The Focal Press Costumes Topics Series

One way of creating a theatrical costume is called flat patterning. This is when a costume designer uses a pattern made to the wearer's measurements to cut out and sew together a costume. In many cases flat patterning is the more appropriate method for creating a period costume - skirts, pants, and sleeves, for example. However, working in two-dimensions often does not translate correctly onto a three-dimensional dress form or person. Often a designer will need to tweak style lines on a garment ... [Read More]

Let Historical Wig Styling be your guide to creating beautiful, historically accurate hairstyles for your productions and events. Chapters begin with artwork of historic figures that influenced the look of each period. Detailed step-by-step instructions explain how to create their iconic hairstyles, illustrated by photographs showing the finished look from every angle. This volume covers hairstyles from the Victorian era through the contemporary styles of today. Learn how to create hairstyles wo... [Read More]

Let Historical Wig Styling be your guide to creating beautiful, historically accurate hairstyles for your productions and events. Chapters begin with artwork of historic figures that influenced the look of each period. Detailed step-by-step instructions explain how to create their iconic hairstyles, illustrated by photographs showing the finished look from every angle.

Let Historical Wig Styling: Anicent Egypt to the 1830s and Historical Wig Styling: Victorian to the Present be your guides to creating beautiful, historically accurate hairstyles for your theatrical productions. Each chapter begins  with artwork of historic figures that influenced the look of each period. Detailed step-by-step instructions explain how to create their iconic hairstyles, illustrated by photographs showing the finished look from every angle. You’ll also learn about the necessar... [Read More]

Learn how to create historically inspired costumes for Elizabethan period productions with Elizabethan Costume Design and Construction! Extensive coverage of the creation of costumes for both men and women, which can be applied to all social classes, will allow you to be prepared for any costuming need.  Step-by-step instructions paired with hundreds of color photos will ensure you have the know-how to design and construct your garments. Get inspired by stunning, hand-drawn renderings of costum... [Read More]

Whether you’re in a professional or a community theatre, part of a historical re-enactment, or teaching costume construction, a well-made hat provides a much-needed finishing touch to a costume. Period Reproduction Buckram Hats: The Costumer’s Guidebook is your one-stop resource for learning how to recreate historically accurate buckram hats. Each chapter is devoted to the construction of a particular hat, beginning with a historical image and followed by an list of the exact amount of fabri... [Read More]

Historical Wig Styling: Ancient Egypt to the 1830s, 2nd edition, is a guide to creating beautiful, historically accurate hairstyles for theatrical productions and events. This volume covers hairstyles from Ancient Egypt through Romantic/Biedermeier styles of the 1820s and 30s. Chapters begin with an overview of historic figures who influenced the look of each period and their styles, followed by step-by-step instructions and photographs showing the finished look from every angle. The book also... [Read More]

Forties and Fifties Fashion for the Stage: with Patterns from Vintage Clothing provides instruction on how to recreate fashion from the 1940s and 1950s that withstands the vigorous demands of theatrical stage use. This book provides historical context for the clothing and features authentic patterns taken from real vintage pieces. Forties and Fifties Fashion for the Stage demonstrates how to construct a durable costume from scratch, and how to adjust patterns to fit an individual’s measuremen... [Read More]