What type of garment is it?
What decade or general period does the garment belong to?
What can the garment tell us about the age, gender, nationality, personality, or other background information of its original wearer(s)?
For what purpose or occasion might the garment have originally been worn?
What are the most unusual or unique aspects of the garment?
Can the garment be handled safely without causing further damage?
Does the garment have any labels? Do the labels indicate the designer or brand name, country of origin, fiber content, price, care, size, or name of the original wearer?
Are there any photos of the garment dressed on a mannequin or on a person?
Are there any other documents or information about the garment such as original packaging, store tags, or provenance records?
Is the garment symmetrical or asymmetrical?
List each main exterior pattern piece of the garment (bodice front, bodice side front, skirt back, sleeve upper, collar, etc.)
List each decorative pattern piece of the garment (patch pockets, ruffles, bows, etc.)
List each interior or structural piece of the garment (in-seam pockets, lining, built-in corset, etc.).
Does the grainline generally run vertically up and down the garment or are there off-grain or bias elements to achieve a certain fit or style?
Does the intended fit include negative ease, wearing ease, or additional ease for style?
Can the overall shape indicate the bust, waist, hip, arm, leg, or height measurements of the original wearer?
Has the original pattern of the garment been structurally altered in any way for fit or style?
Does the garment appear custom-made or manufactured for mass production?
Is the garment machine-stitched, hand-stitched, or a combination of these methods?
What type of seams or seam finishes are used in the construction?
What types of hem, neckline, cuff, or armscye finishes are used in the construction?
How is the garment closed or fastened?
a. Is there any form of applied decoration such as appliqué, trim, lace, beading, embroidery, buttons, ruffles, pleated bands, or bows?
b. Are there signs that any such decoration has been added, altered, or removed?
a. Is the fabric selvedge visible in the seams, and has this been incorporated into the cutting or construction of the garment?
b. Can you use the selvedges to determine the full width of the fabric the garment is cut out of?
Is the garment reinforced in any way, such as padding, boning, metal hoops, or wire reinforcements?
Does the garment show wear in the seams or within other construction elements?
How many different fabrics have been used to make this garment?
What is the fiber composition of these fabrics? Natural (silk, wool, cotton, linen), synthetic (polyester, nylon, etc.) or a blend?
Are these fabrics woven, knit, or non-woven?
Has the fabric been reinforced in any way with padding, quilting, flat-lining, interfacing, wires, or boning?
Have these fabrics been subjected to a finishing process, such as bleaching, pressing, or glazing?
What are the dominant colors or patterns of the fabrics?
Do the fabrics incorporate a stripe or pattern? Is it woven into the fabric or printed or formed by a different method such as printing, stenciling, painting, fusing, embroidery, or other fabric manipulation technique?
Has the garment been dyed to alter its original color?
Is there evidence of fading, staining, or damage from abrasion, oils, sweat, sun, water, or insects?
What other observations are relevant in re-creating this garment?
