5 comments about SuicideGirls.

1. This book is a collection of unique and beautifully shot photographs. It will make a good addition to any Suicide Girls' collection.



2. I first got this book because I wanted to perfect my artist skill on drawing the human form, aside from wanting to look at hot naked women. After I first gazed at the pages, I realized that it is more of an artsy-pin up book than a collection of nude photgraphs like the cover leads you to believe.
   I was instantly hooked and wanted to become one simply becuase of the fact that I have so much in common with girls such as Fractal, Mary, Snow, Regan, Tegan, Sicily, Voltaire, Stormy and Shera as well as countless others. Also the fact that it has a section in the back that allows you to get to know the girls is a definate bonus.
   Yet since the date of the books first publication most of the girls have left. (I.E. Tegan, Sicily, Apnea, Katie, Voltaire, Stormy and Shera ect) A 2005 article suggests that several of these models had filed claimes of breach of contract and exploitation.
   Such claimes gave way to an unsuccesful law suit which ended in favor of the owners of Suicide Girls rather than the ex-models. Yet you can still see some if not all at other alternative porn websites such as Godsgirls,Deviant Nation and Apneatic. However this does not make me love Suicide Girls any less and I still catch myself glancing at the book and drawing them, not to mention visiting the website and fantasizing of becoming a model...Well maybe if I lose at least the 20lbs that I have been needing to get off!



3. So. I've never wanted to pay for membership on the SG site, but I've always had an attraction and fascination with the whole punk/goth/indie/alternative type of look. So when this book was released, I jumped on it.
   
   - The photos aren't very artistic. They're simple and straightforward, shot with a standard digital camera.
   - It's arranged rather simply, with little or no thought to the placement of the images. (Usually two images side by side per page)
   - True, you can probably find a lot of similar images on the internet.
   - Some of the girls are absolutely beautiful, but I find some rather unattractive.
   - The quality of the pictures is rather poor, since the original intent of SG was purely online. So the change from pixels to print never translates well.
   - There's very little about the girls themselves... just short, self-written bio's on some of the girls in the back.
   - Let's be honest... you're just buying this for the boobies of cute indie chicks... and that's okay.
   
   After a couple viewings, it doesn't have a lasting effect that the likes of Tony Ward or maybe Richard Kern's work might have. Less art and more taboo. It's an inexpensive book, so if you're into the whole naked chicks with tattoos and piercing, I'd say go for it.



4. The was fine...and thats all....sorry to say
   I have been a Suicide Girls fan from the moment i stumbled across their site.
   I expected the book to make me go WOW, most of the picvtures were known to me. some were quite ordinary
   even for me....a die hard fan it was hrd to find the WOW Factor.



5. To each their own,"beauty in the eye of the beholder", & all that.I find this a bit of a yawn - funny how all this leather/tats/piercings/etc seems to symbolize having a "free mind" nowadays.You see this all the time now,these daring "non-conformists" conforming to the hipster wannabe Ideal.Seems so uninspired and well,boring.Again,to each their own.....

3 comments about The Fairchild Dictionary of Fashion.

1. It's a good reference book when you need information fast. The book is set up that way. It's a wealth of information



2. This is the ultimate resource for a student of costume and fashion design, the key for readers of all levels to decode the jargon that fills this profession's books. The organization is impeccable, the language clear and concise, and the rare but sufficient pictures are crisply adept at illustrating the necessary word or concept.
   
   It covers everything from names of period pieces, accessories, and undergarments to modern terms in the fashion world. It has everything you'd need.



3. A thorough, detail-packed reference book that's invaluable for anyone connected with the fashion industry. We have found it to be the best "first place to turn" for terms and descriptions that add insight and excitement to the marketing messages we create for our fashion clients.

5 comments about Thing of Beauty.

1. the only book i have ever, and WILL ever cry over. okay maybe not cry, but i def teared up while reading the last few pages. her life was just so incredibly sad. this book is written beautifully, and was very hard to put down. i defy anyone to not fall in love with Gia during this book, and have heartache when it's over. towards the end is a "where are they now" but it's about 15 yrs old. i wish steven would do an updated version!!



2. Here is what I liked about this book: This book was well written and loaded with great information. Information, not only about Gia but anything you wanted to know about the modeling industry in the late 70's and early 80's, the culture of that time, New York and the bar scene. The author even had some comments about the politics of the time with some typically left-wing media type comments about Ronald Reagan. Here is what I didn't like: I thought I was reading a book about Gia Carangi and her life. Instead, I got more than I bargained for. If you want an education on the modeling industry during the time, this is the book for you. Me, I was never interested in this industry, even as a teenager. The author's attempt to provide detail of the modeling industry was like reading a textbook or maybe it was an explanation of one more thing to blame on Gia's demise. It might have escalated the downward spiral but the real source behind Gia's addiction was her childhood. There is no doubt in my mind, after reading this book, the the sole source for Gia's addiction was her dysfunctional family. The author's attempt to use the modeling industry, the culture of that time period, Reagan cutting funding for public drug rehab, did not convince me otherwise. Yes, this is a very sad story and I am very glad I read it. I have been surfing the web to see the collection of covers and pictures of this incredibly beautiful person. It definitely left an impression on me. I just think this story could have been told in a more personal, more concise way.



3. If a woman was in need of Love it was not GIA. She had so many people that she hurt and destroyed because of her drug abuse. She was a little girl that needed t o grow up. However, we will never know who she will become because of AIDs. She was a druggie and a Lesbian prostitute who never got to shine her bright beautiful light.



4. One of the saddest books I have ever read. Gia seemed to have it all, looks, photographed great,travel, money etc...everything but the love and stability you yearned for.She died destitute, and people from the modeling world still did not know of her death until months afterwards.Friendships are fast and fleeting in the modeling world. The super models who came through unscathed seemed to be those with very close family ties such as Christie Brinkley and Cindy Crawford. They had genuine friendships outside the modeling world. I think her mother was protecting her from the awful world of the tabloids. What a picture the beautiful Gia, dying of aids. It would have been all over the world.A good read for any aspiring model and her family to read.She died because people just didn't care enough, as long as that perfect shot came through.



5. This is a very well written book that not only details the highs and lows of out of control Supermodel Gia Carangi, but also the same rollercoaster ride that was the fashion modeling industry in the 70's. One should also read Michael Gross"s book "Model, the ugly business of beautiful women" to realize Gia wasn't the only one with problems. Hopefully one of these authors will also write a book about super male model Joe Macdonald in this same entertaining style.

5 comments about The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed the Clothing Business Forever.

1. I had high expectations that the book failed to meet. The beginning chapter is great, explaining the "end of fashion" - clearly organized and interesting. However, much of the rest of the book was a poorly organized slow read. It starts with some history of the "old" French labels, then it goes all over the place, in chapters devoted to individual designers or pairs of designers. There is little rhyme or reason in those chapters, and everything seems to happen from the late 1960's until the late 90's, so much of it is contemporaneous and it is hard to see what point the author is making about the evolution of fashion. The worst part of the book, however, is that it is dated - it talks of labels that nobody cares about, or about movie stars and events that were relevant in the 80's up to mid 90's - the early Clinton days are as hip as it gets.
   
   Overall, if you are interested either in the design aspects of fashion, or the business side, you are better off trying to find better reading somewhere else.



2. Very interesting, business minded look at the fashion industry and the struggle between the creative and the profitable. Written in a straight forward, non-fluffy manner.



3. Wonderful book. This book has given me loads of useful information about the fashion industry. I use information from it in nearly every job interview I've been to.



4. Fashion books fall into a few categories: designer biographies, coffee table books and encyclopedic guides. The End of Fashion is a stunning exception--a hybrid that shows just how the business of fashion works and fails. I bought this book after seeing Teri as a guest judge on Project Runway, and after hearing Tim Gunn's podcast about how important a journalist she is. He didn't exaggerate. This book breaks through the hype and for once I was able to fully understand, to connect the dots about how the fashion business really works. This book came out a few years ago, but the case studies are so thorough that it seems even more current and relevant than most of the drivel about fashion we always read about. Check it out.



5. Terrific book with great insights into how the fashion world has changed. Although not super current, this book truly reveals what has happened in the world of fashion and retail. Terri presents the subject clearly and interestingly and the topics and designers she has chosen clearly illustrate how fashion has become big business.

5 comments about Street: The Nylon Book of Global Style.

1. I've noticed in other reviews people have taken up with the fact that its not like Fruits. I think that that is a good thing. It's got more "practical" style if you will. If you're looking to change up your own style a bit, this is much more helpful and inspirational. It's not just for admiring.



2. i got it as a present for someone of my friends but ended up leaving it for myself. how mean. but i just loved it.
   a nice book to look through again and again. the days you don't know what to wear, how to feel and just wanna change something. there is always some inspiration to get.
   nice editors job.



3. These were attractive people on the street, not professional models (except one but it was just happenstance!) and the clothes they chose to wear that day. I like street fashion more than runway fashion. My only negative thought was that, while stylish, the outfits were very middle of the road. There were very few examples of anything remotely extreme like in Fruits. I would like to see more outrageous fashion, people whith character who are interesting regardless of age or size. I did really like this book and I see something new everytime I look through it.



4. I really liked this book. It reminded me of Fruits, but I liked this slightly more because it focused on different countries rather than just one country like Fruits did. Some people didn't really have intresting style, but not everyone does, and that also made me like it. The style wasn't to an extreme; there were cute, but simple outfits, too. I highly recommend this to any fashion lover.



5. 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.

5 comments about The Suit: A Machiavellian Approach to Men's Style.

1. Nicholas Antongiovanni's THE SUIT is one of the most informative, interesting, and entertaining, volumes pertaining to the art of male dressing that I have ever read. Written cleverly in the style of Machiavelli's classic tome THE PRINCE, Antongiovanni discusses body types and how they affect fit, suit detailing and construction, as well as fabric quality, coloration, cut and tailoring of garments, and level of formality as it pertains to solid and patterned suits. He thoroughly evaluates "ready-made," "designer," "made to measure, and "custom tailored" suits and their relative attributes. Beyond his marvelous critique of suits themselves, Antongiovanni pays additional and welcome attention to shoe styles, profiles and construction, as well as to dress shirts.
   While I am no sartorial novice, I learned a great deal from reading (and re-reading!) this compact, informative, and entertaining book. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to look his best in business and the professions.



2. IF your world is about C level persons: C level execs, clients not customers, colleagues not co-workers or continental (global) not county executives - and you wear suits 3-4 days every week - this is a must have book.
   
   It can give you an edge in boardroom presentations and when meeting "serious suits" for the first time (job interviews).....IF you apply the first 70 pages to your next suit purchase. I own many heavy and expensive "how to dress" books - used to sell suits and still learned much from this tiny book.
   
   The chapters on shirts, shoes and ties are equally great - will help you get a better table at a fancy restaurant and are less expensive to apply if you're not ready to buy "made to measure" suits.
   
   Overall, it's the best combination of minimal time/money you can spend to improve your chances at dressing as well as a "serious suit" - making a great first impression and winning more when presenting/negotiating with them.



3. The Suit by Nicholas Antongiavanni is a parody of Machiavelli's The Prince. It not the type of parody which ridicules, but rather it is the type that uses the tone and design of a previous work as inspiration to create a new work of art. I've read this little book twice now, and I think it might take a college level course to unearth all the literary devices used by the author to imitate The Prince. I keep discovering more clever references each time I read The Suit, and it is amusing and astonishing to note the level of craftsmanship involved.
   
   However, that is really not the principal reason to own this book. The Suit can save you money, time and face! Most men I know do not enjoy shopping for clothing, especially professional clothes, because the whole process is usually fraught with anxiety, and often results in time that feels wasted, wallets that feel much lighter, and closets full of mistakes that no one will ever wear.
   
   Arm thyself with knowledge! This book can help guys wishing to update their wardrobe. It can help people preparing for important occasions, and I think it could also help women who wish to make presents of garments to men.
   
   The Suit is thoroughly researched and seems to derive its sartorial sensibilities from 1930's Apparel Arts Magazines (which I am fortunate enough to have seen) and the current but timeless work of Savile Row and Neapolitan tailors. Many people might feel those influences are way too old fashioned, hidebound or impractical. Not so,says Antongiavanni. I must agree. Once a person knows the "rules" of good dress, it is remarkable how valid they are. Just look at pictures of the world's most successful modern men. Those men send out subtle visual cues with their clothes. The initiated will consciously notice, but the rest of the world's mortals at least sense something is special.
   
   Read The Suit and you will also increase your enjoyment of old classic movies from the 1930's and 1940's. I only recently noticed how consistent the modes of dress are in those movies. Men wear suits in town, and they wear odd jackets in the country with brown shoes. They wear dinner jackets in the evening, at dinner, of course! By having appropriate clothes for every occasion, the classic movie stars looked great for all time, and who doesn't want to look great?
   
   I am especially amused by the author's criticism of black suits for business and formal daytime occasions. In fact, there is a notorious internet thread which I believe involves this author strongly making points against any black lounge suit. This guy is right! I am a musician, and I perform at many wedding services. Black suits and Tuxedos (in the book you'll learn much more about that term) really do look pretty bad in the daylight out in the garden. In fact, although most of the male guests I see at wedding services are fairly comfortable financially, I've seen maybe only two all summer who adhered to the values explained in The Suit. Those men stood out head and shoulders above the rest. I don't know how those "well dressed" gentlemen acquired their ability to dress well, but now that skill is available to others who might read and understand The Suit.
   
   This book reveals the secrets of "proper dressing" to those that are willing to study the concepts and learn the vocabulary. I might also recommend that readers not familiar with the jargon of men's clothes check out Style and the Man by Alan Flusser. That book, with all its photographs, can be a starting point for those wishing to understand The Suit.
   
   Finally, I really wish The Suit was required reading for people in the men's clothing industry--especially retail clothing salesmen and people that call themselves tailors. I am amazed how much ignorant advice is out there. I bet many clothing salesmen might actually enjoy knowing the history and traditions of their business, rather than just feeling compelled to make something up in order to close a sale.
   
   Read this book and you will be able to select your own ties! A person that makes use of the information in The Suit is far more likely to come up with winning combinations of clothes. Give yourself some time to take it all in and reap the rewards.



4. If you want to learn specifically about men's formal clothing (suits, ties, shoes, etc), this book pack plenty of good info. Unfortunately, there are no pictures, so it is often hard to imagine what the author is describing. Therefore, this should not be your first or only book about men's style. Alan Flusser's books are better introductions to this field.
   
   Given that I already knew quite a bit about this topic, I was impressed how much new and interesting things I discovered in this book. For example, one interesting "advanced reading" chapter was "On the Difference Between Formality and Dandification"
   
   The main problems that prevent the book from getting a higher rating are: lack of illustrations, difficult-to-read Machiavelli-style language, expectation of prior knowledge, and somewhat poor organization (e.g. it could have been faster and easier to get to the point on many occasions). Note that the author is an active participant in online forums devoted to men's style (London Lounge, Ask Andy, Style Forum), so many of the glowing positive reviews are from other members of these forums.
   
   Overall: recommended reading.



5. I have read all of the leading books on men's clothing and style over the years. This ranks at the bottom of the list. It was boring and not well written. I put it aside about a quarter of the way through. I am surprised by the other reviews. I felt like they must have been reading a different book! Save your money on this one. Buy any of Alan Flusser's books. They are all about great style and how to dress.

5 comments about Chanel: A Woman of her Own.

1. What an interesting life, as interesting as her clothes... and the empire she built around her name.



2. I found it strange that some readers gave negative or highly critical reviews of this biography. Someone even commented on the difficulty in reading the French names! It's a little late to change Chanel's nationality and thank God! This biography is successful on a number of levels but primarily two: it recounts the fascinating life, in great detail, of the late Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel and it puts her professional contribution to the world in context. On a personal level, her life-story reads as a Dickens novel. Her's is a truly "rags-to-riches" story. Chanel was a woman who created a life and a legend against the odds. She was one of those rare and stunning creatures rising from practically nothing to become a household name. Her family was destitute. Her father abandoned her at an orphanage. Her attempts in music and theatre came to nothing. Her sewing skills were atrocious! Only after a young gentleman named Balsan recognized her talent through her unconventional beauty did her true potential begin to emerge. Chanel knew all of the greatest people of her age: Stravinsky, Cocteau, Dali, Misia Sert, and the Duke of Westminster, among others. Many of these people she knew intimately. How tragic that even after these acquaintances and global successes as a designer, Chanel never really found success in love. Professionally, the impact of her designs are still with us today and influencing generations of new designers and artists. From a perspective of fashion, Chanel almost single-handedly pulled the 19th century world into the modern age by pulling women out of corsets and sliding them into pants. The "little black dress" and classic Chanel suit are not only articles of clothing, they are timeless works of art. Madsen has succeeded in writing a biography that does not fall short as other books on Chanel have in the past. His biography begins BEFORE her birth and continues on AFTER her death. He explores her roots and discusses the ongoing impact of her life, while filling in all the opulent details in between. If you want to know who Chanel was and why she is still so important today, pick up this book. Now if they would only do a feature film treatment!



3. I agree with the other 2 reviewers. This book is very difficult to follow and the author jumps from character to character and topic to topic too frequently. The pictures are nice, but I feel the author could have done a better job at creating more excitement and interest for the reader.



4. I did not enjoy this book and wished I did my own research on a better author to portray Coco Chanel. It was lengthy in boring details and never developed a true feeling for the subject matter. Coco lead an extremely captivating life - so I find it difficult to believe that someone could write such a book lacking in depth!



5. I'm still reading but wanted to mention that if you have never taken a French class, it is very hard to pronounce most of the names in the book.

   Although very insightful finding it a hard read.

5 comments about The Seductive Shoe: Four Centuries of Fashion Footwear.

1. Exquisite array of shoes pictured, and a fascinating read! This book is a keeper and will be in my library forever!



2. The book is OK. It did not have enough pictures of vintage shoes to suit me. But it did have a lot of interesting information in it. And the shoes Mr. Walford pictured were very pretty and very unusual.So, If you love vintage shoes I would recommend this book!Happy reading. S Kivo



3. this book has absolutely no good information the pictures are horibble and they make me want to vomit, who would want to have this much worthless information on 4 stupid centuris of high heels or flats or any kind of shoe??!! If I could I would rate this with ZERO stars.



4. Thank you for this amazing book. The pictures are beautiful and the information is fascinating.



5. This book is just a pleasure for me to own.
   The pictures are beautiful and inspiring.
   Any creative person would enjoy this book.
   If you are an Artist who enjoy things that are beautiful and interesting
   then this book should be in your collection.

5 comments about The Beautiful Fall: Lagerfeld, Saint Laurent, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris.

1. One of the best historical fashion books on the market. Although YSL & Lagerfield both deny portions of the dispute, the storytelling is compelling, provocative and provides sound perspective on conservative France, the 1970's revolution and the gay movement.



2. This account of the period could seem overly complex and, no doubt, somewhat dry--lost to time. If you had been there, it almost scores a bull's eye--albeit without the energy/urgency of the era (which might be totally impossible). Kudos to Alicia Drake for coming so close!



3. I was glued to this book and found it absolutely fascinating and informative.
   
   I enjoyed reliving those heady days of fashion, parties, sex, drugs and Disco. It was an eye-opener and I wish I was there then.
   
   Highly recommended if you're into all that wonderful hedonism of the 70's. Loved it!



4. Alicia Drakes' book "The Beautful Fall" shows the rise of the designer as celebrity star rather than the clothes which he designs. It shows that there could only be one designer on top, for either one of them to succeed in their own mind. It shows a human side - both positive and negative in their personalities and actions throughout the 1970's. Both were ego-maniacs but brilliant in their opposite directions. I knew all about Lagerfeld's dismissal of people but not the scale of it and the book tries to explain it. Yves was not any better with his need for people. But, Lagerfeld is curently sueing the author for what she wrote in her book, which i think will make the book sell better.



5. A wonderfully writen and very entertaining book. Excelent read for those lovers of fashion, of Paris, of glamour and most of all of human conduct.
   Portrait of an exciting carefree era left behind. Forgive my english!

3 comments about Tiffany Colored Gems.

1. As always, John Loring does a smash-up job with his new book on the colored gems of Tiffany. Gorgeous photos,great history and a perfect accompanment to "Tiffany Pearls".
   Highly recommended for the jeweler or jewelry fanatic.
   Aurea Jewels



2. Very good book, but not as great as Loring's other book "Tiffany Diamonds."
   A little heavy on Paloma Picasso's jewelry, but she did do some great stuff for Tiffany.



3. This is an excellent book for people who love gemstone jewelery. The introduction provides a great historical recap of some notable gemstones. Then there are sections arranged by the color of the gemstones (ie. Purple: Amethyst & Kunzite and Blue: Saphires, Aquamarine,etc.). Each section provides some of the most beautiful photographs and drawings of modern and antique gemstone jewelry. All photos and drawings are in brilliant color and clear, crisp detail. There is also a glossary with the definitions and description of the gemstones. The Gem Index provides the Moh's harness scale of each gem. I highly recommend this book if you love jewelry. It is a great coffee table book / eye candy book / wish book / jewelry reference book.