My Thoughts on Making Georgian & Regency Costumes for Women

When I received Making Georgian & Regency Costumes for Women by Lindsey Holmes, I was curious to see whether this was another costume book full of beautiful pictures, or a book that could actually be useful when you want to make the clothes yourself.

My conclusion is: yes, it is a useful book, especially if you already have some sewing and costume-making experience.

What I immediately liked about this book are the photographs. They feel very fresh and realistic. The women in the book are not fashion models in a perfect studio setting. They are ordinary women, and that makes a big difference. You see the complete process of dressing them, from the underwear and foundations to the dresses, jackets and other garments. It gives you a much better idea of how these clothes actually look on a real body.

I also like the fact that you can see how the different garments work together. Historical clothing is not simply a beautiful dress. The underwear, stays, petticoats and other layers are very important. This book shows that quite well.

The book is divided into different sections, chapters and projects. The first part contains historical information, sewing techniques, explanations and pattern alterations. The second part focuses more on the actual projects.

I would not call the book a collection of step-by-step sewing tutorials. There are descriptions and explanations, but you will not always find a detailed drawing for every single step. In my opinion, this makes the book more suitable for someone who already knows how to sew.

The patterns are included at the back of the book. They need to be copied and enlarged to ten times their printed size. This is something to keep in mind before you start. It is certainly possible, but it is not the easiest system for a complete beginner.

And that brings me to my main point: I would recommend this book to an experienced dressmaker or costume maker, but I think it could be rather intimidating for a beginner.

There are some simpler projects, of course, and a beginner could certainly learn from them. But the book uses quite a lot of sewing and historical costume terminology. You also need a certain amount of insight into construction and pattern making. Without that experience, some of the projects may feel overwhelming.

For me, however, that is not a problem. I actually like books that give you information and inspiration rather than explaining every tiny step. It leaves room for your own knowledge and experience.

I also found the choice of fabrics not always to my personal taste. Some of the fabrics would not have been my first choice for these garments. But that is, of course, very personal. Fabric choice is part of the creative process, and another maker may feel completely differently.

Overall, I think Making Georgian & Regency Costumes for Women is a beautiful and fairly complete book. It is useful for studying historical clothing, construction and the way garments are worn together. Most of all, I think it is a good source of inspiration for anyone who wants to make Georgian or Regency clothing in a more serious way.

Would I recommend it? Yes, definitely — if you already have some sewing experience.

For a complete beginner, I would probably recommend starting with something a little less demanding. But for an experienced dressmaker, costume maker, or anyone who already has a good understanding of sewing, this is a very worthwhile book to have on the shelf.

And it would also make a lovely gift for anyone who has a real interest in Georgian and Regency fashion.