No comments about Anh Duong: Self Portraits.

5 comments about Fashion Sourcebooks the 1940s (Fashion Sourcebooks).

1. Please change the price as I would like to buy it.



2. I found this book to be a great starter book. The drawings are done well enoungh so that you get a general idea of what clothing looked like back then, but not detailed enough to help you find those sort of fashions in thrift stores or on line.(They never show the backs of the clothes). I did like the drawings of the shoes and hats. I found those to be done well enough as to help in finding those actual items. If you are looking for 1940's fashions this book will help somewhat, but I wish the was more detail.



3. I really like the two fashion sourcebooks I have. I bought them for inspiration in designing some clothing that will have a retro flair to it. While certainly not all the illustrations are of things that I like, overall I think the book is a good value and very interesting. Certainly the sketches are not very detailed, and if you're looking for a book of patterns, this isn't it, at all. Also be aware that the sketches are black and white.



4. Great women's clothing, but if you're looking for men's styles -- don't blink. Looks like 1 men's for every 8 women's drawings.



5. Look closely at the cover of this book. It is filled only with such rough sketches of the day, evening, and sports wear from the decade. This is not a detailed, pattern-oriented fashion book. Rather, it would serve better as a reference guide for a designer looking for inspiration from classic styles.

5 comments about Chanel: Her style and her life.

1. I absolutely loved reading this book! It provided me with an insight into the life of Chanel including all of her successes and struggles. It really made an impression on me and I would encourage anyone who is looking for a good read to pick up this book. Not only was it very informative, it also provided a great story full of saddness, love, and many other touching and motivating elements.



2. I have always been fascinated by whatever's written about her ever since I received a Chanel purse for an 18th birthday present. There have been a number of books written about Chanel, I'm sure but Janet Wallach's will not disappoint any reader. It is simple and elegantly written with beautiful black and white illustrations. Even if one is not a fan of Chanel's style, you will be intrigued by her notorious life as told here. Either for yourself or a friend, a nice book to keep and look through now and again.



3. This book is very good. The text isn't hard to read, and in this book are allot of pictures, only in black and white. There should have been also a few colour pictures. This book is only looking at the period that Coco Chanel designed the collections and not the Karl Lagerfeld era.



4. I haven't read the book but I really need a picture of Coco Chanel. Is there any about? I need it for my A Level French Course work!!!! Any Help Thanks xxxxxx



5. This is a spectacularly beautiful and insightful view of a woman who was the major force in 20th century fashion. It is elegantly written and sumptuously illustrated and no doubt will become the definitive book on Coco Chanel. I learned a great deal that I did not know before and I had a long career in fashion. This book will delight men as well as women because it contains many revealing stories about Chanel's sexual escapades. Buy it by all means!

5 comments about Blueprints of Fashion: Home Sewing Patterns of the 1940s (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. this is one of the great fashion books. very well put together, interesting...unlike most fashion books (in terms of text) and classy and LOTS of images. Both of Laboissonniere's books are great.



2. As a dealer in vintage patterns, (...) Wade's book is an indispensable resource in accurate dating of my pattern inventory. This in turn helps me to better serve my customers. Wonderful color examples of all the catagories, styles and companies.



3. This book begins with a lot of information about sewing pattern companies, sewing in the beginning half of the century, and fashion changes during the forties that are worth the price of this book. The second half is all reproductions of the fronts of pattern envelopes which provide inspiration for design as well as pointing out how much more advanced the average sewer seemed to be in the forties compared to today.



4. This is a wondreful look at a time in fashion when looking your best when in public or private did matter. The fashions are an inspiration to those who love classic design. The only statement being made by these fasions are upbeat ones. Thanks for a great book that any sewer will treasure forever!!



5. I was amazed to receive this book. I learned about how rationing during WWII affected clothing and fashion. I saw how fashion evolved during a decade that began with war and ended with Paris reviving their Haute Couture.

   I think that the one aspect of Blueprints Of Fashion that caught me completely by surprise was the nostalgic feeling that looking at home sewing catalogue illustrations returned to me. I remember spending hours browsing through catalogues with my Mom during the 60's and 70's. I noticed the change of illustration styles, and the use of more photography, throughout those 2 decades of the big 3--Simplicity, Butterick/Vogue, and McCall's. In the 40's there were many more brands and that much more variation in illustration styles.

   Mr. Laboissoniere has done a great job of grouping the pattern face cards into a journey through the fashionable 40's. Even though he meant this as a guide for collectors, there are so many facets to his research that he has created something truly extraordinary.

2 comments about David LaChapelle.

1. The pix are (as one would expect from LaChapelle) amazing. Visually intriguing, vibrant, eye catching, and entertaining, the book was a great purchase, but it does fall short on quantity. I gave it as a Christmas gift and my recipient paged thru the whole thing standing by the fireplace immediately after opening. Be prepared to greatly enjoy it and be disappointed at the same time. Or at least in a very short span of time.



2. David LaChapelle goes beyond images. His work transports you to another realm where there are no boundaries, no guilt, and no limits. His imagination is captivating bringing life and new adventures with each photograph. I love his work because it rocks the boat. The super high quality images are an unbinding, mesmerizing and absolutely inspiring. His creativity is so multi-dimensional, and multi-faceted. This is no ordinary artist. His work will take you on an extraordinary adventure with every page and image. Simply outstanding!

5 comments about Omega Designs: Feast for the Eyes.

1. It amazes me that a well-known maker as Omega has a paucity of books in print detailing the history and products of this renowned maker (at least in English). Other than a hard to get and doubtless expensive official history, this leaves the gentle reader with this book by Mr. Kreuzer. A translation from German, this book is an exception to the overall thoroughness inherent in the German horological press. The history of Omega is very general and reads almost like a sales brochure from the company itself. Little effort is given to chronicling product development, especially in the era following WW 2, the most prolific period for the company and of most interest to collectors. Much better in this respect is the book "Tale of the Seamaster" by Messrs. Nakamura and Noda (Tokyo, World Photo Press). Unfortunately, this is in Japanese. On a positive note, the section in the back of the book detailing Omega movements is quite helpful, and I have often used it to identify watches.



2. If you are interested in more than how Omega watches look and need to know what's inside them, this book is a great resource. As a collector it's frustrating to see watches listed for sale with movement calibers listed, but not have a source of information that provides details on the movements. For Omega watches only, this book seems to be definitive in this area. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the major Omega lines and the other information on the company, although it's far from comprehensive. I would only recommend this book if you want or need the technical data on the Omega movements.



3. With a far from comprehensive collection of color photographs of vintage Omega's, a smattering of vintage ad reproductions, and a barely comprehensible company history, this book's only saving grace is the illustrated history of Omega movements.

   If you need more movement info than can be found in Cooksey-Shugart, buy this book. Otherwise your money is better spent on something more generic, like (Heinz Hampel's) Automatic Wristwatches from Switzerland.




4. This book tells the long history of Omega and describes all watchlines (Constellation, Deville, Seamaster, Speedmaster etc) very well. There is not much depth, but the book do give you a lot of information about the used movements, great photos and information on all watchlines by Omega. For indepth stories about how watches work, buy Chronograph Wristwatches : To Stop Time; Reinhard Meis, Gerd R. Lang or Wristwatch Chronometers : Mechanical Precision Watches and Their Testing; Fritz Von Osterhausen.



5. great explanations on the concept of omega watche

No comments about Material Difference: Soft Sculpture and Wall Works.

No comments about Japanese Detail: Fashion.

5 comments about Fashion Illustration Now.

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. Okay so it took me FOREVER to find and buy this book only to find out its the samd as Borrelli's Stylishly Drawn...and I mean EXACTLY like it nothings different aobut the 2.

   Despite that I love the illustrations in it. They are very very very inspiring and helpful to fashion students and illustrators alike. ENJOY!




5. I'm currently trying to create my own fashion portfolio for entry into university, the problem with me is i usually have tons of wonderful ideas, but because i'm a complete beginner my presentation skills and methods are limited. This book enlightened me on many kinds of media i could explore with.
   This book gave me numerous ideas, and i always return to the book for more inspiration whenever i feel stuck.

   Whether you're someone who's into classical methods or someone who loves to design digitally, this book is for you.

3 comments about Classic Tailoring Techniques: A Construction Guide for Women's Wear (F.I.T. Collection).

1. I found this book and the men's wear companion to be extremely informative and one of the best guides around for learning how to create a tailored garment using the traditional techniques as opposed to the "speed" tailoring that is so popular. I was disappointed that the women's book did include pants. Everyone is not going to buy both books. A basic pair of women's trousers could have been included. I was also surprised that neither book included topcoats or raincoats with zip/button-out linings. They are not just long jackets; there are differences in construction techniques. I also think that there should have been a little more clarification of some things. For instance, it took me a while to realize that silk-finished thread was actually Mettler's silk-finish cotton thread and not a type of silk thread. Minor gripes in comparison to the knowledge to be gained therein by those who want to make couture-quality garments.



2. I bought Classic Tailoring Techniques: A Construction Guide for Men's Wear first. It's great. The text teaches you how to make beautifully tailored garments. I wanted to see those techniques specifically for women's jackets, trousers, and skirts so I bought this edition. Except for the section on pants and skirts, the text is identical in both books. The sections on women's pants and skirts is like anything you'd find in a commercial pattern instruction sheet - nothing special at all. Couture techniques for making beautifully tailored pants for women are not described or even hinted at in this book. Actually, it's not the fault of the author -- tailoring techniques are actually designed for men's clothing. Couture techniques are essentially for women's clothing. If you want to learn to make tailored jackets (men's or women's), either book gives the same instructions. For tailored trousers, use the men's book. For women's skirts, see Couture Sewing Techniques by Claire B. Shaeffer. (Actually, Claire Shaeffer's Vogue patterns for jackets and trousers are probably a better purchase than this book.)



3. An excellent book with clear, well explained diagrams and photographs. The book takes you through the full procedure for tailoring women's jackets, skirts and pants