19th Century Plains Indian Dresses by Susan Jennys is a "must have" book if you are making traditional style dresses for your regalia at a powwow. Or, to just have a beautifully made dress of your very own to wear in the tradition of the ancestors.

"Plains Indian women's garments from the 19th century are among the most elegant pieces of attire any woman could hope to own and wear," writes Jennys. After looking at the pictures, reading the history and following the instructions, I totally agree with Ms. Jennys.

This is a beautifully written book, with history of the dressmaking along with detailed instructions and diagrams. Jennys covers all the basic styles, women's accessories and general construction techniques. She has included history and instructions for styles from the Northern Plains, Central Plains, Rocky Mountains, and the Southern Plains.

This is the most comprehensive book on making and decorating beautiful replicas of the traditional Native American woman that I have ever read. The artwork in the book, by Alexander Koslov, Ed Wells and Jessica Reddick is amazing and lovely. Photographs of real women in

their beautiful clothing gives an even greater idea of how the dresses are decorated and how they look when worn.

Jennys covers the styles of basic, side-fold, two-hide, three-hide, and the trade-cloth dresses. Detailed pictures to show how the yokes and skirts of different tribes are beaded and decorated gives the reader excellent examples to recreate and design her own dress just like the 19th century originals. Even the particular colors used by different tribes is covered.

The construction and sewing instructions are precise and easy to understand, with pictures that demonstrate the correct process. Jennys starts with a diagram of the original shape of the hide and how to adjust it to fit properly, then shows how to assemble the pieces. She explains how to tan, stretch, soften, and color the hides, how to purchase them wisely and gives excellent advice on just how important it is to be choosy and start with the best available to you. She stresses that starting with good quality and good shape gives the best result.

Repairing, stitching and hemming tips are included with easy to follow instructions and excellent diagrams of the different stitches to be used for different affects. Pictures from private collections of authentic dresses from the 19th century are a paradise of reference. This book is
invaluable for anyone who wants to learn and recreate these beautiful dresses.

Jennys states that "The stunning beauty of 19th century Plains Indian women's garments is not only a feast for the eyes, but is also both a testimony to the artistic abilities of the artists and a window to their souls."

Making a traditional style dress with the look of authenticity is not just a sewing craft - it is an artwork that Native American women of the past excelled in. This exceptional creativity has been passed down through the generations and many Native American women today still make the dresses in the same fashion. For those who wish to learn, this book is the one to get. for those who are already experts, it is still a valuable resource for history and ideas that may help you. It can be of tremendous help in designing your regalia. You will love it. It has become a very important book in my personal library.
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