5 comments about Intimate: Nudes by Marc Baptiste.

1. This book is very inspiring to a budding photographer like myself.
   Gives great ideas.



2. This is a great book because it deals with real people and not just models. You get to see the female body in all aspects and get to appreciate the female nude from a truly amazing photographer.
   
   This would be a great coffee table book as long as your guests are not taken aback because of the nuidity.



3. This book shows women of all colors and several ethnicities. My personal favorite is the black woman with a long, colorful tattoo of flowers on her back. Many of the photographs, I'm sorry to say, show people smoking--something that is unhealthy, unsexy, and unwise. A number of the photographs show women with men, though there is nothing explicit--just suggestion, and artfully so. Some of the photographs have a blurry, out-of-focus presentation that seems to be widely favored these days. I'd like to see less of that and more straightforward portrayal of women's beauty. After all, that's why I buy books of female nudes.



4. Being a female photographer I am very keen on the word "intimate" and its relationship to women posing nude. Nude photography must be intimate and carefully done with as much sensitivity as possible. I find Marc's work to be a tad unnatural and not very intimate. I guess if it was not titled as such I could look at it with a different frame of mind!



5. This is one of the worst examples of nude photographic art that I have ever seen. It is so bad that I even couldn't bring mysel to try to resale it so I threw it into the garbage can where it belongs. I could write a whole book about how bad it is but I don't want to waste the time. IT IS TERRIBLE FROM AN ARTIST PROSPECTIVE!!!!!!!

5 comments about Ralph Lauren: The Man, the Vision, the Style.

1. This book was very boring and I love Ralph Lauren. I find it difficult to believe that such an elegant person would use inpolite gutter language....It appeared that the author did not have any love or like for Ralph Lauren...I would love to read a well written book about Ralph Lauren....I don't believe that he talks in that manner and would like to read the elegant approach. I would love a book about his style and creations.



2. Fans of this runway king will enjoy this biography. The man behind the threads is as fascinating as his clothing line, and if this book has a fault, it's that there aren't enough photos of his sensational clothes. Lauren's taste and style are legendary - he seems to be one of the few fashion designers who actually likes women! Roll on, Ralph.



3. I am a Ralph Lauren fan, but like others who've reviewed this title, I was disappointed that there weren't more photos of the beautiful clothes -- the style -- from the archives. I had hoped to see more fashion than what was included. In a recent fashion magazine tribute, for example, there were several pieces of wonderful fashion from the archives -- a military jacket, tuxedo jacket, etc -- that epitomized the Lauren style. This sort of thing was sorely lacking in this book. Just not enough of a good thing, and not as lush as you'd expect.



4. I was thoroughly disappointed in this book that purports to be an inside look of Ralph Lauren.It is hardly that. The pictures are old and there aren't many outside observers, including folks who wear the clothes, who comment on one of America's leading designer businesses. I also read the Michael Gross book which is far more titillating and detailed...at least you get a fuller portrait of the designer.



5. I've been anxiously awaiting this book's release for the past couple of years. It was originally going to be titled Ralph Lauren and the Spirit of America. Rumor had it last year that Ralph previewed the book and demanded a re-write because he didn't like the copy.

   It's a nice book, and if you are into Ralph Lauren, you should check it out. However, be aware that it's not up to the standard Ralph himself would have produced. It covers all aspects of Ralph Lauren, from his childhood and personal life to the history of Polo. It is fawning as the reviews say, and the writing is just plain boring at times. Still, it is a good overview of Ralph.

   The photographs are where it really disappointed me. There are relatively few, and many of them have been seen before. The pictures are not comprehensive in any sense. It offers reprints of ads (mostly recent, although a few from over the years), a few personal photographs of Ralph and his family, and pictures of the stores (for some reason heavily focused on the Chicago location - almost no photos of the mansion). I would have appreciated a bigger selection from the archives or older ads and a few more "behind the scenes" shots. The shots of Ralph's office and of him in a fitting session are so small you can hardly make anything out of them.

   I read the Michael Gross biography first, definitely more readable, but it's mostly second hand gossip. Here you get the sanitized version, in a prettier package. Don't expect any surprises though.

1 comments about Yvonne Porcella: Art & Inspirations.

1. I like this applique book. It has unusual designs for people who like something other than the norm.

1 comments about Simply Silk: 12 Creative Designs for Quilting and Sewing.

1. I love silk, I have used it in many quilting projects, and still found lots of inspiration here. And there are simple projects for beginners to get their feet wet, too. This author includes all the secrets on how to make sewing with silk as easy as stitchng cottons. The brief history of silk included in the book was fascinating, and I loved the author's upbeat perspective. The silk slippers are great, I think my girlfriends will all get those for Christmas gifts this year! Yummy! And the quilt ideas inspired me to make another silk quilt, this time with Mary Jo's suggested wool batting by Hobbs (I love that stuff!) Full size patterns are a big plus, some of the images/diagrams could have been clearer, though. It's a great guide for stitchers who want to work with silk but need a little hand-holding.

4 comments about Patrick DeMarchelier: Forms.

1. This is real impressive in term of b&w photography. I like his creative composition and expression of forms. It is more than beautiful pic and model, and impressive techniques. The variety of subject is another good reason to get this one.



2. What Galen Rowell does for mountains, Patrick Demarchelier does for living subects. He captures the character, the inner self, the most basic essence of a subject and capture it on black and white film. It's as if he breaths on his photographs and they come to life. He does it for Hillary Clinton, he does it for giraffes--all mesmerizing to look at. I wish he could photograph everyone in the world--it would be a so much more interesting place if all the static, cliche portraits were replaced with his vivid work. The book includes color and magazine shoots, too--which prove the range of his talent. Who else could capture a different facet of the exhaustively photographed Linda Evangelista in every shot? Or make the form, the line of a model reclining on a whitewashed wall as interesting as the model's beauty? A really great book of pictures whose character, form, lines will entrance any viewer.This book -- or should I say Demarchelier's work--deserves more than five stars. How about ten?



3. Patrick has done it again! Pictures from recent harpers bazaar shoots and the beautiful portraits of Princess Diana are in this book. Everybody should purchase this book.



4. Patrick Demarchelier's mastery of tecnique and abundance of creativity is unique and deserves to be fully explored in this unmissable book. Fashion photography lovers must thank Harper's Bazaar's genius for its continous stimulation of our senses. Thank you, thank you Pat.

No comments about Walter Chin: After Shoot.

2 comments about A Closet Full of Shoes: Simple Ways to Make Them Chic.

1. I've read a woman can never have too many pairs of shoes. And in this respect, I am all woman. I probably have far too many pair, none too much alike, and who cares?
   
   For my business, which involves Scottish wedding themes, I'm always on the lookout for ways how to further develop Scottish-ness and have fun using Scottish roots to celebrate a wedding.
   
   So I bought A Closet Full of Shoes to see what ideas the authors had and how they might evolve with tartan, Celtic knots, and other Gaelic motifs.
   
   Personally, I don't wear anything with a heel over 1 inch, so I glad to see so many ideas for lower heels and flats. The stiletto heel ideas shown are great, glittery and glitzy...if only I could.
   
   From cover to cover I thoroughly enjoyed the read, the photos, and the creative ideas. It was nice to get directions about "how" to fasten the decorations on the shoes...and stockings!
   
   Eleven creative women contributed photos and directions. There are 49 ideas for ladies, 6 for little girls, 5 work of art displays, and many more photo ideas showing slippers, sandals, flip-flops, sneakers, boots, every day shoes, dressy night-out shoes and wedding shoes.
   
   Embellishment ideas include silk flowers, feathers, glitter and sequins ~ ribbons, trims, fabrics, and lace ~ applique, stencils, beads and buttons ~ computerized photo transfers and painted designs ~ jewelry, including brooches, charms, trinkets, and clip-on earrings. And combinations of these media.
   
   Quotes from Imelda Marcos, Sex and the City, Bette Midler, Oprah Winfrey, Marilyn Monroe, Teddy Roosevelt, Allan Sherman, and Cinderella add a whimsical humor.
   
   My favorite quote was anonymous, "When life gives you rain, splash in the puddles," with a pair of girls rain boots. How long since you've run and splashed in the puddles? Too long, I'll bet.



2. I loved this book from the moment I first opened it. I'm a wearable art artist and the more sources I have the better. This book gives me a new source of options. All my shoes will be having overhauls on them very soon!

2 comments about Suss Design Essentials: The Ultimate Collection for a Classic Handknit Wardrobe.

1. Suss has the ability to take simple lines and stitches and create new, fresh, elegant designs. Very classy with a twist.



2. Pulling together designs from Suss Cousins' runway collections over the past ten years, Suss Design Essentials presents a collection sure to delight her many fans. Known for dressing many Hollywood stars, this collection features details commonly seen in high fashion collections: oversized collars, creatively placed closures and asymmetrical design.
   
   Worked in yarns from the Suss collection, Cousins has chosen her top 30 designs which she has broken into five categories: best sweaters, best separates, best dresses, best coats and capes, and finally, and best accessories. Each garment is chosen to showcase her design philosophy - creating garments that become wardrobe staples but involve a twist of some sort.
   
   Cousins' designs fall within quite a small size range, finished chest sizes of 30" - 44", with only a few falling outside the 36" - 40" range. Each design includes yardage estimates and a yarn substitution guide is included at the back, featuring her substitution suggestions. As well, each pattern includes the standard yarn weight symbol.
   
   While the designs included in Suss Design Essentials will be of interest to Cousin's fans, plus-size knitters would do well to look elsewhere for patterns. These garment designs would require significant reworking to fit the big girl and flatter her frame. The oversized silhouettes and chunky yarns are better suited to a slender body-type and the few accessories included are not worth the price tag.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Includes 30 top designs for knitters.

2 comments about My Likeness Taken: Daguerreian Portraits In America.

1. A wonderful resurce for those interested in 19th century American costume and early photography, following the author's earlier work "Dressed for the Photographer". The amount of fine detail given and breadth of knowledge displayed is awe inspiring.



2. Severa examines daguereotypes of American women and some children and men for what can be learned about American fashion in the 1840s and '50s. Severa is a former curator of costume at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. That she examines over 250 and has something different to point out about American fashion with each one attests to the variety and bountifulness of the fashion during the short period of the two decades--which is what the author wanted to demonstrate by the daguerreotypes. Women in the earlier 1800s had more fashion choices than they did in the middle and latter nineteenth century. "In the 1840s the visible model [for women's fashion] was taken, as it had been for centuries, from royalty." Designers in Paris and other fashion centers quickly picked up on the fashions displayed by queens, princesses, and duchesses in their marriage ceremonies, crownings, and other public appearances. And these trend-setting fashions were quickly picked up by American women in turn. Most of the women in the daguerreotypes are well-to-do, able to keep up with the latest and the finest fashion of the era. In addition to noting and naming parts of the fashions visible in the numerous daguerreotypes, Severa makes comments on such points as materials and unseen features cut off by the frames which most readers would not be aware of. "The dress is of rich silk, with fitted sleeves, fan front bodice, and full bouffant skirt" is part of her description of the dress of one young woman. The author's enthusiasm for the subject and succinct, informative annotations along with the pictures of actual historical persons make this an especially enjoyable survey of this short but exceptionally rich period of American fashion.

No comments about Visual Design in Dress, 3rd Edition.