"[ Busks, Basques and Brush-Braid ] is unique in that it discusses a variety of topics; within the specific subject matter of dressmaking, that have not been previously researched and presented so thoroughly . This book is recommended for anyone interested in dress history, eighteenth and nineteenth century society, or those wanting to expand their knowledge of issues of the period." -- The Journal of Dress History "This is a beautifully researched and compelling text that draws the reader into the world of the 18th- and 19th-century dressmaker. Numerous though they were, the work of these seamstresses has been, until now, a hidden history. Pam Inder shines a light into the shadows of their workrooms in this important study." -- Kate Strasdin, Falmouth University, UK "This study is a treasure of detailed research from primary sources: it ably illustrates a long-standing gig economy for women, and evidences their individual humanity, through the amazing detail of their lives and work." -- Jean L. Druesedow, Kent State University Museum, USA "This comprehensive study .

It is undoubtedly a social history of these women and their lives. there is certainly something powerful about giving voice to women otherwise nameless and largely forgotten." -- Cultural and Social History: The Journal of the Social History Society.