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Reading list for a New Renaissance Costumer

Recently I've been working with people newer to the aesthetic and sewing of the 16th century. I'm an unapologetic bibliophile and find that collecting books & materials for research is as fun as making garments. This list is meant to get you started doing & making things. At a later date I will do another list for more in depth research. As you can see from part if my library, I'm always up for a book chat. All of these are currently available on Amazon and the respective authors' websites. Enjoy <3




Patterns of Fashion 3 and 4 by Janet Arnold

If you are new to doing research on this period let me introduce you to your new patron saint, Janet Arnold. This wonderful woman was able to visit collections of historical garments and took detailed notes & photographs of the garments and their construction. Short of being able to handle the garments yourself these books will get you amazing first hand information. Book 3 will focus on fashionable garments, accessories, and stays. Book 4 will focus on your linen undergarments for the most part.

The Tudor Tailor by Ninya Mikhaila and Jane Malcolm-Davies

This was the first book I ever purchased for my renaissance costume adventures back in early 2008. As a starving college student it did give me everything I needed to start experimenting. The book is based on the authors' research & some experimental archeology. If you can only afford 1 book to get started in renaissance costume this is a good start.
https://www.tudortailor.com

Textiles and Clothing  1150-1450 by Elisabeth Crowfoot, Frances Pritchard, and Kay Staniland

To be fair, yes this book is about cloth I'll ng and textiles from the middle ages more than the renaissance,  but knowing your roots is never a bad thing. Many of the textiles were still available during the 16th century, as well as amazing details on sewing techniques. This is part of a series on the material culture of the middle ages from the Museum of London.

The Modern Maker Vol 1&2 by Mathew Gnagy

So I am truly a fan girl of Mr. Gnagy and with good reason. He is trained in tailoring and deals a lot with patterning, fit, and technique  from the 16th & 17th century. His books are also really effective at explaining a period pattern drafting system called the Baras system. He is actively still writing & publishing so check out his website for a full list of his publications.
https://themodernmaker.net

Update: I've added links to author websites.


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