Reviews (3)

Amazing Book
Well worth the wait. If you can manage to get ahold of a copy then do while you can. With only 1000 copies printed it's a sure sell out.
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I absolutely agree with the other review for this book: I also had ordered it, I was also expecting it to be published, I also cancelled the order since nothing was happening, I'm also disappointed with the fact that I don't know if it will ever be in my hands... what does "limited availability" mean? Is there only one copy belonging to own Paolo Roversi? Roversi'sElusive "Studio"
I'd love to review this book, if it ever would get released. Roversi has been a favorite of mine for many, many years, and I've been anticipating the release of this book ever since I learned of it. Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Fashion    3. Individual Photographer    4. Photoessays & Documentaries    5. Photography    6. Subjects & Themes - Fashion    7. Fashion design    8. Individual photographers    9. Photographs: collections   

Reviews (6)

WAY TOO EXPENSIVE...
WAY TOO EXPENSIVE...ILLUSTRATIONS ARE JUST AS GOOD AS WHAT YOU FIND ONLINE...EBAY EVEN.HISTORY IS HIGHLY INFORMATIVE, HOWEVER. THANKS.

Beautiful.
Fantastic history and beautiful illustrations. It has almost everything you've wanted to know about Louis Vuitton.
Full of History
This book is filled with the history of the company from the person, Louis Vuitton's childhood, up through the generations that came after him.There are pictures of LV pieces scattered throughout the book.Not enough for those of us who love to look at LV bags and luggage.Overall a great addition to a collectors collection.The book retails in the boutique for $135. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Business    3. Business & Economics    4. Business History    5. Business/Economics    6. Corporate & Business History - General    7. Design    8. Fashion    9. History    10. Infrastructure    11. Luggage    12. Rich & Famous    13. Trunks (Luggage)    14. Art / Fashion    15. History of specific subjects    16. Product design   

Reviews (23)

Not really a "style" book
This book is good for explaining which shapes of clothes look good on which figures, how clothes should fit, and how to tie a scarf. While that is helpful, I was expecting to learn some "secrets of style" as the title claims. Some tips on finding a style that corresponds with your personality or lifestyle, how to make it your own, shop for it, and keep it updated...that's what I thought I was buying. Too bad.

Look your best
Did you ever wish you knew why some women always look so, "together?" What's their secret? This book is a great help to discovering what kinds of clothes look best on you and how to buy and care for clothes that will make you look terrific. I didn't find the entire book helpful, but I think the tips I did get out of the book have helped me dress in a more flattering manner.

Superb Expression of Ideal Clothing
What I loved about this book was its superb and very well illustrated outline of what makes a piece of clothing ideal in terms of fit and cut. By drawing my attention to certain areas of fit that I was not considering, this book inspired me to get rid of many pieces of clothing which were nice but did not fit me properly and therefore did not flatter me. That made a HUGE difference in how I felt about my clothes!
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Beauty & Grooming - Fashion    3. Consumer Health    4. Fashion    5. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    6. Popular Culture - General    7. Personal appearance & beauty care    8. Social Science / Popular Culture   

Reviews (21)

Haute Couture Inside and Out
This book expanded my design vision and awareness of the techniques and structure underlying many haute couture creations.
This is a magnificent book!!!!
This is a very wonderful book!I have sewn from childhood and come from a family who worked at all levels of the garment trade from factory worker to sample maker.I never sewed professionally but aspired in my personal sewing to be the best.This book not only showed the inner workings of a world of sewing even higher than what I am familiar with but also gave explicit technical information on creating details that I had never done.One of these was how to make a corselette to go inside the bodice of a dress to preserve its line and free the wearer from wearing foundation garment that may spoil the effect of the dress.Also her list of sources is very helpful especially with so many local fabric stores closing.I was able to find a source for the spiral steel boning and cotton tulle needed to make the corselette.My factory sewing relatives could never understand the fine hand sewing techniques that make the difference in creating couture garments.This book justifies those of us in my family who have done this for years to produce magnificent results and also shows there is a level even above this.

A valuable resource for those who want to go beyond "paint-by-numbers" garment sewing
Firstly I'd like rebut the comment given by the person who said that the techniques were unnecessary, outdated and could easily be found in the internet.I purchased this book because I couldn't find any website that spoke to the techniques found in this book in any straight-forward detail (The pictures are invaluable).Do a search for "couture sewing" and you'll find sites by ready-to-wear vendors incorrectly labeling their garments 'couture' or fashion schools offering classes.
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Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Dressmaking    4. Fashion    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Sewing    7. Tailoring (Women's)    8. Crafts & Hobbies / Sewing    9. Needlework & fabric crafts   

Reviews (100)

A nice guide to different styles & a good place to start for those of us who were never into clothes
Never having seen the TV show, I picked up _what not to wear_ on a whim in the bookstore. I am glad I did, as it has opened my eyes to a number of different approaches to common problems that many women have.
Great book
happy with service and promptness of delivery...cant wait to read through this book when I return home to Sydney,Australia

A Very Good Start For Learning What to Wear and Why
WHAT TO WEAR is not perfect, but it is a tremendous resouce for women who want to look their best. Divided into ten chapters, each of which focuses on a particular figure flaw (no waist, short legs, big butt, short neck, etc.), this book offers fully-illustrated, practical advice about how to play up assets while minimizing problemed areas.
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Subjects:  1. Beauty & Grooming - Fashion    2. Clothing and dress    3. Consumer Health    4. Fashion    5. General    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Self-Help    8. Art / Fashion   

Subjects:  1. Beauty & Grooming - Fashion    2. Beauty & Grooming - General    3. Diet / Health / Fitness    4. Fashion    5. Fashion & Grooming    6. Health & Fitness    7. Health/Fitness    8. Health & Fitness / Beauty & Grooming   

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   

Reviews (9)

Not a scandalous tell-all but a beautiful, respectful book!
Finally, a beautiful book that is a little different - no scandal or inuendo - just wonderful text about the wedding event of the 80's, with different and detailed photos and sketches about how this magnificent wedding dress (at the time) came to be, including Diana's involvement. Additionally, if you are into sewing or dressmaking as I am, it gives an added dimension. Quality book which has been unavailable in Oz, even now.Thanks Amazon!

incomplete
While most of the pictures were well thought out, as was the general layout of the book, it seemed to me to beg for moresolid information. The Emanuels say they purposely made the design complicated so to make copies difficlt, yet the dress itself, other than the admitted elaborate embellishments, was actually fairly basic; full gathered skirt, fitted boned bodice, large puffy sleeves, rounded neckline. They dismiss the major criticism of the dress--it's extremely crumpled appearance caused by the choice of fabric and simply say they thought it made the garment looked better that way when Diana exited from the carriage at St. Pauls. It looked crumpled and creased, kids, and was likely the cause of inexperienced designers fairly recently out of school not anticipating how taffeta--even heavy weight taffeta--wrinkles. There were also virtually no real construction details--information regarding the actual construction, the boning placement, the yardages used (the layers of petticoats were just described as 'many'), the linings and that sort of thing. Surely at this late date including diagrams of the patterning couldn't be a state secret but would tell a lot about the dress from a technical angle.
You Wouldn't Think You'd Be Able To Make A Book Out Of A Dress...
But you can, they do, and it works! A lovely book that proves the interest in Lady Diana Spencer/Diana Princess of Wales continues and likely will for a long, very long, time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1961-    2. Clothing    3. Design    4. Diana,    5. Fashion    6. Monarchy And Aristocracy    7. Photo Essays    8. Photoessays & Documentaries    9. Photography    10. Princess of Wales,    11. Subjects & Themes - Fashion    12. Wedding costume    13. Photography / General   

Subjects:  1. Beauty & Grooming - Fashion    2. Beauty & Grooming - General    3. Clothing    4. Clothing and dress    5. Diet / Health / Fitness    6. Fashion    7. Fashion & Grooming    8. Health & Fitness    9. Health/Fitness    10. Personal Growth - Self-Esteem    11. Health & Fitness / General   

Reviews (26)

Great Book
This is a great book that helps not only find great deals but know which ones are great for you.
Dress for Less, Save Stress, Too
Kathryn's book offers help, not hype.
The Tips Worked!
I suffer from a thyroid disorder and therefore a weight that can fluctuate dramatically throughout the course of a year.I am in one of those awkward times now, where nothing in my closet fits, and so I needed some new clothes.Not having a lot of money to spend, I happened across Kathryn's blog, and subsequently bought her book.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Beauty & Grooming - Fashion    4. Clothing and dress    5. Consumer Health    6. Fashion    7. General    8. Shopping    9. Art / Fashion   

Reviews (8)

Wonderful Resource
I loved all the history included and I found the tutorials very easy to follow.I liked the way they are broken down into little bits, so that you are not overwhelmed with the information.Grab this one while you can.

A valuable reference for designing and knitting ganseys
I agree with most of the praises other reviewers have bestowed upon this book, but I also understand the criticism in the review entitled "disappointing".I recently knitted a very challenging gansey (not one of the patterns in this book), and, as it was my first gansey ever, I used this book for reference for techniques that were unfamiliar to me. While most of the explanations were clear, a few were a bit obscure.I was surprised to see this, given the author's excellent reputation as a teacher. In these few instances, I was able to find another book with much clearer explanations of the same techniques.
Disappointing
While I did find the history of Ganseys informative, the instructions for executing the techniques to construct the sampler--the instructional tool for practicing the techniques to be used in the construction of a full-size sweater--were not consistently clear.Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Fashion    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Knitting    6. Needlework - Knitting    7. Patterns    8. Sweaters   

Reviews (10)

Lots of filler and not enough insight
I'm very disappointed by the lack of content in this book. After breezing through it in one night I felt like there was so much more that can be covered. Most of the book were pictures the author has taken for portfolios he's build. The quality of pictures are ok at best. It would have been more useful if he used portraits from photographers to contrast to his own style. The reader had to take the authors word on what looks right and wrong. 1 or 2 more view points would have made a huge difference.
A nicely comprehensive guide!
Pegram does an eminently readable job in covering the modeling portfolio process ~ I own several books on the subject, and this volume has superseded them all to become my "go-to" reference.

Best for beginners
Model portfolio photography tends to be a seductive pursuit that attracts photographers who either lack the necessary experience, or shouldn't be doing it in the first place. Portfolios are properly shot by working fashion or product illustration photographers who understand the challenges.
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Subjects:  1. Careers    2. Modeling    3. Photo Techniques    4. Photography    5. Portraiture    6. Subjects & Themes - Fashion    7. Techniques - General    8. Photographs: portraits    9. Photography / Techniques   

Reviews (1)

eh
the format is the almost the exact same as Fruits, but the fashion is less interesting. a lot of the outfits are somewhat boring and some of the photography is out of focus. some of the pictures are really good, though. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Fashion    4. Popular Culture - General    5. Art / Fashion   

Reviews (12)

Totally brill, and he makes you laugh, too
Not really sure how Simon Doonan managed to fail the Eleven Plus; he's (among other geniuses) a Comic Genius.Confessions of a Window Dresser has (surprisingly!) turned out to be an excellent read-aloud.
Pluses & Minuses
This book is a ride for sure, an artistic roller-coaster with a nice beginning, no ending and a meandering middle.I think it would be appropriate to call this book self-absorbed and it is up to you to decide if that is what you want to read.Some of the problems I encountered:First, I really should have bought the hardcover; the [paperback] book literally fell apart in my hands.By page six, the cover was off and soon after that I was picking little bits of glue off my lap.About one third the way through the book, I gave up and tried to stay ahead of the mess by picking the glue off the binding myself.I have read hundreds of books, many of them paperbacks, and I have probably never seen a book so poorly bound; by the end of the book it started to look and feel like a newspaper!Additionally, for what is mostly a color-picture book the quality of paper used is also astonishingly low; the total lack of quality of this book is depressing.Perhaps this is what you get when you manufacture in China and don't have someone watching who speaks Chinese.
Wise advices by Doonan himself...
Fashion Marketing is everywhere, especially in Fashion Windows where's the retailer's most economical form of advertising; bring glamour, fun, theatre and art to the streets, while visibly expressing the store's image. Of his approach to visual merchandising, Simon Doonan brings a wealth of personal experince and insight to these window displays. The ones who are interested in Fashion Windows, Fashion Marketing and Fashion Advertising, must have this book. (P.S. I bought this book from Amazon and received it at the right time and with no harm. Thanks Amazon.com ) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1952-    2. Art    3. Artists, Architects, Photographers    4. Biography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Design - Decorative    7. Display Advertising    8. Doonan, Simon,    9. Fashion    10. Great Britain    11. Show windows    12. Window dressers   

Reviews (31)

Let's get this book republished
This is by far the best and most comprehensive knitting reference book I have ever seen.I checked it out from the library and instantly succumbed to book envy.Unfortunately, reference books need to be on hand so you can....refer to them.If I had an extra $200+I would buy it in a minute.Alas, I am not burdened with surplus dollars at the moment. If we all call Simon & Schuster and request that they republish it..... Maybe they will..... They can be reached at www.simonsays.com or1-800-223-2336.Ask all your knitting friends to call too.Thanks and Happy Knitting!

Petition the Publishers
Does anyone know whether this book will really and truly be re-issued?
This is my knitting bible
I'm an on again-off again knitter.I haven't been really into knitting for about 10 years but last year I really got into it again. Well somewhere along the line I bought this book, and boy am I glad I did.This book is my knitting "bible".I KNOW I can master anything about knitting if this book is resting on my knees.You knitters know what I mean.It would be nice for a reissue.Some of the terminology is dated.For instance, if you would be looking for a provisional cast on it wouldn't be in this book.Maybe by another name or something you would be able to find it.You have to look at the diagrams..
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Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Fashion    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Knitting    6. Needlework - Knitting    7. Crafts & Hobbies / General   

Reviews (4)

MYBOOK
I THINK I WANT TO BE A FASHION DESIGNER IS A GREAT BOOK TO READ SO THAT I CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT DESIGNING.I CANT WAIT TO READ IT AGAIN. I LEARNED TO NEVER GIVE UP ON AN IDEA.YOU WILL NEVER KNOW IF YOU WILL MAKE IT OR NOT IF YOU DON'T TRY.I LEARNED MANNEQUINS ARE FOR CLOTHING THAT I DESIGN.IF THERE IS A MISTAKE ON THE DRESS, IT IS A PRACTICE DRESS.IF I MAKE IT RIGHT THE NEXT TIME, IT IS A DRESS THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO DESIGN FOR MANY MANY TIMES.

Really nice book!
This is a really nice book.Lots of glossy color photos of star designers add to the enjoyment of reading this book.It's great for little or big girls interested in fashion.I especially liked the story of the little girl who made up a new kind of mitten.She's been very successful with her efforts.It shows that not everyone has to go to design school to be a success in the field.

great color pictures
This book is a great way to see how fashion works and all the things that is in the job the pictures are great if youre thinking about being a fashion designer than you need to buy this ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art - Fashion    2. Careers    3. Children's 9-12 - Careers    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    5. Children: Grades 3-4    6. Fashion design    7. Fashion designers    8. Juvenile literature    9. Vocational guidance    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / School & Education   

Reviews (81)

Not for the elegant, or those who'd like to be.
I love Lucky magazine, and shows like What Not To Wear, so I was very excited about this book.It has some good information about fit, body type, and how many of certain items (such as T-shirts) a girl really needs.I also liked the inserts about various designers and their personal styles.But when it comes to breaking down a wardrobe, the actual clothes pictured are so trendy that they were "over" by the time of publication, and I worry that the more literal-minded among us may use them as some sort of standard.These are not classic items that everyone needs and can (or should) wear.The best way to use this book is abstractly...and even then, it's just not the best manual of its type.Many of the suggested outfits were inappropriate for any sort of event, and others were just silly.I was disappointed.

The Lucky Shopping Manual
This book is really written for the under 30 year old woman.It is very detailed and thoughtful but I really couldn't say that I picked up any good fashion ideas for my age group (50+ years).I have bought The Pocket Stylist by Kendall Farr and some of the "What not to wear" series and have found them fantastic and appropriate.
PERFECT for Spring Closet Cleaning!
I bought this book on a whim, thinking that what with being a teacher, a receptionist, and an actress, having a book full of outfits is just what I need to get dressed in the morning.
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Subjects:  1. Beauty & Grooming - Fashion    2. Clothing and dress    3. Consumer Health    4. Fashion    5. General    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Fashion design    10. Reference / Consumer Guides   

Subjects:  1. 1945-1970    2. 20th century    3. Celebrities    4. Fashion    5. History    6. History - General History    7. Nineteen sixties    8. Photo Essays    9. Pictorial works    10. Popular Culture    11. Social life and customs    12. United States    13. United States - 20th Century    14. Art / General   

Subjects:  1. Archaeology    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Business & Economics    4. Business/Economics    5. Industries - Textile Industry    6. Archaeology by period / region    7. Costume    8. Social Science / Archaeology   

Reviews (2)

MESMERIZING = CARTIER
A MOST REMARKABLE COLLECTION OF CARTIER JEWELS PHOTOGRAPHED IN ALL THEIR GLORY. THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING I EXPECTED & MORE; BEAUTIFULLY PRINTED & ENCASED IN A LUXURIOUS FOLDOUT BOX--A JEWEL ITSELF FOR ANY LOVER & COLLECTOR OF ORNAMENTS. ITS' MASSIVE SIZE & OVERALL QUALITY JUSTIFY ITS' PRICE. I AM MESMERIZED BY THE ARTISTRY & VERSATILITY OF CARTIER.

Must have!!!
This book is a must have for any true jewelry book colector.
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Subjects:  1. Antiques / Collectibles    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Design - Decorative    5. Jewelry    6. Jewellery & jewellery-making    7. Photography / Fashion