Reviews (11)

not beautiful, but certainly effective and fun
This book is set up much like a textbook and would work well for an independent study in design. It has clearly organized chapters with projects at the end of each; the projects work on a theoretical and practical basis, and allow the student to employ a hands-on approach. It is fun, engaging, easy to follow, and manages to be technical without feeling pompous. It takes the designer from inspiration and mood boards to the final designs and a cohesive line. It breaks down the process into smaller tasks in the most fun way I have yet seen.
Too basic
I was looking for a more detail book and I found this one too basic.

made the right decision
i have been going to community college for a while now and i have always wanted to be creative so i decided to go to Institute of Design and Technology for fashion design i start 06/10/2006 and bought this book to inspire me. Well in reading this book i know that i have made the right decision for myself. And actually cant wait to start even though i was a little intimated at first due to no experience reading this book has opened up many possiblties. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Design - Textile & Costume    5. Fashion    6. Fashion drawing    7. Study & Teaching    8. Techniques - Drawing - Specific Subjects    9. Art / Fashion   

Reviews (27)

Great For Technical Specifications/Flats
I can say that Chapters Four and Five alone is worth their weight in gold. This book is used on a daily basis by our CAD department as a reference when making flat sketches for specs.To take a designer's drawing or a sample of the garment and turn it into detailed, flat sketches takes skills.That particular section is great when it comes to drawing details for sewing such as types of stitching, where pleats/folds/darts should go, placements of notions/trimmings, etc.Flat sketching for specs is very important when a garment is produced in huge quantities by numerous operators. There's also a section in the front on proportion drawing using the croquis which is also very helpful. Since the company I work for produces a wide range of theatrical costumes that has tons and tons of details (think odd shapes and sizes), this book has come to the rescue many times.
Don't buy this book
I've had this book for awhile and I've noticed that some of the drawings, especially the fashion illustrations look rather unprofessional.There are drawings, renderings, that you would never see in fashion world. Some of the drawings look like they are fine art life drawings; others look very much like student work, some look just badly drawn and should not be shown as explemary work for those who wish to learn.I think that they are better books out there and this is not one of them.

Are U Kidding Me!!!
Anyone who says this book is a waist of your dollar is obviously not looking at this book closely.The art work is incredible and the attention to deatil is unrivaled.9 HEADS is one of the most incredible books in regards to fashion sketching I have ever seen.If you are looking to improve your know how and skill of fashion sketching I highly recommend this book.It's worth every penny.By the way, the drawings are not cartoonish nor are they amateurish.I doubt anyone at Parsons would look down on this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Fashion    5. Art / Design / General    6. Fashion design    7. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Commercial - Fashion Design    5. Fashion    6. Fashion design    7. Gucci (Firm)    8. History    9. Italy    10. Photography Of Specific Subjects    11. Subjects & Themes - Fashion    12. Art / Fashion   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (1)

A look into the world of modern fashion design
This book is absolutely fabulous, there's no other way to say it. Whether you're looking for a gift for someone who simply loves fashion, or are someone who loves fabric and the art of fabric manipulation (which is generaly called clothing), this tome is an excellent resource for information on up-and-coming fashion and designers. As a textiles & apparel major I find this book to be a great source of inspiration, but the layout, the wealth of large beautiful photos, and the artistic design of the book itself would make it a great coffee table book. The book is also a great bargain on Amazon, I have seen it for sale in several stores for upwards of $90. If I could give it more than five stars I would! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Design - Textile & Costume    5. Fashion    6. Popular Culture - General    7. Art / Fashion    8. Fashion design    9. Individual designers   

Reviews (4)

Figure Templates for Fashion Illustration
This book promises more than it delivers.The basic templates are useful, but in all other aspects this book is lacking. great for copying
this isn't the 'how to draw the fashion model' book you wish taught you everything you ever needed to know.However, its good to have around when you just need to pump an idea out.It has women, men, and children.

Figure Templates For Fashion Illustration
This book is an excellent resource at a resonable price.It is more than a primer.I'd recommend it to anyone, experienced or novice, who designs/illustrates fashion. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Career/Job    4. Clothing Design    5. Commercial - Fashion Design    6. Design - Textile & Costume    7. Fashion    8. Art / Fashion    9. Fashion design    10. STUDY NOTES - SparkCharts   

Editorial Review

Madeleine Vionnet's greatest distinction as a designer was her discovery of the bias cut. Cutting patterns along the bias forces the fabric to cling to the body and move with it, which created her trademark look of draped, form-conscious clothing. When designer Issey Miyake first saw a Vionnet dress, it was like the first time he saw Read more

Reviews (17)

Fashion Architect
Being an architect (of buildings) I appreciate Madeleine Vionnet's approach to clothing "architecture."It is a pleasure analyzing the patterns and looking at the results in the gowns.Some of the gowns are very contemporary-looking and would be appropriate on today's "red carpet" events.It is a worthy and significant addition to any library

Designer skilled beyond belief
I have always admired photos of Vionnet's gowns.Not until I read this book did I have the slightest inkling of the genius in her work.She was truly an architect of clothing for the body.The book shows photos of each garment accompanied by pattern illustrations to show how the garment was constructed.Pure amazement.A wonderful book to give to anyone working with fabric, from fiber artists to homemakers.
Inspiring!
Though I have not read this book through I have paged through completely and it is a wonder visually.It has amazing photos along with patterns and history of many of Vionnet's creations.This book can be enjoyed by pattern makers, designers, history buffs and clothes horses.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Biography    4. Commercial - Fashion Design    5. Dressmaking    6. Fashion    7. Fashion design    8. France    9. History    10. Patterns    11. Vionnet, Madeleine    12. Women costume designers    13. Biography: general    14. Photography / General   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Fashion    5. History - General    6. Photography Of Specific Subjects    7. Subjects & Themes - Fashion    8. Art / Fashion    9. Fashion; biography   

Reviews (3)

Words Can nOT Describe.........
As a Parsons fashion design student I have found Nancy Riegelman's book to be very helpfull.Words can not describe the amount of inspiration and resourceful information that Colors of Modern Fashion holds.I fell in love with her books when 9 Heads first came out.My mind was blown away when I first caught glimps of her new book Colors of Modern Fashion.Apparently the rest of the world has caught on the this great book because I have seen it throughout my travels in London, Paris, New York, and LA.I have always dreamed of having the skills to make fashion figures.After using 9 Heads and Colors of Modern Fashion I can draw a fashion figure with effortless ease.The book takes you step by step from the basics of the 9 headed fashion figure to the detailed advanced rendering of clothes and fabrics. This book is very chic and stands a good investment for anyone who is interested in fashion.

Comprehensive and Exquisite
This book is perfect for anyone that is really interested in fashion and drawing.The diversity in chapters helped me to gain a better understanding of what it takes to skillfully draw. I have really been honing my skills, combining different techinques that are presented in the book and I am amazed at the complexities that using markers offers.Hands down, it is a strong book that encompasses all the skills needed in learning a subject, the writing accompanies the drawings with ease and excitement.I honestly can't wait for the next book!

Nancy has done it again!What a great book!
This is Nancy's 2nd book and is it ever great.The illustrations are marvelous.The techniques she discusses are easy to understand and use.I stayed up all night just looking at the beautiful drawings.This is definitely a must have for all illustrators and for people who love to draw. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Color Theory    4. Commercial - Fashion Design    5. Design - General    6. Techniques - Drawing    7. Art / Design / General    8. Fashion design   

Reviews (2)

Behind the concept curtain
I'm reviewingthis book not as a fan of Dolce Gabbana, which I am, but as a photographer who loves their ad campagians, especially those of the past decade. WOW. Unlike the movie business, not a lot of behind the scenes stories are written about the production of the biggest fashion ad campagians with the top photographers. I was surprised to find that Steve Misel shot most of their recent ones. More than that it is great to see the drawings for how they were developed and what the thought process was. PLUS the Photos, which looked amazing in teh magazine really shine when printed on high quality paper. A great book, but a bit pricey unless you find a killer deal on a used copy, which I did.
All I can say is 'Wow.'
I did not think that anyone could put together such an amazing book. The book starts off with the spring/summer collection of 1986. It features runway photos and describes every season. The photos include advertisements, editorials and runway photos. The quality of the pictures are amazing! There is a page dedicated to every season where Domenico and Stefano are interviewed and they describe the theme of the season.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Design - Textile & Costume    5. Fashion design   

Reviews (1)

great book pretty pictures
this is a great book for anyone who's into sneakers.you don't have to be a "head" to enjoy the pretty pictures and the interviews.it's great that the author talked about where to hunt for sneakers in various cities around the world.now if only the book was bigger in size so the details of the sneakers can be appreciated more.... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Beauty & Grooming - General    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Fashion    5. Popular Culture - General    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Fashion design    9. Self-Help / General   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Design & Drafting    5. Fashion    6. Methods & Materials    7. Architecture    8. Architecture / Methods & Materials    9. Fashion design   

Reviews (6)

The Fashion and Fantasy of Bob Mackie
Wonderful book!Such gorgeous pictures and I loved the Bob Mackie story too.My only complaint is that it just wasn't long enough.....hoping for a sequel.

Deliriously happy at [any price!]
I bought Unmistakably Mackie after drooling over the book for nearly a year. It is beautiful, it is entertaining, it is over the top, it is history. It is also a fine education in costume design and fashion illustration. Unmistakably Mackie -- if you love fashion...you'll love Bob
WOW! WOW! WOW!Unmistakably Mackie is a fabulous fashion book!This is by far my favorite book!The photography is stunning.The creative type layouts are imaginative.The sketches are wonderful.Anyone interested incostume &/or fashion design will LOVE this book writen by Frank DeCaro("Style over Substance" columnist for the NY Times).Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Commercial - Fashion Design    5. Costume    6. Fashion    7. Fashion design    8. Fashion designers    9. History    10. Mackie, Bob    11. Motion picture actors and actresses    12. Pictorial works    13. United States    14. Photography / Fashion   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Clothing Design    4. Commercial - Fashion Design    5. Design - Textile & Costume    6. Graphic Arts - General    7. Art / Design / Textile & Costume    8. Graphic design   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Commercial - Illustration    5. Design - Textile & Costume    6. Fashion    7. Art / General    8. Fashion design    9. Graphic design    10. Illustration & commercial art   

Reviews (1)

The one that gets used most in the business
I can't believe nobody has reviewed this book because it is -hands down- the best book in the business. It's self-published so its release and publicity is limited but I can tell you this is the book that is most often USED in the apparel industry. Not the book most used in schools, but in real life (I've been a pattern maker for 25+ years). I guarantee all the pattern grading services keep it on hand! The way the grading charts and mapping is set up in the book most closely mirrors the way we work in the industry. The charts in competing books (Price/Zamkoff) are so complex but Handford's book nails it.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Design - Textile & Costume    5. Sewing    6. Technical & Manufacturing Trades    7. Fashion & beauty industries    8. Fashion design   

Reviews (6)

patternmaking,a reference for fashion design
a great book, very informative, little pricey though, but worth it.

Old styles
I am disappointed in this book.The patterns are very old styles.
Thorough and Concise
I have not bought the book as of yet but I was privy to certain things that went into the book. Sylvia was my patternmaking teacher. She was working on this book while I was in school and all the students anticipated its release. Sylvia's teaching style is thorough and concise and so is this book. I recommend anyone interested in learning the right way to make patterns should purchase this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Careers - General    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Crafts & Hobbies    5. Dressmaking    6. Fashion    7. General    8. Hobbies/Crafts    9. Pattern design    10. Art / Design / General    11. Dressmaking & tailoring    12. Fashion design   

Reviews (4)

Great Reference Book
I just started learning how to render with markers, and this book comes in handy everyday!Great, but simple explanations on how to render different fabrics.Never confusing.A must for every beginning fashion illustrator!

Childish illustrations
I bought this book because it had such good reviews, but I was very disappointed with the contents. The title is fashion rendering with color, but most of the illustrations are black and white (very misleading). Plus the illustrations don't look very professional in my opinion. If you have no drawing skills but want to become a fashion designer, then this is the right book for you. Otherwise, don't buy it.

Great for starters
Bina Abling's Fashion Rendering with Color is a great source of information and consultation for starters on fashion design, and drawing in general.I've just started fashion design lessons, and I do not have many resources regarding this specific subject in my country, so I turned to Amazon.com to find the best, and I did.I've presented a collection of 30 dolls, using some of the styles on this wonderfull book, and I'm doing great, so I recommend this book to anyone who is starting, or just wants to know how to render with markers, and other materials.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Fashion    6. Fashion drawing    7. History - General    8. Art / General    9. Fashion design   

Reviews (2)

His Own Impressions
Fantastic! Christian gives a guided tour of his own work process, and personal advice as a professional designer. It's like reading his diary, or suddenly finding yourself as his closest confidant and assistant designer! He shares his own impressions of himself and his work. He shares details of how his personal life and his career developed - even from childhood- what inspires him, and what are his influences. Four stars because it's not a quick reference: dates, sources, locations not readily found.

A collage of souvenirs from a happy man.
Christian Lacroix brings coulours and light in each page of this book. In fact, this is more than a book; it is a personal gift made by Christian Lacroix to Fran�oise, his life, to his friends from Arles (where he wasborn) and to each invividual reader. Many hand-written comments, pink andyellow pages, naive inspiring rural objects. This is a perfect gift forsomebody who already owns everything. Fresh, elegant, fashionable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Fashion    5. Biography: general    6. Fashion design    7. Individual artists   

Reviews (6)

don't buy!
This books illustrations are dated and not very good. I only bought it because I seen, " Fashion Illustration Next" in the bookstore and thought it was great. I went on amazon to find it and this looked cheap to add so I did thinking it would be equally as impressive. I got it today, and am returning it today. Unless you are really interested in how much fashion illustration has progressed within the last 6 years buy the new edition, and leave this one in the discount bin.

Inpirational
Its such a wonderful book. I am a fashion major and its nice to see other people's fashion illustration. I have struggled to find my own drawing style and this book has definately helped open my creativity.

Good Reference
Although, this book may just seem like a pretty picture book, it is a really good reference if you're trying to discover a style/technique of illustrating. As a fashion major, this book comes in handy to see how other artists approach the figure and to learn a variety of ways to illustrate instead of referring to the same textbook croqui. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Commercial - Illustration    5. Fashion    6. Techniques - Drawing    7. Art / Fashion   

Reviews (1)

one of the best!
this is one of the best fashion books out there. a breif discription of all the best designers in the industry. a good reference to keep. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Beauty & Grooming - General    4. Commercial - Fashion Design    5. Fashion    6. Fashion design