Frances GrimbleBustle Fashions 1885-1887: 41 Patterns with Fashion Plates and Suggestions for Adaptation

This book covers ladies' fashion from 1885-1887, the so-called "second bustle period". At this time, bustles were exaggerated, with complex fabric draping and general weirdness. The patterns in this book are based on the National Garment Cutting system, and there is a good deal of information on how to use this system as well as actual-size illustrations of the necessary apportioning rulers which can be copied and used to construct a set of rulers. It's fun just reading this book, and a bit terrifying (and fun) to jump in and try this method of drafting patterns. Shipping was prompt and the book was in excellent condition.

I'm a relative novice costumer and have purchased numerous costuming books from Amazon. I have never been disappointed with the information, diagrams and full color photos. I enjoy collecting these books as much as I enjoy making the period costumes. I have a total of 53 books now and still counting.

a great resource for getting period silhouettes when making costumes of this oeriod

Amazing! So many patterns and designs--I wish I had a dress like one of these. I want to learn to sew and make these dresses, but I have such a long way to go, the patterns are advanced!I also love the glossary in the back.A beautiful and very informative book!

I have Ms Grimble's other books on the same subject and have found them very inspiring for the classic Victorian and Victorian Steampunk clothing I make. Not all items have the pattern layout but the descriptions are usually fairley self explanitory. The only thing I'd love to see is a modern translation of these descriptions.

This book is comprehensive and has so much packed into every pattern.

Excellent text! I've always wanted it!

I was SO excited when I heard of this book coming out and couldn't wait to order it. I have 5 other books by Frances Grimble [Voice of Fashion, Modiste, both Gilded Age volumes and Reconstruction Era] and absolutely love them. Large illustrations, clearly printed diagrams and text, big volumes of things really hard to find otherwise. Loved them. So I tore open the box when this book came today and started looking through it.Disappointed. The majority of the patterns were familiar-- because I've already seen them in 3 other books I have. Not just similar, but the exact same ones. Same illustrations and everything.http://www.amazon.com/Garment-Patterns-1889-National-Cutter/dp/0916896749/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1293735562&sr=1-1http://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Victorian-Fashion-Patterns-Complete/dp/0486407217/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1293735587&sr=8-16http://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Turn---Century-Fashion-Patterns/dp/0486283577/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1293735587&sr=8-5There are only a small handful of new [to me] patterns, and they are rather plain and unremarkable. And I noticed that one of the patterns I recognized has been slightly altered-- not a huge deal, but it bothered me because I seek out original pattern diagrams for the very fact that they are original and untouched designs from that era. If I'm going to go to the trouble of making up a diagram someone has altered, I might as well just go with a commercial Victorian pattern which is rather generic, seen a thousand times over and.. modern.The book is well done, like the other Grimble books I have, I have no complaint there. It has an extensive section at the back with pages and pages of illustrations featuring alternate looks and ways to trim outfits. And I really love the fact that the apportioning scales [scaled rulers] and a curved drafting ruler are included in the back, a huge deal when reproducing the diagrams to your size and many other books omit them.It's not a bad book, it's quite good, but for me it is just a rehash of the other books I already have. If you don't already have the three I listed, then this might be a good buy for you. If you do already possess them, then try to look through a copy from a friend or at a store before buying so you can decide if the few new additions are worth the 50 bucks to you. The bummer is that you could purchase all three books for less than what I paid for this one. Hm.So.. a good book, just not what I was expecting.