I apprenticed as a master tailor during high school; my Sr. prom dress was a replica of a Victorian ball gown. In Apparel Design School Victorian fashions were my inspiration. I eventually focused on Charles Worth as inspiration for my undergrad thesis / final line. I always studied Victorian fashion from the outside - and haven't taken much time studying the techniques they used (I just adapted contemproary techniques to try to achieve the same affects). Now I have the time to study about the inner workings, and would love to win one of the books!