Beauty Books

This book was a real treat going through. Loaded with photographs, it tells the story as a script, shows the design of the characters, and then shows the special effects, sets, and other cool stuff. It's a great soveneir of the musical, and if you haven't it's a great book to read to experience the musical if you can't experience it on Broadway

This book is excellent. It is filled with gorgeous pictures from the Broadway musical. It also contains the complete lyrics and a story line of how the actual musical was produced. This is a definite for any musical theatre fan!

I do have one complaint about the writers, though. They just don't get them out fast enough. I loved, loved this book. My concern at first was that I would not get to see enough of Ed and Debbie Sue once the secondary character was introduced. They take Celina under their wing but they are all involved with the madness that happens in New York.

The reviewer from Publisher's Weekly who called Ed and Debbie Sue "silly" must not have any speck of a sense of humor. Don't pay attention to that part of the review. Dixie Cash fans will not be disappointed.

Although they were second choice, Salt Lick, Texas private investigators Debbie Sue Overstreet and Edwina Perkins are thrilled to be invited to speak a at the National Association of P.I.s convention in New York City. Besides a free trip, they plan to investigate all the latest sleuthing gadgetry and designer shoes; not that they can afford any with their beauty parlor being their moneymaker.

The dynamic detecting Domestic Equalizer duo makes friends with natives such as some ladies like Cher who work the street for a living and visitors from Texas like mugging victim Celina. Although they swore no cases while enjoying a bite of the Big Apple, Debbie Sue and Edwina end up in the middle of an NYPD serial killer inquiry in which the murderer considers targeting two dizzy detective dames from Texas.

The latest Domestic Equalizer mystery (see MY HEART MAY BE BROKEN, BUT MY HAIR STILL LOOKS GOOD and SINCE YOU'RE LEAVING ANYWAY, TAKE OUT THE TRASH) is more a culture war between rural Texas and urban Manhattan. The bets are on the two zany Salt Lick hair stylists. As always in this series, the lead duet try to do the right thing as they perceive that to be, but most often cause more problems for those they want to save and leads to plenty of humor. Readers will appreciate the Texas-Manhattan encounter as Debbie Sue and Edwina bring their hearts and humor to Times Square.

Harriet Klausner

Dragon Tattoo Designs is a great source book for anyone interested in dragon tattoos, even if you just want to draw them. The designs are such that they will withstand the test of time and aging well. Interesting and informative also. As always the best from Hardy.

even though i had expected something rather different (lots of photographs, e.g.) when i ordered this book, i cannot but agree with my fellow reviewer. another excellent item from don ed hardy's hardy marks publications.

however: i feel that this book is more for the truly dedicated dragon tattoo design enthusiast and/or tattooer.

there is a very interesting introduction about dragon design and mythology. also, there is a very interesting bibliography suggesting further reading.

the countless designs, drawings in black and white only (!), show all aspects of dragon tattoo design. very interesting and absolutely high quality work. but, as i have said before, rather aimed at specialists and tattooers. for the latter, imho, a must-have! (as most other books that have so far been published by hardy marks publications, san francisco.) it shouldn't be too hard to find a (used) copy.

This would ideally be the first book one would read when beginning to research 18th century Chinese/Manchu robes. The book is divided into categories which include many examples, Qing dragon and court robes, construction, and symbolism. This overview is greatly enhanced by plates of a wide range of robes; each one representing a specific style, rank, gender, or group. The beauty of the colors is the main feature of this robes. Excellent photos make this small but excellent catalogue a 5 stars book. It was also an easy and enjoyable book to read. I began to skim the "construction" section, expecting it to be boring (I have no desire to make one!), but found so many areas of interest, that I read it in its entirety. I recommend this book for anyone who appreciates the grandeur of Chinese art. The robes are among the most important treasures to be found. Congratulations.

Among its aristocracy, Chinese clothing is an art form distinctively traceable down through the centuries. In Dressed To Rule: 18th Century Court Attire In The Mactaggart Art Collection, John E. Vollmer (an internationally known curator and well regarded scholar in Asian art, textiles, costumes, decorative arts and design) focuses upon Chinese court dress dating from the Quin dynasty (1644-1911) back through the 13th century Jin dynasty. The examples are taken from the renowned Mactaggart Art Collection housed at the University of Alberta. Enhanced with more than fifty color photographs showcasing the garments provided as examples, period portraits, and details from a rare hand scroll illustrating the Chinese emperor's tour of cities along the Grand Canal, "Dressed To Rule" provides interested readers with an informed and informative overview of the importance, relevance, and utilization of clothing to represent imperial status, prestige, and position. A seminal contribution, "Dressed To Rule" is a strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, and academic library Chinese Culture, Chinese History, and Textile History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

I'm extremely impressed. I think this book would make an outstanding addition to any Renaissance-lover's, or garbaholic's, bookshelf.

It is not about how to make Italian-persona clothing. Instead, it focuses on how Florentines of the Renaissance used clothing to make social statements. Along the way, it examines some things that garbmakers would like hearing about (one table lists various color combinations found in gowns and linings), but mostly, it's about the sociology of fashion.

Chapters:

* Craftspeople and tailors (including how clothes-making guilds were organized and the role women played in these guilds)
* Tailoring Family Honor (how Florentines viewed honor and how they thought honor was expressed through clothing)
* Family Fortunes in Clothes (how much they spent, and a bit about the secondhand clothes market)
* The making of wedding gowns (you'll love learning how many opinions went into one and how totally political it all was)
* Trousseaux for Marriage and Convent (how they differed, and lists of what went into each)

And stuff about sumptuary law, information about layers of clothing, types of dyes (and an examination of mourning clothes), types of fabric, and clothes as depicted in art -- and how art might have distorted how people really wore clothes. Embroidery is also covered.

Needless to say, the painter Ghirlandaio features pretty prominently here. There are also b/w repros of portraits, unfortunately not super well detailed, but there are a few here I haven't seen before. There are also appendices that are very useful -- lists of currency and measures, categories of clothiers, yardage required for various garments, glossaries of what yardage terms meant, and a HUGE bibliography and glossary of terms.

It isn't a physically large book, clocking in at around 300pp, but it's very rich in detail, and the writing is pleasant to read. I'd definitely recommend this book to anybody wanting to immerse in the period -- and DEFINITELY for any Renaissance costumers out there. It might not be a bad idea to have some basic grounding in the period before reading this, but it's written well enough that if any is required, it isn't much.

It's surprising to note that professor Carole Collier Frick's DRESSING RENAISSANCE FLORENCE: FAMILIES, FORTUNES AND FINE CLOTHING is the first in-depth study of the Renaissance fashion industry. Here are insights into the social and political meaning of clothing in Florence, with black and white photos throughout displaying changing styles and fashion innovations, visual impressions and how family fortunes were invested in wardrobes. A fascinating college-level study, recommended for any collection strong in fashion or Renaissance history.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Seeing this book on your list is a special treat for me because I happen to be one of Professor Wronsky's students at Loyala Marymount University in Los Angeles. She desrves all of the credit towards her book because she is a brilliant English professor who has a love and deep appreciation for what she teaches.

The poems in Gail Wronsky's collection are inhabited by the ghosts of the forgotten. Desdemona, Walt Whitman, and Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz haunt the pages of the book, challenging silence and silencers. In those moments the sublime rises from the ordinary in sequences like "The Earth as Desdemona." The book is filled with surprise: a lawn chair becomes a cubist chicken, hieroglyphs appear in the sky. Wronsky's "Dying for Beauty" mixes elegance with outrageousness. The language that bridges these two sensibilities reveal the blessings of music.

A lovely collection of 64 period fashion plates from Galerie des Modes. The plates cover the years from 1778-1787 and give a good representation of French high fashion in the years leading up to the French Revolution. The plates include court gowns, undress gowns, stays, day ensembles, riding habits, children's frocks and more. Complete with translated descriptions of each outfit and a decent glossary of terms.

Drool-worthy does not begin to describe in the goodies contained within. This lovely and inexpensive resource is a must for anyone interested in late century fashions. Get one for research and one to take apart and frame for your sewing room walls.

Stella Blum has selected plates of 18th century fashion from the Metropolitan Museum's collection and reproduced them here in full colour.

You certinally don't get all the plates produced in the 18th century but what you get is a helpful and representitive selection. This is one of the few books where you can see actual colour plates all reproduced in a sequence like this.

If you have any interest in 18th french fashion this book is both [inexpensive] and invaluable.

This limited edition, commemorative book is a must have for anyone interested in Hartford, Connecticut history or the American Park Movement. This book contains a comprehensive history of Elizabeth Park, celebrating the centennial of its famous rose garden in 2004. It also contains a brief history of the American Park Movement and Forestry movement. The book features all aspects of the park including its perennial, annual, and rock gardens, trees, natural and architectural features, and activities. The 20 historical photographs are highly interesting and the 130 color photographs are spectacularly done by area photographer William Shepard. The cover art is by local artist Diana Lyn Cote. For more information, please refer to EPCENTURY.

This limited edition, commemorative book is a must have for anyone interested in Hartford, Connecticut history or the American Park Movement. This book contains a comprehensive history of Elizabeth Park, celebrating the centennial of its famous rose garden in 2004. It also contains a brief history of the American Park Movement and Forestry movement. The book features all aspects of the park including its perennial, annual, and rock gardens, trees, natural and architectural features, and activities. The 20 historical photographs are highly interesting and the 130 color photographs are spectacularly done by area photographer William Shepard. The cover art is by local artist Diana Lyn Cote. For more information, please refer to EPCENTURY.

In this book Lipovetsky makes explicit ideas that one could find in a more timid way in earlier books. The basic idea of his thought is that fragmentation of society does not, in the way it is thought commonly, mean destruction of morals or democracy. On the contrary, democracy is formed by the powers that are able to join fragmentation and continuity. This is what he shows with fashion. Fashion is from where he can understand what is "the essence" (although it isn't an essenciallist thought)of Western Culture. He uses the concept of fashion to synthetize the opposites: fragmentaed indivilualistic society and universal democratic society. As Hegel, he sees the union of both opposites through the whole reconstruction of Fashion. Not science or Reason but fashion is what explains us better what we are and why we are like that.

Unlike the stuffy American academics who turn their nose up at the world of fashion, Lipovetsky realizes the importance of fashion - not just as a result of liberalism and/or capitalism - but as a contributor to these structures. Lipovetsky basically argues that modern fashion contributes to democratization by allowing individuals more choices and also by obscuring social classes (Does Bill Gates dress signify his social or financial superiority in any way?). He also gives a pretty concise and coherent history of fashion which helps us understand where we stand today. On top of all that, it's well written. I don't know whether to thank him or Porter for that. All and all, an outstanding and entertaining rejection of the tedious, reductive Marxist explanations of fashion.

The origin and ground and destiny of all human life is happiness itself. We live for happiness. This book shows how beauty is the indispensable guide and light to happiness.

There is no human achievement or excellence that has not been motivated by the inspiration of beauty in one form or another.

Within all the joy-giving experiences of beauty we know something of Happiness itself, or God.

God is happiness itself.

This book is great; and it makes me happy! It made me see how God is Beauty and Happiness itself. Wonderful.

The most comprehensive work I've ever read in my life that gets into the very depth of human introspection about the wonder and splendor of reality is in John Navone's scholarly masterpiece! His use of the Sacred Scriptures and human experience is impeccably reflected in his original thinking that beauty is indeed the ground of life's meaning and triumph. Navone's mind is beautiful and everyone must read this book to believe it!