Fashion Books

I decided I was going to make aprons for my female family and friends for Christmas and ordered this book hoping it would give me lots of different ideas. It is actually more of a history lesson on aprons but did have lots of pictures and patterns and instructions. There does not seem to be a glut of books on Aprons so this was a good choice. If you are the least bit creative you can go with some of their general ideas and expand on them. Makes a nice coffee table book too.

Love this book!
I am always recommending it to others who love Aprons and apron stories.
It even has a user friendly pattern in the back of the book.
A must have as well as a great gift to send to friends who are apronistas!

I love this book - it brings back great memories. Very interesting information, photos, patterns, a great book to add to one's library.

Saw this in my book club at twice the money. I really identify with these, the good old days. Days when aprons were a part of getting dressed each day. I still am an apron person. Love those pockets.

I had to make an apron in Home Ec class many (many) years ago. I didn't enjoy it at all. I didn't care for the fabric, didn't really get the hang of using a sewing machine, just felt it was a waste of time. Nobody in my family wore an apron, anyway, somehow they miraclously stayed clean during food prep.
Flash forward a few decades. I like to cook and bake and I did not inherit the miracle of not getting messy while I cooked. Most aprons you can buy in a store are servicable - but not exactly flashy or pretty. One of my supervisors whipped up aprons as Christmas presents one year. I was amazed because I knew she was a very busy woman. Slowly, I began to gather fabric to make aprons. And when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. That's how I feel about this book. I recommend it highly.

This is just a great book. I found it at a time in my life when I really needed some help. Christopher has a unique way of writing that makes you feel as though he is sitting right next to you while you're reading, he really cares about you and he's not afraid to tell you exactly what he thinks. We all should have a friend like that, and that's what I feel I've gained with this experience, a new friend. He gives you information and a plan to carry it through, not just makeup and hair, but your total self, right down to cleaning out your closet and your makeup bag. He encourages you to eat right and get moving, stand up straight and be proud of who you are. This book is a must for anyone who wants to age gracefully and look good doing it.

ORDER THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!! It's excellent! Around 55 I couldn't figure out how to dress my changing body, much less what to do with my thinning hair and forget the makeup...everything at the cosmetic counter was geared for a dewy 20 something. Now I know how to dress for my shape and what kind of makeup to use so I don't look like a circus clown. I'm starting to feel better about myself. Aging gracefully is just a matter of changing our outdated ways and this book outlines in detail new techniques for us old broads.

This book, graphically lavish, grabs you from the beginning and delivers. Hopkins is straightforward, endearingly honest, wickedly witty, and an expert in his field. He delivers the goods -- chapters on finding your "authentic self," things we need to do and the ones we must never, hair, clothing, makeup and stunning makeovers. Lots of books offer this information: Hopkins gives more. He isn't holding anything back -- he really does want you to bask in the beauty and self-confidence inherent in all women. So many "beauty self-help" books don't live up to their potential: this one does and it's worth every penny.

I'm only 32, but when I saw Christopher promoting his book on TV I knew I had to have it! I know the target audience is for ages 45 and up, but I had already fallen into the same ruts described on pages 11 and 12.

Below are several reasons why this book truly delivers on teaching how to stage a comeback:

The most important feature of the book is that it covers the major subjects thoroughly enough for the reader to attain success, but it is not bulky or overwhelming.

The journaling aspects of the book are very helpful, indeed necessary, so that the information being given can "sink in." The questions asked are right on the mark, so there is no time wasted.

In reading the pages, I could sense that Christopher really wanted the reader to succeed -- he has added a personal warmth that makes this much more than a cold-read textbook.

The book addresses common objections (that keep women from looking their best), teaches how to wear hair/makeup/clothes/accessories to the best advantage, and helps the reader identify their style.

After reading the book, I could begin to easily see what didn't work for me AND WHY! Shopping is now a lot more fun, since I know how to look for the things that suit me and walk out having purchased items that I'll wear again and again.

Even younger readers can benefit from Christopher's timeless advice.

This is by far one of the most helpful books for women well over 40. It is right on the money for style tips and practical advise, dealt with a very knowlegeable yet gentle hand. This man truly appreciates older women. It gave me the tools, and did a lot as far as adjusting my sagging self-esteem (as well as body parts lol)- bringing everything back up to where it should be. Most books are trite, frumpy, too trendy and sound desparate - whereas this book helps you embrace who you truly are, at any age, and rejoice in that. Well done. Wish I had found it before I wasted money on other similar texts.

I love this book i remember seeing it when i was like in the 7th grade an she had that picture of her in the book with no make up on an even pointed out flaws an zoomed in on it an then showed what make up does to her to cover it up for a model to do that with the rumours you hear bout how cut throat they are an how they like to pretend there perfect i started an all new respect for Ms.Tyra Banks, this book goes everywhere from Make-Up tips to relationships an sex its a good book for those girls who arent sure how to cope with break ups to how to apply eyeshadow correctly an do evening an day looks i would suggest this to ALL women of ALL ages especially to those who have teenagers an young adults like myself who are still trying to figure out who they are an also know there not alone as far as doing crazy things when it comes to guys. Tyra also gives personal stories of her experiences of broken hearts an even her stories on sex, (Also she has A lot of pictures of her modeling pics an of her family an just home photos.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It's more than just looking good. Yes, there is a ton of information on skin care, makeup, body care, etc, but Ms. Banks also includes self-esteem, sex, generosity, self-respect, smoking, alcohol, and more.

I expected a more frivolous book from a supermodel, but this is real quality. Tyra seems like someone you would know. She has such a friendly, sweet attitude reflected in her writing and is so humble.

This book is filled with pictures, lots of color, and is fun to read. Great book!

I fell in love with this book since its release and highly recommend it. Sure, it contains tons of photos of Tyra, but this is the very nature of her work, people... HELLOOOOO. And it's obvious this book was going to focus on her by its title, it isn't called 'YOUR Beauty, Inside Out', now is it? Anyways, looking at her never gets boring because the pics are all varying in style and purpose. If you're a fan of Tyra or appreciate sexy-yet-wholesome beauty & personality then you'll cherish this book. It's one-parts autobiography, one-parts pictorial, and 1-parts self-improvement advice, the works mixed together! I get a strong feeling that this was the intention of Banks & Blake and I think it makes for a unique and fun reading experience.

As a model myself, I found Tyra's book to be informative and fun at the same time. I suggest it to all women, especially young girls just getting into the "make-up scene".

This book covers everything from pre-teen awkwardness to dating responsibly. Tyra has done an excellent job not only talking the talk but walking the walk! This book should be released and for all to enjoy.

Jackie comes across a bit like a dictator. She has very strong opinions, and if you're new to knitting or have perfectionist tendencies (like I do) you're liable to get caught up in Jackie's "the only right way to do things" vortex. As an antidote I suggest reading some of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's books. As Steph says: "There is no knitting police!"
Having said that, the reason I give Jackie's book five stars is because you will learn more from this one book than you would from any dozen others. The sweater sampler is genius, and though I've yet to start the basic sweater, I have the sense that it will be a delightful, eye-opening experience. Don't get hung up on the dorky looking sweater models in this book - that's not the point. The point is to learn to be utterly free to design you own sweaters and have them come out right. P.S. Unless you're built like Gwyneth Paltrow, consider buying a longer circular needle than the 24" needle Jackie recommends for sweaters.

This is a wonderful book! I'm just now working on the sampler and I can see that I am learning a lot of new techniques. There are lots of great ideas and techniques for making and creating your own sweaters! A worthwhile purchase!

Jan

I am a very beginning knitter. I do know how to knit and purl. This book has you make a sampler to start off with. She walks you through step by step. It is so easy and I am amazed at what I was able to do. I am getting ready to make the sweater, but with the sampler, I have already proved I can do the stitches.

This book is for knitters who want to take the next step and design their own sweaters. It is not a book to glance through in order to glean ideas - it is a book to STUDY. There are some patterns/designs included, but whether or not you like the author's designs is irrelevant - the whole point is to understand how to make your OWN designs from any yarn. I spin my own yarn. I don't want to use anyone else's patterns! This book, along with KNITTING IN THE OLD WAY, and KNITTING FROM THE TOP DOWN, is a teacher, a class, and a reference book all in one. It is not for the faint-hearted! It is for the knitter who says, "I CAN DO IT MYSELF."

I am a learn-by-doing-and-watching person. I do not generally learn well from books, although I have purchased several, including Barbara Walker's Knit from the Top and several Zimmermann books. Nevertheless, if you are serious about improving your knitting and want to have a little fun at it, too, this is the book. The key to this book is to knit the "sweater sampler" by which Fee takes you through all the techniques she can think of to construct a sweater. Fee's writing style is deceptively simple and VERY easy to follow, even for this very visual learner.

Even if you're not into knitting sweaters [I live in Mississippi, VERY little use for wool, although I love it]the techniques acquired working your way through the book give you the capability to make it past the "bumps" we all experience with traditional knitting instructions.
Which brings me to my second major point. I absolutely abhor line-by-line knitting directions and any knitted pieces requiring sewing or other seaming. By that I mean seamless knitting is the only way to go and Fee's workbook takes you there, although she includes instructions for "flat" knitters as well.

So, regardless of your preferred method of knitting, flat or circular, seamed or seamless, there is a great deal to be gained from this book. Although I have also acquired a great fondness for Elizabeth Zimmermann's writing, the DVD's for Zimmermann's instructional sections are better and make the techniques far more accessible to the average knitter who lacks a more experienced knitter for assistance. There is no such shortcoming with Fee's workbook, which means you can take it with you and work your way through it without access to video or computer equipment.

I really, really like this book and of the several knitting books I have purchased this one has taken me a long way to designing my own sweaters and other items without having to resort to a pattern wedded to a particular gauge, needle and yarn size.

I also strongly recommend you get the spiral bound version - it's definitely worth the few extra dollars you spend on it

Many thanks, Ms. Fee. And I would adore a DVD workshop "book" as well; if it would turn out to be anything like the book, I'd be glued to the computer with wool and needles in hand.

This book IS for beginners. It has excellent photos and figures, with clear, precise instructions. It also has side-bars pointing out potential pitfalls and how to deal with them. It gives a choice of methods, leaving the beginner free to explore what works best for him or her.
If you're an advanced sock knitter, I personally probably wouldn't spend the money, since any issues you might be having can be researched on the internet for free.

I haven't yet made anything from this book yet, however I've referred to it & really liked what I've seen as I've browsed through the pages. I bought it at the same time that I bought Knitting Circles Around Socks: Knit Two at a Time on Circular Needles by Antje Gillingham. I have knit a few things on dpns & was more motivated to knit my first pair of socks two at a time on circular needles, so started with Antje Gillingham's book first. I did need to refer to Ann Budd's Getting Started Knitting Socks, however, when the usually thorough Gillingham neglected to include directions for picking up stitches in her book. I was very please to find directions in Budd's book with descriptions of a few different ways to do this. So I was able to complete my project from Gillingham's book with a little help from Budd. Knitting two socks at a time fits my personality better, but Gillingham includes directions on how to convert any pattern using dpns to the two at a time circular needle method, so I'm excited to try some of the patterns in Budd's getting started book. She includes a lot more pattern variety than Gillingham. Budd also includes a variety of stitch options for knitting heel flaps in her book, so you can adjust whatever pattern you're working on to your aesthetic preference. While I truly am a big fan of Gillingham's book, she's very clear with direction, there is a lot more information & variety in Budd's book in general & I am excited to learn more from it & try out some of her patterns. I would highly recommend it.

If you have ever knitted a sock and have mastered the various tricky bits, like turning the heel, then this book is somewhat elementary. However, if you have not, it is clearly laid out and well explained. And there are nice pictures.

Before choosing to buy this book I checked out the reviews of similar books. I wanted a book for MY purposes and skill level. Although I have been knitting a while, I had never knitted socks before and wanted to learn.

This book contains attractive photos, has a clean layout, has clearly-written chapters explaining sock anatomy, foot measurement, gauge charts, knitting instructions and suitable pattern stitches. For those who can't always get specified yarns, this book allows you to substitute. Towards the back of the book are project socks that I myself wouldn't mind wearing or giving as gifts.

Since receiving this book Sept. 2(a gift from a friend who saw my wish list) I have made two pairs of basic socks that I've posted in my Ravelry project list.

If you're a sock newbie, this is definitely useful, practical, worth getting and keeping.

I wish I had had this book when I knit my first pair of socks. The instructions are clear and the author explains sock construction. Nice patterns for every skill level. I recommend it for all sock knitting levels.

I learned to sew with this book and have had great sucess. I just bought the new book "Sew On" to progress my sewing and the patterns and projects are amazing! I have learned even more techniques with the new book and I still use my Sew Fast Sew Easy book for reference. I'm really happy with these books from Amazon.

This is a great learn how to sew book for first time sewers, very easy to understand.

This is a classic beginner sewing book. I think people will learn to sew from this book generations to come. The patterns are very simple with easy to follow instructions. The illustrations are clear and helpful. I bought the new "Sew On" book to learn additional sewing skills with more advanced patterns.

I ordered the "Sew On" book and was really impressed with the written instructions and included patterns. My daughter wants to learn to sew and I ordered her this book. When she gets a little comfortable, I'll pass along the Sew On book. This Sew Fast Sew Easy book has simple, easy to use patterns and projects that will get true beginners sewing. I highly recommend this book for true beginners. If your looking for a more intermediate book, find the "Sew On" book.

The book is probably best for true novices. I was never much of a sewer and it has been 30 years since I've sewn anything more than a button or hem. I thought I'd need to review the basics, but this book was too basic for me. i was hoping that it would refresh the basics, but lead me a few steps beyond. I can see where it would be helpful for those who are just starting out, so I can't find much fault with the book itself. It was just not what I need.

Great book, but these people charging hundreds of dollars for old library books should be ashamed of themselves. Please note, this book is being re-released, BRAND NEW, in either 2008 or 2009. You can buy yourself a brand new version of the book. I'll be pleased to see all of these sellers, sitting on their $200 copies of library books due to their greed and lack of compassion for others when the book is re-released. I believe it is Simon & Schuster that is releasing it. You can do a quick google search and find out.

I do not own this book, I wish I did. I frequently rent it from the library. I am one of the many who cannot afford the book, and wish for a reprint. It is comprehensive and if I were to own only one knitting book, this would be the one-hands down. Hopefully, the author and publishers will consider a reprint in the very near future. Until then, I will rent from the library.

Yes, it's considered THE knitting bible and coveted by many. Why 4 stars? Because of the author's bias / strong opinion towards certain types of knitting. (I prefer Anna Zilborg's--The Knitting Anarchist---view that there is no wrong / right way to knit.) Nonetheless, the book is a must have for every serious knitter.

Before you cough up big $$$ on eBay, note: According to a 3-2007 posting on the Simon & Schuster site, the book is tentatively scheduled to be released in the summer or fall of 2008. According to the Winter 2007/08 issue of Vogue Knitting (page 25), the reprint / revision should appear in Fall 2009. (Seems the date has gotten pushed back yet again.)

This book is going to come out reprinted this year. Do not pay these exhorbitant prices to get a copy. One is coming soon. Do a little research on the internet and find out that what I am saying is true. I read an article in one of my recent knitting magazines and this is a fact. Don't pay $175 for one!! Just trying to help....

Good news sweet ladies! on the winter issue of Vogue Knitting (page 25)
under the title "SPOTLIGHT" says that an updated reprint will hit the bookstores on fall of 2009. How cool is that ???

Ingrid

My 8-yr old daughter just loves this fashion design kit. This is her 2nd one... she received the fancy party dress kit last year for Christmas. She entertains herself for hours & comes up with the most creative designs. It is wonderful for ideas, creativity, motor skills, patience. Highly recommend it.

Got this for my 11 yr old daughter and she has really enjoyed making outfits and putting them on the hangers. We found scrapbook paper to make even more outfits. We love Klutz.

So cool !!! Great for fashion divas in the making. A great creative gift for girls ages 9-12.

I highly reccomend this item! I am a paper crafter, and I love using these paper fashions to make quick stylish cards. I love this item because unlike some paper fashion books, it offers paper and templates, not precut paper or stickers. This is a great product for scrapbookers and cardmakers, and for all girls big and small. Also, there are miniature hangers included that add an extra touch to my cards, and I even hung ties on them to make a father's day card.

We bought this for our 10 year old granddaughter and she was delighted with the kit. It's simple to use, everything is included and it gave hours of fashion fun for a young girl. These kits as a whole are very appealing to preteen girls.

I'm a Latina, married to a Japanese man, and have a Navajo sister-in-law. There is a Spanish Christening Shawl, a Mexican Ribozo shawl, a Kimono Shawl, and a Native American shawl in this book. Not to mention many many other types of shawls from around the world. I also love the sampler shawl, it is beautiful. I basically want to make every single shawl right now. I don't wear shawls. That's how inviting this book is. The photos are exquisite. It is the first book I bought on the spot in a book store in a long time, rather than waiting to get it shipped from Amazon. Something about having my cultures included makes it a very special book for me. Plus, the author lives in my neck of the woods:)

A friend of mine loaned me a copy of her book when she found out that I was looking for something new and different from the afghans I had been knitting with old left over yarns. After looking thru the book and trying one of the patterns, I realized that I want to try ALL of the patterns in this book. If your looking at this book and thinking about getting it, I recommend getting the book, if your new to these kinds of things, like me, you can always start using scrap yarns and then move up to the more sophisticated yarns if you are comfortable with reading the pattern. There are patterns here that are easy to do and some that are a bit more challenging but all worth the time and effort. I'm still working up the courage to try a couple of these but I will get there eventually.

I am a fan of the "Folk" books and have several. The Folk Shawl book is easy to read, easy to understand, and gave me my first introduction to lace knitting. I was instantly hooked. I've knitted several of the shawls from this book and highly recommend it to anyone exploring lace knitting for the first time and as a tool to introduce newer knitters to this art. I've had great fun with Folk Shawls and have become a wearer of my shawls preferring them to sweaters.....they easily slip on and off and are a comfort in the cold weather. I even knitted a heavier version of the larger Stora shawl out of worsted weight wool and wore it as a substitute for a coat over an alpaca sweater!

Thank you Cheryl Oberle for a wonderful book!

This was the first shawl book I ever bought. I read it cover to cover a few times before ever picking up yarn and needles. The shawls are diverse, beautiful and the stories are captivating.

Kristin Omdahl
www.StyledByKristin.com

25 Knitting patterns and tales from around the world will educate and entertain you for years to come. The shawls here are gorgeous and inspired by traditions and designs from around the world.

You will find a shawl here for every occasion and every one is spectacular. They originate from Ireland, Japan, Iceland, Victorian England, Russia, Scotland, Mexico, Norway and more. Each design will teach you more to enhance your skills and an average knitter should be able to create most of them. The instructions are both written and charted.

This is an amazingly creative book for knitters or anyone who loves fashion and fashion history. For me, this would even be worth purchasing if I didn't know how to knit. The pictures are gorgeous, the designs are fabulous and the concept of this book is so wonderful it absolutely puts me over the moon!

LOVE this book!

This book is such a great collection of tiki decor and knick-knacks that you don't even need to read the captions to enjoy it. My wife and I want to turn one of our rooms into a tiki bar. We thought we would need to do a lot of looking to get a good idea of what real post-war tiki bars were like. Well, look no further. This book has it all. If you type in "tiki" in an Internet search engine, it wouldn't come up with this many ideas. This book reviews everything from the blue prints to the big tiki restaurants down to the coasters underneath the amazing assortment of tiki mugs. The title could not have been more appropriate. This is the definitive book of tiki. Have great fun looking through the book. Depending on your age, it might make you nostalgic for those lost days.

If you have the slightest interest in the subject, you have to have this book. it is an amazing piece of work, and a visual feast. It is one book I pick up again and again, and always notice something new. Buy it.

Truly a wonder of nature this Book of Tiki. Chances are, you might so your parents or grandparents in the pictures, from the days before you considered them old.

The text of the book goes briefly through the various sources of Polynesian pop-culture, and where it branched off. From Michener's South Pacific, to the Lanai apartments in Anytown, USA.

The pictures, brought through the archives of time in the form of various postcards and of the now empty lots that once were Tiki bowling alleys and apartments, show us a fascinating time of tehnicolor wonder and primitive naivete. This was before PC was PC.

All around, a fantastic read, whether you're a full on tiki freak, or you simply wonder why grandpa wore a Hawaiian shirt to your wedding.

Like all Taschen books, this book is visually STUNNING! Just leafing through the pictures never gets boring. The real treat is the book is also jam packed facts, folklore, drink recipies, and so much more. More information about Tiki than I ever knew existed.

Plenty of eye-candy in this book, but very well balanced with informative and fun content. A must have for the Tiki enthusiast!

This book is a must have for anyone interested in Tiki or kitsch art. Describing themselves as "urban archaeologists" seeking remnants of Tiki culture, the authors provide a fun and informative look at this vanishing art form. The book does an acceptable job presenting the evolutionary history of Tiki, from the 1920s to the present. Key events, such as the establishment of Trader Vic's, and the Kon Tiki craze of the late 40s, are looked at in further detail. There is also a good look at the "artifacts" of Tiki art and architecture throughout the United States. The book is packed with color photos of Tiki mugs, matchbooks, buildings, and much more.

However, the book does lean a bit too much towards making the book eye candy. The Book of Tiki uses intense colors, and ultra-hip page compositions that make it difficult to read (typically Taschen, but I still found it distracting). Also, a consolidation of information would have made it easier to reference, such as a table differentiating the different "Trader" Tiki businesses. Also, some of the text ("Exotica and the Tiki style were denounced as contrived rituals of the imperialist establishment at the same time that the Vietnam war developed into and ugly mistake, with native huts and palm trees burning on TV."), had me wondering if they were being tounge-in-cheek, or were actually serious.

Nevertheless, this book is the current bible for Tiki aficionados, and is well worth having on your bookshelf.