This is an expensive book. It’s a big coffee table book, written in both Italian (?) and English and has wonderful, beautiful pictures. Keep napkins handy because it is drool worthy. It has been on my wish list forever. And probably would have stayed there if I hadn’t found a copy of it at the AZ Renn festival. I saw it, I touched it, I had to have it. Never mind that I just ordered a new pair of shoes!

I have been interested in Eleonora of Toledo ever since I got a copy of Janet Arnolds book Patterns of Fashion with the drawings and patterns for Eleonora’s dress. I don’t know why that dress stands out and seems to be the most popular dress in the books, but there it is. Google Eleonora of Toledo and many of the sites will be talking about one of two dresses, the one in Janet Arnold’s book and the one on the cover of this book. I want to make each and every one of the outfits in this book! I think just the pictures of the partlets alone are worth the price of the book. Did I mention that I want to make them all?!?!

I love this book, but I am looking at it from mostly an amateur costumer’s point of view. I know very little about Eleonora of Toledo & her fashions since there seems to be very little written about her in English. I cannot say how accurate this book is. Was it love at first sight? I have no clue, but it sounds nice doesn’t it? I am sure that my friends and I will spend many hours enjoying this book, even if we never get a chance to re-create any of the outfits. Who knows maybe come this cold MN winter we will be huddled in one of our basement craft rooms each working on a project from the book and re-watching Doctor Who.

DS
(Bruce's evil twin :-)) ( )

The 'Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe' for 16thC Florentine clothing

Incretible! Worth every cent. ( )