Everyday Dress of Rural America, 1783-1800: With Instructions and Patterns

by Merideth Wright

Students and enthusiasts of period costume as well as needleworkers interested in re-creating authentic costumes of America's post-Revolutionary era will welcome this comprehensive, scholarly treatment. It not only discusses and describes the clothing worn in rural America (primarily in New England) between 1783 and 1800, it is one of the few books to include scaled drawings of patterns and full instructions for making most of the garments. The attire...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486273202
• ISBN13: 9780486273204
• Release Date: December 1992
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.4" x 11.2"

Customer Reviews

Weird Copy

The book was great but the copy I got was really weird...all the pages hadn't been cut so I had to use scissors to cut the edges apart so I could actually read it! I don't know if that's the norm but it made it hard to get into (literally and figuratively lol)

Good resource, but missing a huge chunk

I really like the way that this book is laid out. It has a very basic overview with sample patterns. The one big disappointment is that there is no pattern for the outer gown worn by women. There is a discussion of such, but the author refers you to other sources saying "...bearing in mind that these sources show English and French rather than American examples." I purchased this book specifically for American examples, so this was a surprise. Otherwise, I do really like the book.

Good

Was shipped timely. Book was still in good condition but was exactly what I had expected...

Great for beginners!

This is a great book for those looking to get basic knowledge of late 18th century clothing. It has clear illustrations of the everyday garments worn by men, women, and children. It shows layer by layer the many garments being used at this time. I have seen other "beginner" costume books leave the reader baffled as to how and when a garment was used; that isn't a problem with this book. One thing to remember is that fashion was in transition at this point in history so the patterns are really only good if you are trying to reproduce dress specific to that time frame. I have been studying this field for over ten years so this book was not of much use to me, but I would definately recommend it as a good foundation for a beginner.

Help the way I like it

I ordered this book a few weeks ago. I have been looking for books to help make costumes to take my grandchildren to reenactments, which has stimulated their intrest in history. This book is the most balanced book I have seen-in that it tells you what you want to know, why it was what it was, and it is easy to read and understand. It covers men and women's clothing, with illustrations and graft patterns, along with fabrics and sewing techniques. I find this book delightful with information put in a fun and usable way. There are not enough book's that I have found on everyday dress, so this is a great and much needed addition.