Blueprints of Fashion by Wade Laboissonniere (1997, Paperback)

I have had this book from Wade Laboissonniere and it is really helpful if you collect patterns of the 1940. It gives concrete concepts and wonderful illustrations to help you date and understand the reason for the fashion trends of the 1940s. There is a lot of information to help you date a pattern from the pattern number and the envelope design and that is just great. It also has a lot of information about the regulations of the war years and the Homefront restrictions. There is also a really interesting section on the dolls that were marketed by the major pattern companies to teach teens and young girls about the construction of a frock or gown. I would not be without this book and I use it several times a week. This is a must have for the pattern collector.
I hope you've found this guide useful. If you have, please take the time to vote for the guide. If you have any questions not answered in the guide or suggestions for other guides (I love writing them!), please click on my username in the top right hand corner to send me a message.