Practical, informative guidebook shows how to create everything from short tunics worn by Saxon men in the fifth century to a lady's bustle dress of the late 1800s. 81 illustrations.

A History of the Theatre Costume Business is the first-ever comprehensive book on the subject, as related by award-winning actors and designers, and first hand by the drapers, tailors, and craftspeople who make the clothes that dazzle on stage. Readers will learn why stage clothes are made today, by whom, and how. They will also learn how today’s shops and ateliers arose from the shops and makers who founded the business. This never-before-told story shows that there is as much drama behind the scenes as there is in the performance: famous actors relate their intimate experiences in the fitting room, the glories of gorgeous costumes, and the mortification when things go wrong, while the costume makers explain how famous shows were created with toil, tears, and sweat, and sometimes even a little blood. This is history told by the people who were present at the creation – some of whom are no longer around to tell their own story. Based on original research and first-hand reporting, A History of the Theatre Costume Business is written for theatre professionals: actors, directors, producers, costume makers, and designers. It is also an excellent resource for all theatregoers who have marveled at the gorgeous dresses and fanciful costumes that create the magic on stage, as well as for the next generation of drapers and designers.

Hunnisett provides comprehensive and complete detailed instruction for creating authentic-looking costumes from the Middle Ages through 1500. Includes over 200 drawings, patterns, and photographs.

Shirley Miles O'Donnol provides both illustrations and written descriptions of styles worn in everyday life and suggests ways of adapting them to stage use. Her animated and informative text gives an overview of social trends as well as insight into the fashions themselves. Since women's fashions change more frequently and more radically than men's, the chapters follow the eras in women's apparel: "The First World War," "The Flaming Twenties," "The Depressed Thirties," "The Second World War," "The Postwar Era and the 'New Look,'" "The Late Fifties: Dawn of the Space Age," and "The Sixties: Unisex and Miniskirts." Lavishly illustrated with original drawings by the author, photographs of costumes now in museum collections, and drawings and photographs taken from fashion magazines spanning more than fifty years, American Costume, 1915-1970 is a practical -- and entertaining -- handbook for the stage costumer.

"In this comprehensive and beautifully illustrated volume, accomplished costume designer Dierdre Clancy draws from her decades of experience to show how to design costume for stage and screen. All budgets and practicalities are considered so whether you are a student, or a designer for the stage or screen, this book has advice from one of the best in the business" --Back cover.

In the Preface of the 5th Edition of Survey of Historic Costume, Tortora and Eubank conclude with the following: "In the history of dress at the beginning of the 21st century, costume might be compared to a constantly moving river. This river divides into many narrower channels that separate, cross, come together, and separate again, and yet that river continually moves on." Building on the previous editions, the authors update their analysis of Western dress to 2008. Survey of Historic Costume has, from its beginnings, taken seriously the need to accompany the text with appropriate illustrations and the major change in the 5th Edition is the move to full color throughout the book to enrich the text and the concepts. Perfect for anyone interested in historic costume, fashion, textiles, drama, and design, this beautifully illustrated book is full of interesting facts and commentary.New to this Edition:-- Over 500 four-color photographs and illustrations-- Updated text to 2008-- Additional influences from one period or civilization to another, including influences from other cultures-- Index - updated and organized to be utilized as glossary with terms defined and page numbers printed in boldface-- Instructor's Guide provides sources for visuals, websites, teaching strategies and evaluation techniques-- PowerPoint® Presentation contains interactive visual presentation with links to Internet

Transform common people into superheroes, movie stars, witches -- whatever illusion you want to create. Creative costuming is all in the details. One garment can take on many totally different looks depending on how you accessorise it. Over the years, the author has learned all the tricks about how anyone can turn leftover clothing into fabulous costumes. This book's numerous drawings explain in detail the costuming process of 'turning straw into gold'. It shows you how to design illusions that you never thought possible. Yes, you can easily do all this -- and at a minimum expense! This is another Barb Rogers must have book for your library of costume ideas.