Beauty Books

Reading Bra Talk was just icing on the Susan Nethero cake. It was a quick and easy read that gives basic (but necessary) facts about bras from appropriately choosing your cup size to busting bra myths. I love the book, but I love Intimacy (her store) even more. I've been a personal customer of Susan Nethero for several years and not only do I trust her touch as a bra fitter, but everything I've ever bought from her are my favorites in my underwear drawer. She, her staff and her merchandise help people understand that having a bra that fits and sexy lingerie isn't about sex, it's about feeling beautiful!!
Oprah or no Oprah, Susan Nethero is MY bra lady for life!

THIS BOOK WAS SUCH A FUN READ, I LOVED IT. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD SO MANY ISSUES FINDING A BRA THAT FITS, INTIMACY IS A LIFE SAVER! I WENT TO THE CHICAGO STORE AFTER SEEING SUSAN NETHERO ON OPRAH SHOW, MY BRA FITTING WAS AMAZING. I HAVE NEVER FELT MORE CONFIDENT IN MY BODY. I WAS GIVEN THE BOOK AS A GRAND OPENING GIFT, AND IT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING. WHO KNEW SO MANY WOMAN LIKE MYSELF ARE CLUELESS WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR BRAS! A HUGE THANK YOU TO INTIMACY, AND OF COURSE SUSAN NETHERO.
KRISSY

I realize that beginners have to start somewhere, but 99% of the bead books available seem to cater to the newest of the new: people who can't thread a beading needle, or need to be told what a seed bead is. And frankly, as I read the first chapter of Bracelets, Buttons and Brooches, I thought it was another one of the same. That is, until I got to the projects:

Yay! These projects are NOT for beginners, except for one or two at the beginning that appear to be put there so that an adavanced beginner who bought the wrong book won't take it back to the store. The rest of the instructions, while complete and thorough, don't assume that you can't tell a Delica from a Treasure or a Charlotte. And this book makes liberal use of all three, along with 11/0 beads, 15/0 seeds and 8/0 Delicas and seed beads.

I love the new (to me) methods of surrounding a cabochon with beading on both sides at the same time. The method is ingenious, and I gave myself one of those "why didn't I think of that" smacks in the head when I saw Ms. Davis' clear and easy to understand diagram. I was also thrilled when I looked at the twenty projects and realized that they were merely the springboard for many, many more projects simply by adding some of the steps in other projects or subtracting an edging or a bit of netting that is too fancy for the cabochon or button that you're using for that particular project. You can also fancy up a project to your heart's content with netting, edging and pretty links to the other focal beads in your project.

Ms. Davis assumes that the reader can follow a flat peyote pattern, knows netting, brick, ladder and peyote stitches (both flat and round), although she does give one of those one paragraph once overs at the beginning of the book. If you aren't familiar with all of these stitches, plus probably going from one stitch to another, you might want to wait before buying this book. But if you are an intermediate to "almost advanced" beader, you are going to leap for joy because there is finally a book with some new projects for the rest of us!

(I say "almost advanced" because there are advanced beaders who do loomwork in 24/0 beads in twenty shades of yellow, or think nothing of encasing a kitchen chair in Aiko beads. Those people don't need books. They write them, unless they are busy making beaded clothing from handmade beads they got on their last bead-gathering trip to the Yucatan. I'm exaggerating slightly, but people who are that advanced know who they are)

Most of all, the finished projects are pretty and can be finished in a weekend or less. Those are two big deal selling points to me, because I don't want to spend three months working on something that isn't mind-numbingly easy only to find out that using ten shades of taupe doesn't look so good. It also gives you a chance to use those cabochons that you bought because they were so beautiful then stored somewhere because beads without holes present challenges all their own. Or if you have a drawerful of beautiful buttons from your grandmother, and you'd like to make something beautiful that would remind you of her. If those things apply to you, then you will be very happy you spent the money on this book and will shriek at the spouse who says, "Another one of those freakin' books? I'm throwin' this out!" (Or maybe that's just me. I don't think a bookcase dedicated to beading books is too many, do you?) Just sayin'

To sum it up, if you're sick of the average "here's how to make an odd numbered peyote watchband" project, then this book is for you. It's a happy medium between so simple you can bead in your sleep and so tough that you're scared to buy the beads. Best of all, it teaches some very clever techniques that can be adapted to even more projects and you'll refer to the book again and again.

P.S.: The author mounts a lot of her cabochons on a backing, i.e., Lacy's Stiff Stuff/heavy interfacing/bonded felt. It would be a good idea to purchase a little bit of your favorite backing so you have it on hand when the book arrives. That way, you can jump right into beading your next masterpiece. You will also need a good quality white craft glue and a very good quality glue that dries clear and bonds anything to anything else.

A beautiful book of creative designs. Directions are detailed w/clear, colorful photos. Can't wait to start my own creation.

The delivery was fast and books were as promised. You can't beat the price.

i bought this as a mother's day gift for my daughter. It hit home for me. I wanted to share a word with my daughter. She is a wonderful mother and wife, but we all soemtimes forget the gift we have been given from The Lord as a woman.

One can only concur with Jane Goodall when she says that this book is "both beautiful and profoundly disturbing"--partly, because it is, and partly because animals, in themselves, are "both beautiful and profoundly disturbing." Not only are we not altogether certain what it means to be human, but also we are not altogether certain what it means to be animal.

Frank Noelker is an associate professor of art at the University of Connecticut. His photographs of animals in zoos have been widely exhibited in both group and solo exhibitions. The design of the book is simple and straightforward. It says nothing about cameras, lenses, photographic techniques or f-stops. As well, it says almost nothing about Frank. The Forward by Jane Goodall and the Introduction by Nigel Rothfels provide its only text. Each of the fifty photographs bears a simple caption like this one: "Leopard, Tulsa, 2002."

What is most striking, from cover to cover, is the atmosphere of isolation. Nearly every photo shows a single animal in the very center of the picture. One gets the unmistakable feeling that the artist is relentlessly transgressing a fundamental rule of photography. Of course, there are a few exceptions; "Hippopotamus, Washington D.C., 1997" is one.

In this photograph, we see a hippopotamus on the left side of the picture, moving toward the center. In the center, we see a small, narrow and empty rectangle. Despite its great size, the Hippo does not compete with this diminutive symbol of emptiness; rather, he seems to be descending into the depths it represents.

The penguin photograph is another exception. In this photo, we see a penguin slightly off center. In the center, a vertical line, a stain, extends from top to bottom, from heaven to earth (or vice versa). The crucified penguin stands close to this mark, this stain, this hieratic symbol of mystery and sacrifice.

Even the photographs that include more than one animal exude a sense of unalleviated isolation. The two antelopes (the epitome of dignity and resignation) look as if they are quietly waiting for Godot. The baboon mother with its two babies might as well be sitting on the moon. The young baboon walking off to the left already knows everything there is to know about its world.

If, as Ortega y Gasset said, living consists in "having always to do something in order to bear oneself up" in the midst of circumstance, these photos show us something else. Can this be called `living'-when circumstance has been virtually nullified? Where is the "dynamic intricacy binding all things together...the system of relations in which all things are implanted...the "unity by co-implication?" ('Jose Ortega y Gasset's Metaphysical Innovation,' by Antonio Rodriquez Huescar) These animals have no projects and precious little circumstance. Their system of relations is vestigial at best.

Nigel Rothfels writes an excellent introductory essay on the subject of "Animals and Zoos and History." Even though this essay is valuable and well written, one should study the photos first. One should read the text only after an extensive contemplation of these beautiful but unsettling images.

In his essay, Rothfells quotes from a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke: `The Panther: Jardin des Plantes, Paris': "The bars which pass and strike across his gaze/ have stunned his sight: the eyes have lost their hold./ To him it seems there are a thousand bars./ a thousand bars and nothing else. No world."

Well put, Mr. Rilke: "No world!"-and "no dynamic intricacy binding all things together."

The book is sub-titled, `Zoo Portraits.' Nevertheless, these photographs are more than that: they are also portraits of us; they are portraits of human values and human awareness--or the sad lack thereof. There is much to learn from these quiet and unassuming photographs; and much that will be missed-partly because our vision and perception are limited, and partly because life is forever inexhaustible.

And, this wonderful inexhaustibility is the very essence of art.

I was surprised at how captivated I was once I opened the book. in the past, I've don't remember many photographs touching me except for those of Ansel Adams and Gordon Parks, whose images from a half century ago touch me in the new millenium. However Frank Noelker's portraits of zoo animals generated great sadness in me for these animals while at the same time instilling a greater appreciation for the freedoms we humans have, and at this time of desperation both here and abroad, seem too willing to sacrifice. I envy Frank Noelker for his courage. I imagine that to have spent ten years photographing animals at 300 zoos across the world must wear on his soul as well as his soles.

I read this book because I was considering a career in the cosmetology field and wanted to know the basics. This book has it all, from descriptions of the day-to-day job, to education and certification information, interviews with people who actually do the job, tips for how to write a resume and interview, etc.

I think this book would be great not only for career-switchers like me, but also for parents of children who are thinking about getting into cosmetology, and guidance counselors. It does reinforce that above all, cosmetology is a BUSINESS. Even though everyone who was interviewed in the book loves their job, they said that if you want to be successful it's not all about being glamorous and gossiping all day playing with products.

There is plenty of information all in one place about how to get started, including Web sites and telephone numbers. After reading it, I was excited and went to visit a local beauty college, something I never would have done before.

Nobody thought I should go into cosmetology. They said I would never finish the classes. They thought I should work at the grocery store where I was a cashier and just keep on there until I got to be a manager or something. But that isn't what I wanted to do. A friend gave me this book and after I read it I knew for sure that was what I should do. So I am still working at the store but only at night. In the day time I go to beauty college. Pretty soon I can get out of this grocery store and do what I want!

Must read for those who need to understand all behind those double C's. Chanel was a force to be reckoned with in her day and in ours. Most know how she made little black dress, jersey knit and suntans part of our modern fashion needs. But few knew just how many times she remade herself into some new fabulous creation. She was the "Madonna" of her day. A glimpse into her life one could only wonder what else she could accomplish as a bastard child, raised by nuns, and thrown into society. She may not be a gentle soul but she certainly is interesting. Enjoy!

Must read for those who need to understand all behind those double C's. Chanel was a force to be reckoned with in her day and in ours. Most know how she made little black dress, jersey knit and suntans part of our modern fashion needs. But few knew just how many times she remade herself into some new fabulous creation. She was the "Madonna" of her day. A glimpse into her life one could only wonder what else she could accomplish as a bastard child, raised by nuns, and thrown into society. She may not be a gentle soul but she certainly is interesting. Enjoy!

This is the best "style manual" I have ever read. It's fun, honest and unpretentious in every way. Bay Garnett, stylist for UK Vogue sets a tone that is unheard of in other cookie cutter books. Best book ever!

i am utterly in looooovvvveeeee with this book
it's the best style book i've read so far

BUY IT - if you love fashion & style

This book is chuck full of engravings, illustrations, patterns and photos of the period. I have been reenacting for 6 years and have never seen a better book on men's clothing of the 1860's. The only drawings in the book that are not from the period are very detailed drawings of original clothing items housed in the smithsonian and museum of the Confederacy.If you are at all interested in men's clothing history this is a great book for you.

This book has some good Civil War uniform information and patterns contained in it. Since there are very few "real" surviving patterns these patterns are helpful. There are pictures and information about the styles and types of cloth patterns, ie stripes and paiselys. Men used shawls in this period, something you do not see in photos. Lincoln's favorite shawl was a paisely which was popular in the 1860's image that. That information came from the other book you should have with this one, The Practical Handbook of Cutting on the Center Point System 1866. Civil War Gentlemen: 1860's Apparel Arts & Uniforms, contains the cutting information on the first American original suite design. That draft was called the New York Walking Suite. Designs prior to this time were from England and French designs. America gave the world the "Business Suite" during the era of the Civil War. This era launched America into a modern war, and a modern industrial nation. This book requires advanced skills and the patterns are small for the modern figure.

Not-so-quaint Mary Quant's definition of
"Classic" is not the "natural look" ... A far-out pioneer in swinging sixties style showcases zany fresh bright color palettes, with practical how to's. Lots of color photography- Chapters include: a gallery of looks , u'standing your skin, the makeup palette, skin-care regimens, step-by-step make-up lessons and finally body care programs. Tons of fun !

This book has some really great ideas for anyone who has a special
problem that needs help. Such as helping with a high forehead.
It was the only book I found that teaches how to properly contour your face.
Sure some of the pictures look
little out-dated but the basic tips are very helpful.
If you put a modern day hair cut of the girls in the pictures you
will find that the makeup tips are good. Most beauty books
are
out-dated by their hair styles not the information in them.

The beauty tips are sound and useable and easy to follow.
The book teaches you basic ways to clean your face, how to use
a face mask, how to take off your eye makeup. All tips are great
for anyone who doesn't wear makeup and wants to learn.

Just look beyond their hair and you will find beauty tips that
can be used everyday and to go glam at night.

Working in fashion, I found this book gave a very informative overview of not only the clothes but also the accessories. The original photos as well as the sketches were beautiful and extremely detailed.The overall book design layout is well constructed.

I just received this book for Christmas along with many other fashion guides. I buy a lot of reference material on period fashions because I own an antique and vintage clothing shop. This book has wonderful pictures that are large and clear. There are a lot of photos as well as textual information that will guide anyone through the decade's different styles. The layout of the book is very nice, also.
There is quite a bit of information dedicated to menswear and children's fashions also. I do wish the book had more pictures than text, sometimes I'd rather look at the pictures than read about why the style was popular, because the pictures are all I really need to date a piece. Unlike some of the other reference books I have, this book is a little hard to thumb through. Still, If you are looking for a book that covers mens, womens and childrens fashions of the 30s look no further!