s1940s1950sSummary4. Storyboards & SilhouettesHow to use storyboards to date a garmentSilhouette timelineHow to relate the construction of a garment to the timeline silhouettesSummary5. MeasurementsDescriptions of the horizontal body measurementsDescriptions of the vertical body measurementsThe importance of the relationship between garment measurementsComparing garment measurements to a body, mannequin or bust formUsing a measurement chartTools for measuringTape measures and their usesMeasuring historic garmentsTips for accurate measuringSummary6. Selecting & Preparing a Mannequin or Bust FormGuidelinesBust form or mannequinPreparing a bust form or mannequinTools for padding mannequins and bust formsApplying polyester waddingBust formMannequinNeedlesStep-by-step process for customizing a bust formTop coversSummary7. Patterns &ToilesThe straight grainLocating the straight grain position on historic garmentsTools for taking a pattern from a garmentThree methods for creating patterns for toilesMaking a pattern for a toile'Join the dots' method'Draping' methodTissue paper templatesConstructing the toileSummary8. Petticoats, Arms & Finishing TouchesBase petticoatBase petticoat methodNet petticoatsNet petticoat method18th century pannier petticoatTop petticoatsSleeve supports - ArmsSummary and finishing touchesConclusionBibliographyGlossaryGarment measuring chartBasic arm patternsPadding diagram