How to Make a Dress

‘From inspiration to sketch, pattern to fabric, the making of a dress has been the structure that has held me, and my passion to dress others is the momentum of my life.’

Jenny Packham is one of Britain’s leading designers and most in-demand couturiers, known for her exquisite dresses made for brides, celebrities and even royalty. In How to Make a Dress, she explores her creative journey in a brilliant meditation on life and style.

Beginning with the search for creative inspiration and taking us into her studio then onto the red carpet and beyond, she asks the questions that have preoccupied us for centuries: What makes the perfect dress? What do our clothes mean to us? And why do we dress the way we do?

Whether she is on the trail of Marilyn Monroe in LA, designing a bespoke piece for the red carpet or sketching for a new collection, Jenny documents her pursuit of the eternal truths of style. Decades in the making, How to Make a Dress is an unforgettable book for anyone who has ever loved a piece of clothing.

Reviews

Captivating—Sunday Express

Fascinating—Grazia

How to Make a Dress is inspirational. It shows the relevance of fashion in everyday life - undertaking a cool analysis of your closet the Packham way reveals more than garments but the tale of an interesting past. The mad, mad mistakes, the ridiculous dreams, that unworn touch of regret. Unlike most designers Packham acknowledges the word sexy when it comes to dressing and chooses Marilyn Monroe as a Muse. Taut as the seams that hold the top A-listers on the red carpet, it's so much more than frock and roll.—Eve Pollard OBE

I love this book. It's a very beautiful and intimate insight into the creative mind. Jenny takes us on the journey from her childhood to the glamourous world of dressing the red carpet stars with such refreshing honesty. I couldn't put it down!—Deborah Brett, fashion editor

I really enjoyed this book, the photographs are fabulous, and the stories even better. I just could not put this down, can't wait for the next one!—Richard Young, photographer

Packham details her inspirations, struggles and successes in a style that is as lyrical and dreamy as one of her own satin and gauze confections.—Town and Country

What a beautiful story. Not only does it take you through the journey of her inspiration and the making of her gorgeous pieces but I love the details of Jenny's personal life. I read it in one sitting and I loved it.—Jessica Paster, celebrity stylist

Jenny writes with an eye for colour, a feel for romance and an unerring instinct for the pertinent detail. Passionate about fashion and unpersuaded by its excesses, How To Make A Dress is a total treat.
—David Downton