Janet Arnold was a historian of fashion, which combined her two greatest passions: the theatre and clothes. Her early books were conceived as aids for the fashion and theatre students she taught, but as her unique range and depth of knowledge became apparent, more and more museums and other institutions sought her advice and, today, her books are essential tools for the study of dress and have been used throughout the world. Jenny Tiramani was Janet's last pupil and during the first ten years of Shakespeare's Globe she worked with Janet's published patterns to realize accurate copies of the original garments and their accessories. Santina Levey is Janet Arnold's Literary Executor and a historian of fashion.

Patterns of Fashion 2 focuses on the eighty-year period preceding the Second World War. Beginning with a day dress from c. 1861-3 from the London Museum and ending with a 1938 Evening dress from the V&A costume historian and researcher Janet Arnold traces period and style and draws up patters from the original garments on grid paper with construction instructions. This is introduced by excerpts and reproductions from fashion magazines of the period. Contains 226 black and white illustrations. 34 patterns.