3 comments about Chic In Paris: Style Secrets & Best Addresses.

1. Unless you are planning on hiring Ms Tabak to go to Paris and go shopping for you, this book is not worth purchasing. If you buy it, you'll sort of know what she will probably pick out for you. But the advice is trivial. For example: What is the biggest fashion faux pas? Not feeling good about yourself. (page 103). What are three must-have wardrobe pieces? Lingerie, shoes, and jewelry. (page 69)
   Save your money and go to Paris yourself and look for shops yourself and buy your clothes yourself. You will have more fun than you will reading this boring book.



2. This book is not what you think it is. I thought it was going to be a book filled with Chic fashion tips and it was mostly interviews with different women telling you what beauty prducts they use. There was very little about fashion. Go check it out at a library, but save your money.



3. Written by Susan Tabak, a $1,500 a day personal shopper, CHIC IN PARIS is a stylish book that offers readers insidery information about the fashion philosophies of eight affluent, glamorous French women.
   
   Far from a recipe for great style, CHIC IN PARIS does not offer precise advice for dressing well-- as the popular What Not To Wear series does. Instead in each of the eight chapters, the author poses general questions to each style icon. And the answers are timeless or vague -- depending upon your expectations.
   
   Here you will not be told to wear skinny, bootleg or bell-bottomed jeans, but instead you will be encouraged to disregard trends entirely and wear the fabrics, colors and styles that make you feel good, in a sensual way.
   
   Recommended for both Francophiles and fashionistas. CHIC IN PARIS is the classic gift book. With its ruby red, faux crocodile cover, lush design and dozens of full-color photographs, this is a coffeetable-style book -- meant to be touched and looked at with quick glances, rather than read cover to cover. Consequently the words are few and the printing quality deluxe.
   
   Having sufficiently praised this book (because in truth I like it and think it offers value), I must say that the more I look at it, the more I wonder about its path to printing and the integrity of the information. For starters there is no traditional credit page here. The publisher is not clearly identified. And the price/bar code is noted with an adhesive sticker on the cover, that makes me wonder if CHIC IN PARIS is a self-published book that was marketed to the public after its production.
   
   Then, as I investigate this further, I note that all of the traditional contact information contained here, relates to the author's company, Paris Personal Shopper, including a Manhattan phone number and a website address. Yikes! Is this a brochure?
   
   This, of course, doesn't reveal the book's lack of integrity. But then I begin to google the eight style icons and note that most hype the designers/companies they are most closely associated with.
   
   Ultimately I don't think that any of this matters. After all art gallery brochures are always self-published and are always for sale -- until they sell-out, of course. So because CHIC IN PARIS is a nice looking book that definitely offers valuable fashion perspectives, I recommend it to those who are interested in:
   
   Georgina Brandolini (Valentino's unpaid muse of 22 years);
   Loulou de la Falaise ( designer and 30 year Yves Saint Laurent muse);
   Inés de la Fressange (clothing designer & former Chanel model);
   Mina d'Ornano (boutique owner & accessories designer);
   Marie-Hélène de Taillac (jewelry designer);
   Spela Lenarcic (fashion stylist);
   Carole Rochas (jewelry designer); and
   Nathalie Rykiel (Sonia's daughter & CEO of Rykiel Woman).
   
   -- Regina McMenamin

No comments about Decorated Book Papers: Being an Account of their Designs and Fashions (Houghton Library Publications).

No comments about Mikimoto.

5 comments about Femme Fatale: Famous Beauties Then and Now.

1. This book presents beautiful pictures of famous and enticing modern women: but to call them "femmes fatales" would be to mischaracterize them.

   By definition, the term "femmes fatales" was coined to gorgeous women whose actions were detrimental or harmful to their men or partners. Thus, in real life a woman could be gorgeous without being fatal, or vice versa, she could be fatal without being exceptionally gorgeous. Cleopatra was one such woman, who although not extraordinarily beautiful, was able to charm two Roman generals and to lead them to their downfall.

   Although hairstyle was an important component of a woman's appearance, it was certainly not the unique feature of a person. Her eyes, smile, demeanor, sleek appearance, and clothing also played important roles. Therefore, to reduce a woman's character to her hairdo, as the hairstylist-author had suggested, was to overly simplify the matter.

   The women photographed in the book were certainly "chic," although not necessarily "fatal."




2. Because of the title The Femme Fatale, Famous Beauties Then and Now, I was expecting a sort of photographic history book. I would be very interested in seeing how the image of a Femme Fatale has changed over the years, from the glamourous pencil browed vixens of the 1920's to the much more volupt modern beauties. (Think pulp fiction novel cover vs. Catherine Zeta Jones) I would have liked to read up on how even though what is considered beautiful (and dangerous) has changed, the character of the Femme Fatale predominates our culture, in literature and film.
   I really got the wrong book. Instead of what I was expecting, this book features celebrities made over to appear like they would in different time periods, and the photos are high quality, oversized and printed on slick glossy paper. Some of the transformations are very well done (the girl on the front cover is Julia Roberts, believe it or not) So the book is not without merit, but they could have done a lot more.
   If I wanted to see pictures of Britney Spears, I'd just read People magazine.



3. I have been a fetish model for almost two years, and a close photographer friend and myself are kicking off a new project which showcases high end fetish photographs. While my husband was searching for a poetry book in a Barnes and Nobles store, I snuck to the photography section to see if I could be inspired for this new peoject. My eye fell on this book immediately. I looked at no other book! The photographs are simply too beautiful for words, and I was heartbroken by the cover price... Reluctantly, I put it back on the shelf. When I came home however, I searched your site immediately and found a used copy in mint condition .... Obviously, I was nothing less than thrilled!

   This book is based on the photography of hair, and showcases original photographs from the 1800's as samples. Serge Normant then re-creates these by using well known models and celebraties of today, dressing them in period clothing, changing their looks dramatically.

   If you are a hairdresser, model, or photographer, you MUST own this book!




4. Much, if not all this material has been published elsewhere, so you may have seen it. However, it has not been presented together organized around the interesting concept that Julia Roberts, Elizabeth Hurley, Susan Sarandon, Britney Spears and a host of beautiful women are paying homage to women of a previous age. (Yes, that Britney Spears).

   In an interview with a French magazine, the photographer described himself as awed or intimidated when Susan Sarandon showed up. He only relaxed when she took charge and he just responded to what he saw. The mutual respect shown by the professionals on both sides of the camera is what makes these images good.

   This is not just a catalog of beatiful pictures of contemporary icons playing dress up. If it is authentic it makes a convincing statement about the power and stature of these famous modern women and a lot of not so famous all around us.

   If you know a young woman who wants to be in the next book like this, show it to her. I have handed it to several young women I've photographed recently. "Oh, my God! Britney Spears is beautiful." "That can't be Claudia Schiffer." "Elizabeth Hurley scares me!" Isabella Rossellini as Betty Page is the show stopper, however.

   The photography is as good as it gets, but the material added to hang it all together weakens the book. Some of it is completely contrived and bogus.

   Next time let the women and the photographer do their work and let the readers draw the conclusions. Meanwhile a lot of wannabe photographers and young models have some catching up to do.




5. Serge Normant may have been the creator of the styles pictured within, but it's the aritisty of the photographer Michael Thompson that's truly responsible for the incredible images in this book. Thompson is, perhaps, the most talented of current fashion photographers, but he's also the most overlooked by all but those "in the industry." He's classic, and contemporary, and as versatile as Meisel or Demarchelier. He may not be as well known as his contemporaries, but that's because he lives a quiet life in Pennsylvania, and stays out of the limelight.

   I'm looking forward to a massive collection of Michael's photographs, a 'Part One' retrospective, but i don't believe it's forthcoming. Doesn't seem to be his style.

No comments about Reforming Women's Fashion, 1850-1920: Politics, Health, and Art.

No comments about Fashionable Clothing from the Sears Catalogs: Mid-1970s (Schiffer Book for Collectors and Designers).

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 Raf Simons.

1. Well, how about that title?
   Anyway if you're into Raf and what he does and stands for then you're in for a treat. If not, you're missing out. This is a great book for a fans and those new to Raf's world alike.
   Enjoy.



2. "Redux" extends Raf Simons' idea that fashion is more than clothes and celebrities. The book reveals Simons' social background, social isolation, social intimacy with his designers/models, and a blurry vision of the future.
   
   Most importantly, the book doesn't reveal too much information on Mr Simons and is presented in such a way which seems unfinished but actually avoids pretensiousness.
   
   The mystery is reduced but not revealed. Recommended

No comments about Textile Motifs of India (Pepin Press Artn Books).

1 comments about I Wanna Make My Own Clothes.

1. This book is good for any girl who wants to add some spark to dull clothes. In "I Wanna Make My Own Clothes" not all of the projects involve sewing. The largest category is tee shirts.If you don't know how to sew or don't have the equipment, it shows you where to get the supplies and how to sew step by step.The age range for this book shoould be 8-15.