How to Make a Dress: Adventures in the art of style

This is beautifully written, clever, magical book that will stay with you forever. Jenny seamlessly weaves vignettes of her own life into the journey of designing and making a dress. She takes you on a voyage of inspiration, from a bus stop in Hampstead; to vintage emporiums around the world. Her research is impeccable. The reader is with her in the V&A archives, putting on the white gloves to view the intricacies of stitching inside an ancient wedding gown. And equally, we feel the hurt of the brutality of the fashion industry, with it’s carousel of egotistical fashion editors, who dismiss a collection because a better goody bag of bribes awaits them across town.There is no spite in this wonderful memoir, but what she doesn’t say, speaks volumes.Her discretion is testament to her enduring brand and to her loyal customers, from Royalty to movie stars.The ghastly encounter in 2004 with the boorish Prince Andrew - the UK’s trade envoy - is quite a shock. Jenny Packham is the real UK trade envoy, having made a foray into Russia. He manages to insult her on the eve of her show. Is there no one in the world this oaf has not offended? And what on earth was he doing at a fashion show with young models?But I digress: Jenny deals with this encounter with aplomb and grace. In the seams of narrative we sense the shy girl from Southampton, with a brother whose ego is the size of the moon and who dictates their childhood with his own passions for wildlife and animals. She learns to love design, as a little girl, from her Mother. They rummage through fabric remnants, then set-to, in the kitchen, to create their individual dresses.Her book is not dedicated to her Mother - her original inspiration for design -but to her partner and husband, Mathew. This is a fitting tribute. Together they created Jenny Packham. Without their unison, their company could not have survived and thrived in this vital, yet fickle industry. This book a must read for any budding designer; anyone who loves clothes and for those of us who look in the wardrobe in daily despair and wonder what to wear.

Nothing to do with dressmaking, this is a memoir in the currently fashionable style of small snapshots of the author’s life, starting in childhood. Lots of family stories, bits about being a student and what its like to be behind the scenes in the fashion industry. If you’re already familiar with Jenny Packham’s lovely designs and want to know about an ordinary girl, her passion for pretty dresses, and how her brother organises his underpants - this is for you.

I loved this – beautifully written and full of great stories and insights about a life in fashion and the author's love of clothing and design. Unexpectedly touching, too, on Jenny Packham's family. Would recommend.

Heard her talk online from the V&A. looking forward to reading this.

Bought as a gift. Good value. Interesting read

Jenny Packham writes as beautifully as she designs!

The title is a bit misleading, as there is little about her actual design process. It is an autobiography, and as such - succeeds, but I bought this thinking it was more.

This is an insightful and sensitively written book by one of our leading British women designers. Jenny shares her design process with her readers whilst sharing with us her vulnerability. Super book