There are some dresses that will stand the test of time; Audrey’s LBD in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Marilyn’s iconic ‘wind machine’ white dress, to name just a few. We have all dreamed of stepping out in similar style, but without a Hollywood costume designer on hand, that could prove tricky. However fashion designer Sara Alm and craft-fanatic Hannah McDevitt disagree; this duo have created an amazing book called Famous Frocks which tells you exactly how to recreate some of these, well, famous frocks.
Complete with full-size patterns and how-to-illustrations, they guide the reader through the process of making twenty different dresses, inspired by everyone from Madonna to Twiggy. If you know one end of a needle from another and fancy yourself as something of a seamstress, then this book will keep you busy over the winter months. Even if you have never made your own clothes before, this books features patterns of varying levels of difficulty, plus a breakdown of all the technical terms you might need. We are really impressed with how straightforward and simple Famous Frocks makes dress making. If you are looking for a new hobby, or just want to expand your crafty skills, then this book is for you.
Famous Frocks, Patterns and Instructions for Twenty Iconic Dresses by Hannah McDevitt and Sarah Alm (Chronicle Books, £19.99)
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Fashion icon: Marilyn Monroe
