Before the twentieth century, women's ready-made apparel was practically unheard of, and only the wealthy could afford to hire someone to make their clothes. But during the 1860s, a pioneering American tailor named Ebenezer Butterick developed simplified patterns that allowed home seamstresses to broaden their wardrobes and dress in the latest styles. To promote his patterns, Butterick established a semi-annual catalog containing "the Latest and Reigning...