Seventeenth-Century Women’s Dress: Dress Pattern 2, Jenny Tiramani

This book offers a rare and tactile entry into the wardrobes of early modern women, bridging the gap between museum object and maker’s hand. Part of the V&A’s acclaimed Pattern series, this volume dissects historical garments from the 1600s with scholarly precision and practical clarity, pairing detailed photographs and x-ray imaging with full-scale sewing patterns.

Focusing on silhouettes shaped by stays, stomachers, and sweeping skirts, it reveals the intricate construction techniques—hand-sewn seams, hidden fastenings, and linen linings—that underpinned the visual drama of Baroque dress. At once a historical study and a maker’s guide, the book invites readers to examine clothing as lived architecture, offering both inspiration and instruction for contemporary dressmakers, historians, and anyone drawn to the sculptural elegance of 17th-century fashion.

Our thoughts on this book: read here.

About the Author
Jenny Tiramani is a costume designer and historical dress expert known for her meticulous reconstructions and research-led approach. Principal of the School of Historical Dress and former Director of Theatre Design at Shakespeare’s Globe, she brings together scholarship and craftsmanship to illuminate how clothing was made, worn, and experienced in the past.

Publication date: 2013
Publisher: V&A Publishing
Pages: 160
ISBN: ‎ 9781851776856