Fashion Books

With so many beauty products in the market today, selecting beauty products that work for you can be a challenge. Even choosing a basic item, such as shampoo, moisturizer or makeup, can take so much time. Can you believe everything that beauty companies say about their products?

The Beauty Brains book can rescue any consumer from buying into the advertising hype of corporations. This book is written by cosmetic scientists who know the ingredients and chemicals that go into the beauty products you use everyday. Known as Left Brain, Right Brain and Sarah Bellum, among other lobes in the brain, these scientists present in clear, humorous language the science and beauty of cosmetics today.

The book has several chapters on various beauty issues. The articles usually begin with questions from readers of The Beauty Brains blog. Then, the scientists answer these questions along with clear explanations and relevant examples. Ingredients lists and product comparisons are used to illustrate the difference between beauty products.

Topics that The Beauty Brains cover include hair and skin care, makeup, fragrance and cosmetic surgery. There are 11 chapters and more than 200 pages in this book.

Like many reviewers here, I stumbled onto the Beauty Brains blog awhile ago and immediately went back and read the entire archives (took me weeks). To have their best information at your fingertips in this book is invaluable. Its less important that the Brains will save you money in the long term that their advice will empower you in the marketplace. You may not change your buying habits, but you'll know exactly why. And chances are your shelves won't fill up with a dozen bottles used only once or twice (or am I the only one?). And you will become the person friends and family come to for advice on everything from hand cream to conditioners.

I must put in a word for the format: it's very easy to follow. You can read all about the various chemical components of some product or you can cut to the chase, where the Brains give you a no-nonsense summation of the pros and cons on a product, beauty technique, or common "myth" about cosmetic or hair care.

I do not buy books on beauty, but this is something else: a consumer guide with style and wit. They cover all the bases, but I found the advice on hair care (a specialty of one of the Brains) to be especially valuable.

This book is simply amazing. It has changed the way I think about beauty. It is no-nonsense advice from insiders, which is hard to find in today's world of "spin doctoring". I hope they come out with more books soon! In the meantime I'll be reading their blog, thebeautybrains.

The Beauty Brains book is perfect for anyone who has found themselves scanning the shelves at their local Target, wondering which shampoo to get and why and does it even matter. Even those who claim to be seasoned beauty veterans (including stylists) can get tons of useful info from this book. We don't hear a lot about the science of beauty, just the results. Obviously the authors know what they are talking about and write it in a way that is easy-to-read, fun, and funny. Bust beauty myths and learn a lot...and how to better spend your hard-earned dollar on your beauty products!

This book is a must read for those who are interested in beauty products/treatments from a scientific point of view. A group of cosmetic scientists have started an informative and fun blog (http://thebeautybrains.com). I have been reading their blog for almost two years now (conveniently emailed to me) and I am so glad that the basics have been compiled in one book. The book is written in a question and answer form, similar to the blog. All types of beauty questions are asked and the author does a great job in providing educated answers with a witty flair. All the basics are covered-hair, skin, makeup, nails, fragrance, the beauty industry, cosmetic surgery and useful resources. Do yourself a favor, buy the book and subscribe to the blog. The Beauty Brains will not disappoint.

Purusing these two books is a delightful experience. Anyone with an appreciation for fashion and clothing created in the 17th - 20th centuries will be amazed at the care and keeping the pieces in the Kyoto Museum's collection have received. The close-up photography reveals the marvel of the handwork and creation of each design, and each piece is a wonderful representation of its era. And the price of the set was unbelievable!! All around, a wonderful find and a keeper.

I own the one volume book in paperback.
In comparing the two books side by side they are nearly identical!
But the two volume set is missing 14 pages that appear in the copy that I own! Most of the images are just close-ups of the garments, one set is a period illustration from Diderot, but some are garments completely omitted. The 20th century fashion is all complete though.
So you have a toss up choice, larger photos or more photos. otherwise they are identical!

4 out of 5 stars because of those missing pictures.

This set of books is absolutely stunning. I paid NZ$150 (around US$90)at a bookstore here in New Zealand and volume 1 alone is worth every penny of the sale price.
If you're interested in historical costume, you won't regret this purchase.

Due to the publisher not anticipating the demand for this set of books it took me just over a year to acquire my copy. It was more than worth the wait. The photography is stunning. If you have an interest in costuming
add this book to your collection without delay.

Your mailman will probably hate you for buying this but this is really one of the best resources to have and it's very inspirational! You get 2 hardcover volumes with great large photos for a really bargain price, I love it!

The book arrived very quickly and in excellent condition. I am very pleased with the service. Thank you

The instructions in this book are very good. I was able make two bowls in just a short time.

This book shows one how to make baskets, purses, bowls and other items from wrapping or sewing cloth in spirals. It has a wide variety of techniques. It's not over the head of a beginner, yet it's varied enough that even an experienced crafter/sewer would find it enlightening. I highly recommend this book!

I bought this book after seeing a demo in a craft group. I am totally in love with the projects in this book. It is a very simple technique with awesome results. If you can put a machine on zigzag stitch then you can make these. Cord, wrap with cloth strips, sew. That easy. A little bit of shaping and holding at an angle can change a flat piece quickly into a bowl or bag. So fun.Takes no time at all to make small projects like coasters to small candy dishes on up to baskets and bags. Great way to use up scraps of fabric too.

In the 1.3 years that I've had this book, and worked on this craft, I've gotten enormous pleasure combining fabrics and colors and shaping bowls, hot pads, totes, hats and more, most of which I've given to very appreciative friends and relatives.

Susan Breier makes the process easy to undertand and follow, and the bright color photos offer many jumping-off points for individual creativity! My only caveat is that it is imperative to have a heavy-duty sewing machine and thick, sharp needles to get through the layers of fabric and clothesline smoothly. I pretty much destroyed an old Singer Futura I used at the beginning - but liked the craft so much that I bought a refurbished Bernina with a stronger motor and more durable parts, and it handles these projects, over and over, like sewing through butter.

I enjoy that the craft isn't very exacting, like quilting, since I'm not fond of meticulous cutting and sewing tasks. I get loads of compliments on my own pocketbooks and totes that I've created, and it's fun to explain to folks how they're made.

This book is pure enjoyment. It doesn't matter if you are new to cowboy boots or have worn them forever, the images and the thoughts this book provokes will delight you. Cowboy Boots: The Art & Sole will captivate your attention. It made me remember wearing cowboy boots and playing in the neighborhood with my friends during a time that our parents weren't so concerned for our safety and well-being. We had play gun fights and used our bikes as horses. We were the modern day cowboys in our little town in Indiana. Cowboy boots are a part of the American culture and one of the many things that makes us unique in today's small world. Ms. June's book will take you back to those memories that you forgot but are warm and pleasant to recall...especially with all that is going on in our lives today. You will also be awed by the craftsmanship in boot-makers. Many people may not realize there are men and women that hold to the traditional ways of making a boot by hand. After reading this book, you will never forget a new artist is out there and their canvas is on someone's feet.

I like it because it's the first time a picture of a pair of my boots has been published. This is a beautifully researched account of a great genre in American culture.

I just finished reading this book and Jennifer June educates as well as entertains. Being new to the boot phenomena I am grateful for her ability to open my eyes to the art that is boot making; it's astounding what these artisans can do with leather. The photography is breathtaking as it captures the colors, stitching and tooling that goes into a pair of boots. I guess you can tell by now that I highly recommend this boot - allow your senses to open up to the art of boot making!

What struck me most about this book was the author's enthusiasm for her subject. It is hard not to get caught up in cowboy boot lore when Jennifer June so clearly loves what she is writing about. The liveliness of her text is a tribute to the original cowboys.

I really appreciated the small, quirky details, such as the origin of different western icons.This book is great way for a novice to learn all about cowboy boots, as well as for boot lovers, who want some new ideas for designing their next pair of custom boots.The pictures are stellar as well, with lots of great close-ups

Though they may have had a utilitarian start, cowboy boots have almost always been a canvas on which to display the skill of the bootmaker and the personality of the owner. "Cowboy Boots: The Art & Sole" by Jennifer June captures this spirit wonderfully, with rich photos and knowledgeable writing. Like many of the bootmakers and boot-wearers quoted in her text, June is a devotee of the boot and her passion for her subject comes through in these pages.

As diverse as the people who wear them, the boots featured here are not easily classified. Some are classic designs while others are quite modern. Some are understated designs of exceptional craftsmanship, while others are over-the-top in colors and stitching ... but equally fine handiwork. Many of these boots (again, like the people who wear them?) have never been near ranch or range in their lives, but actual workin' cowboy boots worn by actual workin' cowboys show up as well. In all, it makes for entertaining browsing as well as informative reading.

Perhaps best of all, though, June includes a section of "Resources" that allow the reader to investigate owning some quality boots of her own. Maybe we can't all afford the exotic leathers or extremes of design, but a solidly-constructed boot from a good designer is still within reach. I can attest to the satisfaction that comes from owning a good pair of cowboy boots, and it was a joy to discover many other people who share that feeling, and the artists who make it possible, in this spirited and entertaining book.

Jarret writes about contemporary pop culture in the tradition of Field, Duhamel, Seibles, and Wojahn. That is, he uplifts the mundane to a higher level, through form, piercing satire, and the riveting raw emotion, this book shows a Gen X poet making aesthetic headway for the future.

Buy this book, and give it to your brother who likes comic books for his birthday, but read it first. Jarret promises to deliver the goods to all audiences.

Keene's writing topics are so diverse in this collection. From ex-ray glasses to cancer victims, he has a distinct opinion on just about everything and isn't afraid to express it. His poetic style is very straight forward. It is both easy to read and easy to understand.

Keene's creativity is what impresses me the most though. His ideas for his poems are so so unique. Where does he come up with all of this stuff?? It is incredible! One of my favorites is a poem called "Ventriloquism Made Easy." In this poem, Keene writes from the perspective of the dummy.

I know I said this already, but the diversity and creativity throughout this whole collection are amazing.

I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this book immediately jumped out to me. It was one of the brightest and most colorful books i have ever seen. I had to open it right away, and the cover was just a warmup for what's inside. I liked Jarret Keene's collection of poems because it isn't a sad i'm so depressed i want to kill myself kind of poems, i'm so used to reading. It was real. It spoke to me and my generation. It also was really funny and a quick and easy read. One of my favorite things is how ironic he is with every day life things. Reading up on him i found out his father was a tampa firefighter, and i happen to be from tampa and miss it deeply so it made me think of home. The poems he has in there also reminded me of home when i was in high school and all you did was get drunk a go nuts. I guarantee if you are young or young at heart then you will love this book, but don't listen to me read it for yourself.

Jarret Keene's debut book of poems, "Monster Fashion," is a book that adds a sense of freshness and excitement in a genre that is often riddled with staunchy, boring and dry verse from the world of academia. All I have to say is..."Thank Goddess for Monster Fashion!" Keene's book is filled with comedic, familial and pop culture verse that most books lack. I like the fact that Keene has the ability to laugh at himself and not take himself so seriously in his work. We need more poets like this poetic holy ghost.

Among one of my favorites is "Scoped" where the character takes a dreadful visit to the doctor to find out why he's been 'passing blood'.

"He tells me to turn over
on my side and pull my knees
against my chest.
The glove snaps. And
sure enough, he's got his finger
inside of me, poking around."

Because of the immediate and sensitive description
in this poem, Keene does a superb job of making you feel
that you're there. From the "so-clean-it-smells examination
room," to the terrifying snapping of those smelly latex gloves.

This is the only poem that makes me cross my legs
with phantom pains.

"Monster Fashion" is not a book of poetry with just words sprawled out on the page without a sense of order. Keene proves that he is well-seasoned with some poems written beatifully in couplets and quatrains, which is one of my personal favorite forms.

Other poems such as "Heart, You're a Hospital Now" and "Ventriloquism Made Easy," are two more of my favorites where Keene practically yanks you by the arm and pulls you into his cut-throat psyche.

I love the smidgen of ryhme and alliteration in the beginnings of "Heart, You're a Hospital Now."

"Nothing is worse than a dying patient,
Except the surgeon, who gives your life lease,
Cuts you open, removes a sick piece,
stitches you up and grows impatient
of your bloated face."

Oh, I love the way the second and third line

ends with such emergence.

'gives your life lease,'
'removes a sick piece.'

The way the lines and words carefully entwine
and dance so immediately.

'removes a sick piece.'

Who doesn't want to steal that line and run for the hills?

This poem is crammed delightfuly with similiar, arresting lines
all the way to the end, which hurls the reader back
into reality.

Keene's verse in this book are exciting, entertaining, funny and beautiful. From epic poems such as "Ava Gardner, Queen of Earthquakes," to the short and brutal "Black Revolver," Monster Fashion offers something for the most rabid lover of the poetic word.

Jarret Keene has mined the underworld of Hollywood scholck to bring us these darkly comic poems, and he's come away with more than you might expect. Here you'll find all manner of monsters and lovelies, of course-Frankenstein and the Wolfman, Janet Leigh and Ava Gardner. You'll find zombies and earthquakes and a lot of prose that's taut and "dark as a blood clot." There's even " The Lovesong on Alfred E. Nueman" (after Elliot, of course) and "The Conversion of Aubrey Beardsley." But what makes these poems rich and worth reading, I think, is Keene's sharp take on the actual world-the way he gets, for example (in the book's opening poem) that only the young can be in love with death. For me, the book's most frightening moments-and its most rewarding-come when the author takes off the mask for a moment and explores the horror of the world we all know too well, when the funhouse comes to resemble the house we live in ("Inside Mystery Funhouse"), or when real friends are lost ("Gifted Students") and we're confronted with the ghosts of their fathers, who come back-with surprising emotional impact-to make us sandwiches. This is a sharp and funny collection. I recommend it even to those with a fear of poetry, though not to those who are afraid of the dark.

Violet on the Runway is the story of Violet Greenfield. She's very very tall and very thin and because of this insecure. One day while working at her local movie theatre (I would love that job!) Violet is discovered by Angela Blythe of Tryst Models. This begins her whirlwind journey into modeling in New York City.

I really enjoyed this book. You get to put yourself in the shoes of someone realizing every girl's fantasy. What would it be like to become a model in New York City? I really looked forward to enjoying the luxurious life with Violet, being pampered and fussed over and going out on the town. I also liked the pop culture references. I just started reading the next book in the series, Violet By Design. Violet reveals that her "public" favorite movie is The Royal Tenenbaums! That is my favorite movie!

I did miss Violet's friends Julie and Roger (I think I have a crush on him!) while she was away in New York and lost touch with them. Eventually they find each other again and for that I was very glad. I wanted to pinch Violet but nobody is perfect and she soon realizes her mistake.

I really liked watching Violet grown into a young adult. She learns a lot through her experiences. Not everything she encounters in the modeling world is a dream come true. But Violet handles it and becomes a better person for it. She also becomes a more confident person that can stand up for herself.

When Violet is spotted by a bigshot modeling agent, her life will never be the same again. In a search for excitement and a place to fit in, she's sucked into the modeling world faster than you can say Jimmy Choo. Not too long after she starts, she moves to New York to live in a house with other models, including Veronica Trask, a witch with a capital b, and her companion Sam. She gets a boyfriend and things are going great, because she finally feels like she can fit in. Even though she left her two best friends behind when she left North Carolina.

This novel was intriguing from the very beginning, because I've never really read any books about modeling before. The idea was fresh and interesting, and it was kind of like an insiders look at the world of modeling. I loved how, while it didn't make modeling seem perfect, the book didn't make fun of models... it just focused on how modeling wasn't exactly perfect for Violet. And the mix of fun and seriousness was perfect for the mood of the book, and so it's a perfect book to read on a rainy day.

VIOLET ON THE RUNWAY
MELISSA WALKER
Rating: 5 Enchantments

After being discovered by a high profile modeling agent at her after-school job at her local movie theatre, Violet Greenfield finds herself thrust into the New York modeling scene as the next hot `it' girl.

Violet's new model status elevates her popularity--especially at school where her height had earned her the nickname `green giant'--and the girls she always wanted to hang out with suddenly think she's cool. So who can blame her for testing out everything her new life has to offer? Its not like she's planning on ignoring her two lifelong best friends forever...she just wants to test the new waters she's suddenly found admission into.

Violet finds herself immersed in an entirely new world in NYC where her life in North Carolina seems so far away, especially her two best friends, Julie and Roger. When a new Violet starts to emerge, one who's confidant and more popular than she could have ever imagined, can Violet resist the temptation to let go of the `old' Violet?

Violet is a vibrant character who comes to life on the pages. I loved the scenes where Violet has her first go-sees and her newfound agent Angela tags along with her to one, and then basically throws her to wolves to fend for herself for the rest of the day.

VIOLET ON THE RUNWAY is an addicting debut novel by Ms. Walker. I was hooked from page one and look forward to reading more about Violet.

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
March 2008

I loved this book. I think almost every girl dreams of becoming famous or getting noticed. This book allows you to do just that. You feel yourself becoming Violet and you get to "become" her. Violet is someone you can relate to. You find yourself cheering her on and liking her. Her character felt real.You find yourself caring about what's going to happen next.The plot was great and the book was very well-written. I can't wait to read the sequel Violet by Design.
-Carol
______________________________________
[...]

Meet Violet, a tall, awkward girl who teeters in uncomfortable shoes on the road to stardom. While working at the local movie theatre - complete with horrible uniform - Violet is discovered by a model scout. Suddenly, her life goes from predictable and average to unpredictable and hectic, and she becomes famous and fashionable - but still feels uncomfortable.

Melissa Walker's first novel lets readers escape into the world of fashion and see both the highs and the lows of the industry. The sudden rise to fame is shocking enough for small-town Violet, and the separation from her family is hard to boot. Violet tries to keep her head on straight as she transitions from being a high school student in Chapel Hill to an international supermodel, but old friends, new friends, and the expectations of others often leave her confused. Rather than making her career a cakewalk, Walker allows her to slip up, both on and off of the runway.

Violet on the Runway is the first in a series. Read them in order - Violet on the Runway, Violet by Design, and Violet in Private - to watch Violet grow up, dress up, and 'fess up.

I really enjoyed learning about Diana and how her taste in clothes evolved and improved. I was pleasantly surprised to find out how she had clothes re-worked and how many times she wore the same outfit - or an outfit without a portion of the outfit (i.e. the Elvis dress - without the jacket), and dresses, etc. reworked to update or change the look of it - making it new again. The impression I believe the public was left with was that she never wore anything more than once which was not true. She learned well and knew what she needed to fulfill what task she would wear the outfit to. She was adept at working her wardrobe around where she would be traveling to..... no one missed the attention she made to detail and loved her for it..... she will always be well remembered by the publich who loved and still love her.

I LOVED this book for it's beautiful color fashion photos of the Princess Diana. In particular, I really enjoyed that there were many head to toe photos of many of her most famous outfits. There was also was a nice section on her hat makers as well as Jimmy Choo and some of the shoes he made for her. This book has many photos showing her shoes which is something I really enjoy seeing as part of her outfit. She was very coordinated with her shoes and her hats which was pointed out in this book. It also had many nice close-ups of the materials used in her outfits, which brought out details that I had never seen before, in some smaller pictures in other books. Overall, if you enjoyed the fashions of Princess Diana, I think that you are going to LOVE this book. To me it is a "must have".

this is the best pictur biography the princess could have asked for

I have a vast collection of Princess Diana memorabilia. My collection of Diana books is quite enormous, and sometimes I lose track of the books I own, but this book is one in my collection that ALWAYS comes to mind first! It is one of the most well done books I have seen. The photos are fabulous, and the design of the book is very cleverly done. It shows Diana in her most famous outfits categorized on each page by colour.(Her red gowns, her blue gowns etc.). If your a Di collector, this book is a must for your coffee table.

This book will attract two kinds of individual: those who loved Diana and those who love fashion. Everyone would agree that Diana was one of the most stylish women of our day, and this photographic visit to her clothes closet is a wonderful opportunity to browse and maybe dream a little.

This is a wonderfully visual book with page after page of inspirational photos of the artist/author's exotic quilts (and works by other talented textile artists) and her methods of creating the most amazing textures through her layered surface design techniques. It is easy to read with photos laid out very clearly alongside the appropriate directions and it includes ideas for using both traditional objects and not so traditional, all done with a particular artistic effect in mind.

This book is an excellent source of information on creating truly exciting textures with textiles as well as being just sheer pleasure to thumb through for inspiration with its brilliant use of colour.

Love this book and the abundance of techniques and project ideas. With the clear directions and numerous photographs of techniques, the hands-on rewards are immediate! The outcomes are stunning! This is a must have book for any fiber artist!

Here are some excerpts from my review of this book. You can see the complete review on the Quilter's Review website.

"Have you ever looked for fabric but couldn't find exactly what you wanted? Maybe you found a great print, but it was a little too bright. Or you found something close, but you really wished it had some gold sparkles in it....

"Bonnie Lyn McCaffery shows you how to create the fabric you want, and how to have fun doing it.

"Bonnie has worked out all the details of turning run-of-the-mill fabric into something not only personal, but spectacular. The only limit is your imagination. And if your imagination is limited, Bonnie will help you with that, too.

"Bonnie's technique begins with a base fabric. Cotton, the choice of most quilters, works well, but so do silks, satins, metallics, and many others. To the base fabric she applies a sheer fabric to add a shadow layer, or to create a slight color change. She explains the properties of the different base and top fabrics, and how they work together....

"I collected a printed invitation, small silk flowers, and a folding fan from a bat mitzvah, and have been trying to figure out how to incorporate them into something to commemorate the occasion. I'd thought my only choice was to make a shadow box or frame for these memories, even though I really want to make a quilt. But now, Bonnie's book has given me the ideas and know-how I needed to create a commemorative quilt.

"I can't remember when I've had so much fun playing with fabric. Thanks to Bonnie's book, I now have a whole new relationship with my stash."

You know all those beautiful floral applique quilts you have pictured in your mind? The ones you will stitch when you have time? Fantasy Floral Quilts by Bonnie Lyn McCaffery teaches a very clever method for creating floral quilts by capturing silk flowers under a layer of sheer fabric.

I found this book to be well-illustrated, packed with content, and offering an approachable can-do style. Very detailed quilt examples accompany every technique. Twisted Branches is one of Bonnie's clever techniques for creating a unique and realistic "branch" look and gave me a great idea for a Tree of Life quilt.

Bonnie teaches how to apply color schemes, color value, and flower positioning. One very creative suggestion was to view silk flowers as flowing blocks of color, adding dimension to landscape quilts. Embellishments of thread, beads, buttons, charms, and silk ribbons are an integral part of Fantasy Floral quilting. I really liked the french knots created from silk ribbons and used for flower centers.

Fantasy Floral Quilts by Bonnie Lyn McCaffery is a fun, creative book for all quilters and is a great second step for fans of her first book, Fantasy Fabrics: Techniques for Layered Surface Design.

I got this as a gift from someone who knows I quilt. I have mixed feelings, and most of it is because I quilt for utility and beauty, and this is a technique that seems more suited to beauty.

The instructions are clear, and give you lots of directions to go off on your own, as well as lots of useful pointers (if you're using glitter, remember that gravity will affect things). The results are gorgeous.

That said, I don't know that this book serves my needs for something that can be washed again and again, thrown on beds and floors and grass, and stand up to the rigors of quilt-like use as opposed to wallhanging art-piece news.

If you are looking for an interesting way to add depth and sparkle to your art pieces, this is the book for you. If you plan to wrap a scared dog in what you make, not so much.

This is a WONDERFUL Book!!!!
Thanks SO much!!
It arrived just in time!!

this is a great book! it has so many wonderful pictures. it's perfect for anyone studying fashion or costume related interests.

Many costume history books emphasize the historic aspects, or the costume aspects, of a collection's garments but "Fashion" presents the garments, as the title implies, as fashion. It is easy to envision these garments being worn by real people living real lives (the period accessories -shoes, hats, gloves, reticules, fans, stockings etc. - don't exactly hurt) and the presentation, right down to showing the garments on mannequins of the contemporary fashionable body shape help make the clothing `real'. The book definitely lets the garments speak for themselves; each century has a brief introduction, but besides those few pages, text is restricted to garment description and short `blurbs' here and there.

Costume historians tend to get really excited about books that bore other people to tears. This is not one of those books. Every one of my friends who has seen this tome has found in it something fascinating. The beautiful presentation of the garments, the large images and clear colors make this an ideal coffee-table book and an ideal gift for anyone interested in fashion, history, or the art of clothing. I saw the "Fashion in Colors" exhibit at the National Design Museum in New York (check out the book!) which featured many garments from the KCI, and I was happy to find they are as beautiful in the book as they are in person.

My main interests lie in pre-WWII clothing, but the arrangement of many of the collection's contemporary Haute pieces had my nose to the page. I reference this book constantly for inspiration (I'm a fashion major), for education, and simply for my entertainment. The KCI's publications can go out of print pretty quickly so beware! There is also a new book out "Fashion: A History from the 18th to the 20th Century, Volume 1", I've been having trouble getting it but it is supposed to be as beautiful and detailed as "Fashion".

This is an exquisite book filled with highly detailed images of beautiful garments. It is a refreshing look at western fashion through the ages since the clothing featured hasn't been photographed in every other book out there. Of particular interest to me were some 18th & 19th century paintings showing a garment paired with a photograph of the actual piece (or of a similar piece) now in the collection of the museum.

The span of time the book covers is from the 18th century to the 20th century. This not-too-tight focus enables the reader to see a good selection of garments from different time periods without running the risk of becoming boring. It also makes it easy to see the progress of fashion during those years.

As other reviewers have mentioned, this book is a great value. Nearly every page contains large, brilliant photos. A must-have for any fashion student or costumer.

I have owned this book for a while now and would like to highly recommend it as one of the best picture books on costume history. The photographs of extant period costumes are stylish and detailed, with a strict attention to accuracy and art. Because one cannot trust later renditions of costumes, having a contemporary resource is crucial, and with such lovely examples as these, this is a fantastic book to use.

It captures the essence of each period, shows off details, and does so with taste and care. Every page is in full color, covered with pictures of groups of mannequins, posed to look like portraits with abstractions of hair in the shape of the period. Anyone can read its gorgeous images and find inspiration in its pages.

This book is a great start for beginners who want to work in the fashion industry or for those who consider fashion designing a hobby and want to improve on their illustration skills, like myself. Burke starts with the basics, like learning how to draw the female figure in different poses and drawing some examples of clothes, but she also touches upon fabric rendering and ideas on how to make a presentation. There's even a section on designing for men, childeren, and costumes. Overall a very informative, clear and consise book to get started and to encourage and inspire amateurs to want to learn more.

I haven't really had a chance to play a lot with this book since I got it a month ago, but so far, I like it. There are very colorful designs, croquis', and many illustrations. It seems like it gives a lot of information in a short amount of time.

I'm wanting to become a fashion designer and i bought this book and i was amazed. it really teaches you how to draw fashion models (and people in general) in all different poses. it shows you so many different poses both with an actual person modeling the pose and then a block figure showing you how to draw it. after the structure is learned, it teaches you in a really easy way how to flesh it out, and then how to draw the clothes and how the clothes are supposed to look at folds and creases. if you like this book, i recommend Draw Fashion Models! by Lee Hammond, a great book that goes in depth into more poses and how you should draw the clothes and how they look when the arms are raised, when you're leaning on one hip, etc.

i really recommend buying this amazing book, it's straightforward and very helpful!

I wore holes in piles of paper trying to work up to the basic points so magnificently outlined in this book! It's like having an art teacher with you (without the snide remarks) to bring your abilities to the top.

If you are planning on studying fashion, or just doing it for fun, you need this book.

Highly recommended!

I bought this book for my 16 yr old daughter who is an aspiring fashion designer. To get into design school & possibly qualify for a scholarship, she must prepare a portfolio. She expressed concern that her sketching skills would look amateurish so she asked for a book to help her.

This book shows in picture and text detail the supplies needed to do a project & an easy format to follow. She loved it and was so excited to have a guide to help her. This book not only helps in this regard, but has several sections that gives pointers on design elements and much more pertinent information.

If you or someone you know is an aspiring fashion designer, do not hesitate to get this book. It will be a valuable tool that will be put t good use.