British Costumes Dramas

The international success of Downton Abbey has led to a revived interest in period dramas, with older programs like The Forsyte Saga being rediscovered by a new generation of fans whose tastes also include grittier fare like Ripper Street. Though often criticized as a form of escapist, conservative nostalgia, these shows can also provide a lens to examine the class and gender politics of both the past and present.In Upstairs and Downstairs: British Costume Drama Television from The Forsyte Saga ... [Read More]

Tony Award-winning actor Mark Rylance and Emmy Award-winner Damian Lewis star as Thomas Cromwell and King Henry VIII in this adaptation of Hilary Mantels best-selling novels. A historical drama for a modern audience, Wolf Hall charts Cromwells meteoric rise in the Tudor court from blacksmiths son to Henry VIIIs closest advisor, trapped between his desire to do what is right and his instinct to survive.

Pattern Cutting for Men's Costume is a practicalguide featuring patterns for the most important garments worn by menbetween the 16th and 19th centuries. Easy-to-follow instructionsexplain how to cut patterns for 'average' and individual measurements -with expert advice on how to adapt patterns to fit men of all shapesand sizes.Introductions to each section describe the major developments inmen's dress - revealing how garments evolved - and patterns for periodgarments for which there are no actua... [Read More]

Offers a collection of designs and patterns for women's dresses from the nineteenth century, with comments on the changes in fashion through the years and sewing and fabric hunts for costume makers

Cranford: The Collection (Repackage/DVD)Cranford: 1842. Cranford, a market town in the North West of England, is a place governed by etiquette, custom and above all, an intricate network of ladies. Despite the most vigilant eyes and ears, however, the town still has its secrets. And while it seems that Cranford life is conducted according to strict social rules, Cranford is on the cusp of change...Return to Cranford:Cranford is modernizing quickly despite the best efforts of its aging spinsters.... [Read More]

For readers of Lilac Girls and The Nightingale comes an internationally bestselling World War II novel that spans generations, crosses oceans, and proves just how much two young women are willing to sacrifice for love and family.1940: As the Germans advance upon Paris, young seamstress Estella Bissette is forced to flee everything she's ever known. She's bound for New York City with her signature gold dress, a few francs, and a dream: to make her mark on the world of fashion. Present day: Fabien... [Read More]

Portraits and drawings of the eighteenth-century nobility and middle class show examples of hats, hair styles, clothing, and accessories then popular