Fashion Books

For anyone that is looking to get into design (or even if you have just started your own line / business), this book is a *must have*. Ms. Gehlhar's breakdown (and overviews) of each category is spot on. I seriously and honestly believe that if this resource had been around when I started my own collection, I would have saved myself a lot of running around and $ in the process. I highly recommend this guide. Plus, it's simply a great read. The insight from other designers profiled is fantastic!

This book is by far the best book I've read. Really helpful step by step guide. I've learned so much from this book. The author also gives insight on the up's and down's of what it is like in the Industry. I highly recommend this book to Fashion Designers. A real, MUST HAVE!!!.

I've read a few books on how to start and run your own fashion design business, and this is one of the best ones I've read so far. Not only is it shorter then a lot of the huge books, but it's too the point and Mary writes in a style that is very easy to understand. She gives great advise and there are good examples and pictures in the book to help you further understand how to do things the best way. I have the first edition that she wrote and that one is great also but this one has new sections and it's a more complete form of the business process.

This is an ideal resource for building a business plan to secure funding for a fashion retail store. Step-by-step guidelines for writing the plan and operating the store. There is nothing else like this book on the market!

If you are entering the world of retail fashion or the fashion industry this book is an absolute necessity. Excellent detailed information taking the reader through the fashion retail process, e-commerce and writing a buisness plan. The CD rom that comes with the book is superior to other business plan software and makes writing a business plan easy.

This book is required reading for those interested in opening any form of fashion retail business. The text provides step-by-step guides and well thought-out examples for the reader to follow in preparing a business plan unique to this type of retailing.

I've loved this book ever since I found it via interlibrary loan some years ago, and I added it to my library the first chance I got. The book is mostly, as I stated, a pictorial archive, divided by particular items of fashion; as webmaster of For the Love of Opera Gloves, I particularly appreciated that Ms. Englemeier devoted a section to the gloves of the great glamour girls of cinema. :) But there's something here for everyone, and the quality of the photo reproduction is top-notch! If you're building a comprehensive library on film costuming - like I'm attempting to do - you HAVE to have this book.

This book is wonderful for people who want to get a feel for what dressing like a star meant in the Golden Age of Hollywood. A must-have in a fashionable collection. It is beautifully put together with a few recent fashions thrown in. It includes a list of the past Oscar winners for Best Costume Design.

Feast your eyes on an amazing array of black and white film photos from seven decades of fashion - simply gorgeous!

I recently received this book as a birthday present from a friend of mine. Both of us work extensively in the fashion industry. Without question, it is now one of my favorite coffee table books. The imagery is eye candy and the history throughout is compelling. An absolutely brilliant buy whether you're entrenched in the industry or simply love clothes!

This book is HUGE and full of wonderful pictures of the clothing collection at the Kyoyo Costume Institute. There are also intorductions to each time period written by the different curators and directors of the museum. I would highly recommend this to any one looking for beautiful examples of clothing.

the larger focuses in the book are 18th and 20th century dress.

I am thrilled with this book! It is mostly a photo survey of the superb collection of the Kyoto Institutes European and American clothing. The fashion spans 200 years of masterful works by both couture designers and unknown artisans. There is more focus on high fashion and women's wear. There are some 18th century pieces of men's wear. The photography is high quality and all full color. The dresses are displayed with full accessories on bisque white mannequins that are styled specifically to each time period. The mannequins also have wigs styled appropriately, also done in an unobtrusive white, altogether giving a well rounded representation of each periods unique composition. Not only are there full page photos of whole garments, but often they include different angles, close-ups, interiors, and some construction details. There is supporting written material at the beginning of the chapters. There is a particular focus on indicating how western fashion adopted designs, fabrics or styles indigent to Japan. It is a unique perspective to read commentary written by a different culture about my own culture. This book is a superb publication. I haven't even scratched the surface of what it includes. I should also note, that the fashions represented in the 1960's to the 1990's tend to be less relevant for actual wear, and more for art. For example, the paper "Campbell's Soup" dress inspired by Andy Warhol. But for the early 1960's and all the previous decades of fashion I don't think you will be disappointed. I also own "Fashion in Detail" by Avril Hart and Susan North, and I found the Kyoto book to be far superior.

This is a great book, but you should know that it is not a second edition of Fashions of the Gilded Age, Volume 1. It is the second volume of the anthology, and a different book with all different patterns. The title is actually Fashions of the Gilded Age, Volume 2: Evening, Bridal, Sports, Outerwear, Accessories, and Dressmaking 1877-1882. It's just as good as Volume 1, none of the information is the same except the intro on how to use the patterns, and the dressmaking manual is really unique.

I heard both volumes were published but it took me awhile to find the second one on Amazon because it was mislisted. So I thought I'd warn other people.

I just reviewed Volume 1, where I said the book contains a huge selection of patterns. Volume 2 focuses on patterns for evening dresses, bridal wear, sports wear, and outer wear. The chapters on accessories and trimmings contain some needlework patterns, embroidery and so on. I figure if I don't do the handwork I'll still have learned a lot about buying appropriate materials.

I bought both volumes, but they are organized so you can use them separately. Both contain the instructions for using the book and the special rulers that allow you to draft patterns to fit you. They also both have a big glossary, a bibliography, and two indexes.

Volume 2 has something really special though--a dressmaking manual. The book says it was rewritten from numerous rare original sources that are listed in the bibliography. But it's been rewritten so it doesn't read that way; you can't tell where any source begins or ends. That makes the manual a lot easier to use. And it's so long it could have been published as a book by itself. I'm glad to have it, because I've never been able to find a comprehensive sewing manual for this period. It even has corset-making instructions (the corset patterns are in Volume 1).

Both volumes are very well edited and produced. This is not a cheap printing job.

Anyone who does Old West reenactment or Victorian teas would love these books!

Frances Grimble shares her meticulous vision with us once again. A great two book series full of facinating information and patterns galore. I cannot wait to clothe many a pretty lady using them. Not for the faint of heart. The patterns are period correct and I would advise an advanced skill level, or a great deal of patience. Always do a mock up. Remember these are patterns of the age. So start at the skin and work your way out to a glorious new costume.
Enjoy.

The book tells the story about one of the greatest men on the fashion bussiness and how he built his brand diesel. He was a visionary and a dreamer also. The book is a lesson of life. If you like fashion and design and great biographys I'm sure you'll love the book.

The book is great! It's totally Diesel styled, and gives many great information about everything concerning Diesel from the very beginning of it's founder's life.
Dvd is good too, though I expected a bit more of it.
Package is A+!

In a sea of pop star denim brands, Diesel is the David Bowie of premium denim, sets while concurrently challenges the standard of the market, this anthology chronicles Diesel's history as well as owner, Renzo Rosso's colorful life. Inspiring and literally jaw dropping, this very 'Diesel' book needs to find a home in every denim head/advertiser/marketer/graphic designer's coffee table. An almost literal love letter with tributes from the Bono to the Dali Lama. Now if only 'Fifty' came with a pair of denim...

Not only is this book a great one - full of information, but the author was the "guest expert" on Montel Williams on November 17, 2000. She certainly practices what she preaches - first impressions are made within seven seconds, and hers was a great one.

Even though this book was written for women,I found it extremely helpful. No-nonsense, easy to read, great tips. I purchased another one for my daughter who is in college - she loved it. "Dad, I didn't know the answers to some questions I had about fashion, but I found it in this book. Thanks for sending it to me!" Thanks, Joni, for a great book!

This is a common sense book! Some of the tips were review, as I'd forgotten them, and some were brand new - "I didn't know that!" Easy to read, easy to find information. Everyone needs this book. Joni Craighead gives the information we all want to know about.

The FYI fashion guide is a unique and useful source for shopping in the big apple. If you find yourself in New York with only a limited time to shop, I suggest you pick up an FYI fashion guide. It not only allows you to be sympathetic to your wallet, but generous to your wardrobe. It's a must buy!

Well finally a resource that takes pity on the non-New Yorker. Tara Lowenberg and Christopher Zalla have organized an extraordinarily valuable guide for shopping in New York City, with decreased frustration, less wasted time, fewer unnecessary cab fares and diminished sore feet. The guide also provides hours of fantasy reading prior to shopping. All of us "Out of Towners" thank you.

As a life-long obsessive New York Shopper, I thought I knew it all until I found this book. Not only was the book loaded with great little boutiques and bargains I didn't know about, but its Label Locator Index allows you to find EVERY label in New York City and lists EVERY store that carries it. Bravo!

This book is an amazing addition to my collection of fotography books. Guy Bourdin is one of my favorite photographers of the last centry. From the layout to the impeccable print technique, I do enjoy the book!

Wooooooowwwwwwww !! Incredible printing, gorgeous images, a time to RE-discover this hudge artist .

This book (or books, since it is 2 volumes together) consists mainly of Bourdin's photos of Nicolle Meyer, taken between 1977 and 1980.

Volume I has 75 color photos, and each one has its own page. Each photo is only about half the size of the page, but having said that, none of them seem too small. They all seem about the right size and fit well with the feel of the book. Almost every photo contains Nicolle in one form or another, which is definitely not a bad thing, because she is a beautiful woman and a great subject.

Volume II has 133 pages. Most of them are photos, but some of them are text. The text tells about Bourdin, Nicolle Meyer, and the process that went into the photographs, among other things. The size of the photos varies more in Volume II than in Volume I. Some photos are the full size of the page, and sometimes there are multiple small images on one page. There aren't quite as many photos of Nicolle in this volume, but she is still the primary model.

I am not very familiar with Bourdin's other books, but in my opinion, this is a must-have for any fan of Bourdin. Both volumes are beautifully packaged and contain a box to keep them together. I can't say for sure, but I would assume that there are a lot of photographs in this album that are difficult to find anywhere else. One of my favorite photography books.

When you can't get out to the mall and actually SHOP for shoes, you can get that same shoe-shopping FIX from Jane Eldershaw's book. It's every bit as cute as those red, kitten-heel, t-straps that you've been dreaming about. (If you don't know what that means, this book is NOT for you!)

After returning from a recent trip to LA, my husband commented on women's obsession with style and I had just purchased a pair of shoes that made me look much taller and thinner. Shoes can make you lose weight, I love it.

Anyway, it was time to read this adorable book about shoes. I don't have as many shoes as I did in college although I tend to remember my life in some autobiographical way through the shoes I was wearing at the time. I remember the boots I wore in Paris and the sexy shoes with sparkly diamonds I wore for a special occasion.

Jane Eldershaw seems to see life in a similar fashion. Heart and Sole is a lighthearted memoir that explores Jane's life through her shoe selections. She gives tips on how to judge a man by his choice of shoes and why there are only two types of women in the world.

Jane Eldershaw is a writer and magazine illustrator who was born in Australia. Her writing style is original, playful and has a love for descriptive words to tease your mind. She has worked for New Woman and Vogue Australia. The book jacket hides a beautiful high-quality ruby covered and exquisitely bound book. Women who love well-made shoes will appreciate the style and quality of this tiny book. The book was also illustrated by Jane and I was especially amused by "toe decolletage." She has drawn pictures of her shoes, everything from her boots to her Italian Interlude when she wore shoes from Rome. She explores life choices after she wore her new cherry-red-spike-heeled ankle-straps with silver buckles.

Jane also reveals interesting facts about Marilyn Monroe, Barbie dolls and how to find a shoe-inn for storage. Where do your shoes live? What is the heel called. I had no idea there was a "kitten" heel, but it is very common.

I could easily become obsessed with shoes again and have been in the past, but lately I'm all about comfort and the shoes that are fancy are sure to only be worn for special occasions. This book reminded me of how fun it is to shop for shoes and I'm of course always on the look for pretty slippers for wearing while writing reviews. I did try on clear plastic shoe the other day and had to feel a bit sorry for Cinderella. Glass could not be overly comfortable although a girl can dream. I've stepped on broken glass and ruined a heel while almost tripping down steps, so that might be a sign.

This delicious book made me fondly remember the Nordstrom of the past where men dressed in suits played Prince Charming and slipped slippers of all colors onto your feet. Where have those days gone? Jane explores the elements of a good shoe salesman and it is nothing like Married with Children. ;) It is a bit more like Sex and the City. My husband might want to read this book because he is a shoe guy. He has been known to give me advice on shoe selections. He hasn't seen what I bought for our anniversary. Hee, hee...

Other unique features:

Tips on How to Care for Shoes
Discarding Your Past Personalities
What a cobbler Can and Can't do!
Feel-Good Fix-Ups for Fatigued Feet

If you read one book on shoes in this lifetime this should be the book. Perfect for keeping in your matching purse for reading just about anywhere.

~The Rebecca Review

This is a very readable (and visual) light treat for both shoe-a-holics and those who can't resist the puns of sole fantasies.