Fashion Books

I found this book on sale in a New Jersey mall. It doesn't belong on a sale rack! What a funny and inspiring book. It got me back taking pictures after a too-long hiatus. Highly recommended for anyone with a quirky sense of humor.

I found this book on sale in a New Jersey mall. It doesn't belong on a sale rack! What a funny and inspiring book. It got me back taking pictures after a too-long hiatus. Highly recommended for anyone with a quirky sense of humor.

I remember Antin's postcards and am so thrilled to see them collected in book form! Her work was considered revolutionary at the time, and it's a great pleasure to own such an elegant reproduction of the entire series.

While taking a photography course at my school, I stumbled across this book in the bookstore. The idea of taking a series of photos of 100 boots and then mailing them as postcards appealed to me immensely, even though i was not alive at the time of of the postcards. Not only do the 100 boots tell a story through pictures, the photos themselves are wonderful works of art. Definitely buy this book.

This is the real deal. It's what people really wore, not the weird fashion illustrations (although I enjoy looking at those, too). It's interesting to see how modern some of the items are. I'd love to wear the shoes, coats and bags, and a few of the ladies sweater suits today. On the other hand, some of the clothing is incredibly oldfashioned.

The ladies undergarments are a scream. You buy them by your chest size in inches. Notice that there is no "cup size" because these are designed to squash you flat into a tube. See item 4546: "Bust Supporter and Diaphragm Confiner of a strong quality of pick silk tricotine . . . giving a very flat appearance when worn with a very low top corset. Sizes 34 to 46. $5.00

Also, some of the pictures are actually photographs and the models are very "chinny." The models are decidedly shorter and chubbier than today's models, and the flat chests make their chins look even bigger. It's interesting to see how the definition of "pretty" has changed over the decades.

This is great inspiration for anyone interested in vintage clothing or clothing design, or just fun if you love fashion.

This is yet another book that has wonderful illustrations and information about 1920s fashion. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in this pivotal decade in fashion.

This is a lovely book of a wide variety of catalog drawings and photos from the B. Altman Company which carried higher quality items as compared to the Sears catalog books. There are men's and women's clothes and childrens clothes, hats, undergarments, stockings, shoes...A real treat if you are interested in what the upper middle class might have worn. And everything progresses by the year, so you can see how the fashions developed.

"1920s Fashions from B. Altman & Company" provides over 700 black & white illustrations, detailed descriptions, and prices for clothing for the upper class of the Jazz Age. The focus is primarily on women's clothing and accessories, with everything from sophisticated evening wear to bathing suits, but you will also find a complete array of clothing for men and children as well. Please remember, because they buy directly from the manufacturer, "thus eliminating the no inconsiderable profits of the middleman," B. Altman & Company are able to offer patrons the benefit of the savings. This is a superb record of the styles worn by flappers in the Roaring Twenties; note than this is not simply the reproduction of a catalog from a particular year, but has fashion culled from the B. Altman catalogs of the entire decade. Interesting Footnote: The B. Altman & Company Department Store is now the New York Public Library Science, Industry & Business Library. Dover also has a reprint edition of "Altman's Spring and Summer Fashions Catalog, 1915," which records the fashions worn in the United States in the years before the First World War. This volume will be of interest to the fashion historian and of great use to costume designers working with this period of American History.

Great patterns and lovely designs make this book a must-have for knitters who want to do something more intricate than basic, fast knit sweaters. Ms. Goodwin's down-to-earth, don't be afraid attitude is refreshing but I feel you must read and understand her notes before you start knitting. She talks in a knitter to knitter style and I believe she expects her readers to know the basics. The patterns aren't terribly difficult but do require patience and a personality that enjoys a challenge. You WILL be rewarded.

I'm 13 years old and learned to knit when I was 9. I can knit these patterns and you don't even have to sew seams when you are done knitting. I think kids and adults will enjoy these patterns, besides, they are cute and in style.

After 3 days agonizing over the syntax in this book--(I'm a visual handicraft learner)-- I saw the light. And.. because I kept knitting and knitting, I saw that I was actually doing it right.

There are a number of confusions here-- how many markers to use; what happens next; etc. The writer knows how to knit so well, she assumes we all will just "get it". Even assumes we know circular knitting comes out the same as stockinette stitch, even tho' we don't purl any rows. I didn't know!

I didn't just "get it"-- I even wrote Mary an email and am waiting for help.

All in all, when one is writing so-called simple knitting patterns, the author must always put herself in the shoes of the most thick-headed of learners. Language has to be considered carefully, and at times, it isn't here.

Now that I "get it", I like the book. But, it was frustrating at first...And.. I have more than a basic knowledge of knitting-- it's just that I have never knitted a seamless garment before.

I hope when this book is revised, that the author takes more time with her explanatory language-- and gives these patterns to other knitters besides the local knitshop denizens to peruse. The simplistic learners are out there-- and we appreciate clear, concise language. Yes.. we have to read "next, you do this-- and it will look like this; and then next, you do this..." so on and so forth. That's an easy pattern.

But.. I've just ordered this authors children's sweater book.. So.. there is a light at the end of the tunnel. :-) I eventually figured it out. And.. I do like this book. I realize that it really is the most simple of seamless patterns-- compared to the others I've seen.

Patricia Dumas NJ

Great patterns and lovely designs make this book a must-have for knitters who want to do something more intricate than basic, fast knit sweaters. Ms. Goodwin's down-to-earth, don't be afraid attitude is refreshing but I feel you must read and understand her notes before you start knitting. She talks in a knitter to knitter style and I believe she expects her readers to know the basics. The patterns aren't terribly difficult but do require patience and a personality that enjoys a challenge. You WILL be rewarded.

Beautiful photographs laid out well with a good mix of celebrity/socialite/political women who effect our lives. Very good value for money

Here is an AWESOME ROCKSTAR who knows how to express his sensitive side through his impressive work of fine arts. He was able to capture the essence and inner beauty of a woman through his black and white photography. His images present simplicity at the same time timeless.

American Women is an impressive collection of fabulous women photographed by an equally FABULOUS ROCKSTAR. That alone is worth adding to your collection. It will be the one of "THE BEST BOOK OF YOUR LIFE!" Cold Eyes

I love the book. Tina Turner is in it and I love Tina. I would suggest this book to anyone that is looking for a photography book.

Bryan Adams (Summer of 69, Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman) lost someone close to him to breast cancer and decided to become a force in raising money to combat the disease. Having already published two books on women in the UK and Canada, Adams turns his attention to the U.S and dedicates the profits of "American Women" to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. That effort alone earns it all the stars in the sky. This is a very talented artist who is more famous for his music than photography. You won't find any award winning photography between these pages but that wasn't the point. I believe the point was to focus on women, their strength, beauty and their value. Bryan Adams has accomplished that with a touch of class. "American Women" is worth every penny, especially if "You Ever Really Loved a Woman."

This concise book is superior to Malcolm Gladwell's best-seller, The Tipping Point. Gladwell's popular book was based on an appealingly superficial premise: that a trend spreads like a disease, multiplying geometrically until it reaches a population "tipping point," whereafter it increases to epidemic proportions. While that handy metaphor describes how a trend spreads, it doesn't really explain why, nor does it explain why one phenomenon becomes an enduring trend while another becomes just a mere short-lived fad. Unlike Gladwell, who is a journalist, Vejlgaard is a trained social scientist. Like an epidemiologist, he examines modern trends under a microscope, discovering the source of their unique power. He detects, moreover, a traceable and predictable pattern that all true trends tend to follow. An especially valuable book for professionals in advertising, marketing, and product development, and for all the rest of us who want to better understand the material forces that shape our lives.
Stephen Bertman, author, Hyperculture: The Human Cost of Speed

I was always frustrated with Malcolm Gladwell's book about tipping points because it does not really explain how a tipping point takes place. I find Henrik Vejlgaard's book much more credible, and there are lots of insight that marketing professionals can use. It quite simply delivers the story of the REAL tipping point. It may also be the first book that offers a method that can be used to predict future needs. Good job!

This book is not only important for anyone interested in trends it is also a good mix of entertaining anecdotes and analysis. I can recommend it to all who want to know more about trends and trendsetters.

This book is an eye opener. It explains what a trend is and how it evolves and how it affects us all. The best part is about the trendsetters and where to find them. For years I have been looking for a book that explains what a trend is and now that I found it I feel that all my questions have been answered. I can recommend the book to all with an interest in trends and trendspotting.

I'm new to the practice and philosophy of Feng Shui, and was intrigued by the subject matter, since I'm a Certified Image Consultant.

I wanted to be able to add the Feng Shui principles to my work with clients as well as explore the possibilities for myself. After reading through this gem of a book, I feel much more comfortable with expressing my innate 'Fire' qualities. I like the recommendations for clothing, and the multiple ways of expressing other Feng Shui qualities while honoring my dominant 'Fire' was terrific! I highly recommend getting a copy of "Formulas for Dressing the Whole Person" as a companion to this book. The two of them together give you a step-by-step way to determine which of the Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and / or Metal qualities fit you best, and then how to combine them for maximum benefit.

Louise's writing style is friendly and easily understood, making this book an easy and enjoyable read.

As a Certified Color & Image Consultant and a Feng Shui practitioner, this book validates for me how important it is to express your personal energies in your dress and colors. You can attract what's missing in your life by the art of your expression. Try it...it works!!! Louise Elerding is a Master at this!

Now I have a new shopping tool that works. Reading this booklet makes so much sense about why I have been attracted to a certain look, and what I need to add, or avoid, with my future purchases. I am "WATER" and love the choices."

"This booklet makes the idea of creating a wardrobe according to my personality much easier. It's very well organized and simple to follow. I am already having shopping success. I am so glad I have this information to refer to."

I have the edition of this book which came out in the mid'80s and which was embraced by all of us doing wearable art as the ultimate art we are all aspiring to achieve. The author then had the most famous wearable art gallery too in New York City. The pictures are out-of-this world in the earlier edition and I can't believe they'd be anything but splendid in this later edition. I can't even count how many hours I've spent going over the pictures again and again in the book. I can't understand why Amazon doesn't have a front cover to show you on this book though. Mine has a knock-you-out front cover with an absolutely gorgeous cover model in wearable art. If you've always wanted to understand what wearable art is, this book answered all the questions I had about the movement and the pioneers who started it. I spent (more money) on my book back then so this one is a real deal if you get the same number of pictures.

Julie captures the essence of the beautifully photographed Art to Wear pieces; here the pieces are photographed clearly so you can see in the art pieces the materials and designs. Captured is the feeling looking at the model what it is like to wear the cloak, mask, sweater, and many more kinds of Art to Wear pieces. The text by each artist accompanying their work is very inspiring expressing their growth and creativity. Not a How to Book; this book shows how it has been done and is a celebration of creativity.

This book is very inspirational. For anyone who really appreciates innovative crochet techniques this book's definately a keeper. First of all it's huge with tons of high glossy photos. I loved seeing all of the different clothes. I've always thought of myself as an innovative crocheter but the artists in the book really let their imaginations go.

There is not only crochet clothing but woven, leather and found objects. If you hunger for abstract designs and techniques this book will satisfy.

I am so impressed with this book, that I would reccomend it to anyone who has ever had any interest in "art to wear" Truly remarkable and one of a kind.

To all who are interested in Ayurvedic medicine and who want to find out where true beauty comes from....read this book. It contains very important information as far as health and how it relates to beauty. A masterpiece!!!!

JFE

An amazing, wonderful book, one of the most informative I have ever read on beauty care or ayurveda, it's packed full of information from cover to cover. Very extensive, talks about all the different aspects of health and beauty care. Lots and lots of recipes to make at home and which do work. Never again will I need to throw away good money on useless, expensive face creams that don't do the job and put me at risk for cancer. Only drawback, perhaps, is that some of the recipes have too many ingredients for modest pocketbooks. Otherwise a great buy and a great book, if you don't like creepy, strange-sounding unreliable chemicals in the products you put on your skin or in your hair, this is the book for you. It's better than just a simple make-your-own-cosmetics type of book because the recipes are tailored precisely to YOUR particular skin type.

As an Ayurvedic esthetician, not only was this the perfect text book, but as a wonderful reference book, too. It is well written, easy to read, informative and the cover is especially telling. The woman balancing the three doshas is the perfect picture of what we try to do with our lives. Sandra

I'm new to Ayurveda and ordered this book. It has a lot of good info in it. I didn't try any of the techniques though... as I realized Ayurveda is not really my style. But some good information here.

This is the most complete button reference book I have ever seen. It is well worth the money. Beautiful pictures and informative price guides.

Button Collectors.....YES! This is the button bible! Yes, this is the best book to have! Great for the button pro or the button beginner! For years now, button collectors all over the world have been trying to get their hands on this book: THE BIG BOOK OF BUTTONS. Many have spent hundreds of their hard earned money on it through online auctions. Many have written to the publishers several times asking them to please re-release this out-of-print book. The publishers declared that "no, it is too expensive to re-print", or "no, we are absolutely not printing this book again". Guess what? Save your pennies! THE BIG BOOK OF BUTTONS: 3RD EDITION IS BEING RELEASED SUMMER OF 2006! Information is accurate, as some retailers are already taking pre-orders an entire year ahead of time. I would recomend getting it at Amazon where you are guaranteed. 3rd edition is expected to sell between 225.00 & 275.00. Book will now have all new updates, including some plastic buttons. If money is no object to you, go ahead, spend hundreds on the first two editions. Or wait to pre-order it at Amazon next year for less! --review written Febuary of 2005.

This is "THE BIBLE" of button collectors. It is a huge volume loaded with color plates and detailed descriptions of thousands of buttons. The most informative button collecting book available.

Just about the best all around guide for the serious button collector.

THIS BOOK, "BLUEPRINTS OF FASHION -- HOME SEWING PATTERNS OF THE 1950s", by WADE LABOISSONNIERE is truly a treasure-trove for those who remember, fondly, the sewing patterns of this era. In a book of 175 numbered pages -- most of them filled to the brim with beautiful full-colour pictures of dress-pattern envelopes, designs from store counter pattern catalogues, and advertisements of the era -- one cannot, of course, expect to find every dress pattern created during this era. But the author certainly gives as wide a sampling as possible! The paper is wonderfully "slick"...like that found in Vogue and other magazines, only, (wonderfully!) just a bit thicker! The author obviously feels deeply about the delights of his subject matter -- it shows, and comes theough with every page!

The very beginnings of the pattern industry are shown, beginning with a dress pattern of 1856 -- published in a magazine, with pattern pieces given! Patterns from companies now, sadly, no longer in business, (or so I believe -- please correctr me if I am wrong!) -- "Hollywood", "Advance", "Spadea", and "DuBarry" are also featured. The history of dress patterns of the 1950s, of course, dominates this book...but it's very nice to have background of the years before, (and after...1960s and '70s patterns also appear, on fewer pages of course), as well!

Pages devoted to the merchandising of printed dress patterns, and their manufacture, are also included, (with fascinating photos of same!) And printed patterns for MEN are not neglected -- though I wish more were shown.

Whether the author is aware of this or not, he seems to have captured a genuine rarity in fashion-pattern envelopes. Most of the drawn models on fashion-pattern envelopes either seem to be sayinng, "Look at me -- I'm SO glad to be wearing this!" or "Look at me -- I'm so fashionable and 'smart' to be wearing this!" But on page 121, in a large illustration of the envelope for Simplicity Pattern 1889, are three views of a cloak, (cloak, cape and cape-jacket)-- and the "models" on this package envelope look so decidedly UNHAPPY! Still pretty, but very unhappy! One wonders what went on in the world, (or in the artist's life), to make these achingly sad expressions on these still very pretty faces....)

Information in the back of the book includes how to store collections of dress patterns and dress pattern catalogues, an index of dating patterns, (for instance, McCall's patterns in the year 1949 ran from Number 7565 to 7867. A "Price Guidelines" guide follows, with pattern prices expected, at the publication date, (1999), for General Patterns, Specialty Patterns, Patterns of selected pattern makers, Sewing Books, Advertising Posters, Counter Books, Sewing Books, and even Vogue woven labels and Singer Molded-Tou Dress Forms, ($35-$85 -- I had never heard of them either, till I read this book!) A full page of "Notes" follows, and after this is a complete bibliography.

This IS a wonderful book -- for all the reasons stated above. So -- why do I give it only 4 stars? The reason is because MOST of the beautiful, full-colour pattern illustrationsa are squeezed in, six to a page! This makes most of the illustrations only 2 1/2 x 3 3/8 inches in size! Some of the 6-per-page illustrations are a bit bigger, (2 1/2 x 4 inches)....bur this is still pretty small! NOT all of the illustrations are so small, however -- some even, (wonderfully!) take up a whole page! Layouts of pattern designs differ from page to page, to make the book all the more interesting to read -- but the majority of the pattern pictures are still far too tiny for my taste. (and, sadly, my eyes as well.) Pages 129 and 132, even try to put SEVEN illustrations on one page! True, each and every illustration has a welcome line or two of caption, with addtional important information. But, please -- less "white space" and bigger pictures!

I know that "slick" paper produces the best reproductions -- and I am glad to see it used here. Still, if economically producing a book with
slick paper entails micro-miniaturizing of a great majority of the pattern illustrations, I feel something should be done to remedy this error. My suggestion: If feasible, use not slick paper, but the highest-quality, non-acidic 20 or more pound typewriting paper. Then, I would keep the same size page, but put the binding on the short side of the page, instead of the longer side of the page. I would then have the majority of pages to have 3, same-sized illustrations per page as the usual format -- with 1 illustration-, 2 illustration-, and 4 illustration-per-page format given, to some fewer pages as well, to make the books format more "interesting". Maybe even, the present 6-illustrations-per-page format as well...but for one or two pages only...please!!!!

P.S. A PERSONAL VIEW:.....Aside from too many tiny illustrations, this is one fabulous book! In this age where torn jeans and overalls masquerade as "fashion", (they could never be called "style", in my opinion), and too-revealing, too-sex-oriented clothing abounds, (why?), this book, and those like it, are oases in the clothing "desert" which now seems to engulf the world. Wake up, people -- torn jeans and overalls are a pre-packaged poverty look! How I wish more people honoured their ancestors, as I do -- ancestors who worked SO hard, though poor, to at least look presentable, and wear clothing that made them at least look up-and-coming, on the occasions that demanded it. One need not put on full Islamic "purdah", or a monk's habit, (unless one wishes to), to look neat, modest, and fashionable! The gorgeous fashions in this book -- dress patterns for formal and casual wear, for men, women and children -- can certainly be adapted for today's world! Either find similar clothing patterns, look for similar clothing in stores, (there still is some!), or demand that your favourite manufactures make STYLISH clothing...like that within this book...so that people may feel they are on the way up in the world, and not on the way down!

This is a *wonderful* reference for anyone interested in vintage fashion or vintage patterns. Wade Laboissonniere tells the history with page upon page of breathtaking photographs of patterns from the past. Each page truly is more delightful than the last. I will be ordering Blueprints of Fashion: Home Sewing Patterns of the 1940s immediately and can only hope that Mr. Laboissonniere is working on the 1960s and 1970s.

This book begins with an interesting overview of the beginnings of the home-sewing pattern industry, and has many interesting tidbits on that alone. But the real treat is page upon page of reproductions of the fronts of pattern envelopes from the fifties, most in color, and all beautiful. Hundreds of ideas for clothing for today.

What a magic book! From the history of commercial patterns to the fantastic quality of the colour photography, the original pattern envelopes just came alive.The wonderful glossy paper quality of the book just enhanced it all.