This is almost a sort-of spoiler post....
I was gifted the dvd by a friend some time back and the dresses made by Kate Winslet's character are indeed utterly scrumptious.
But although the film trots along in a rather light-hearted, almost comedic, mode at first, don't be lulled into a false sense of security as I was, because there are a couple of sudden, emotionally harrowing events which took me completely by surprise and shocked me, and which completely change the whole tone of the film. I've only watched the film once for that reason, even though I loved the dresses and the sewing, because I am a wuss.
So peeps be warned!