5 comments about Dressing the Man You Love: A Woman's Guide to Purchasing, Coordinating, and Caring for His Classic Wardrobe.

1. The title and odd graphic on the cover might scare away male readers, but the book is equally useful to a wife and for the man himself. I'd recommend it as a gift to any male graduating and entering the world of work.
   It's excellent in explaining the options, what to wear with what, and when to wear certain types of clothing. I like the chapter explaining what casual Friday attire really should be.
   Some of the tips for wives (or girlfriends) include care of the clothing and not to project your color preferences onto him. The author advises having your man try on everything in his closet. Good luck. I wouldn't ever try on all the things in my closet, so it's hard for me to imagine a man being willing to do this.
   The book is packed with information on the classic male wardrobe from shoes and socks up to the tie around his neck. The sketches nicely complement the text. Quite a useful book for anyone wanting to dress appropriately in the world of work as well as casually.
   I do wish the print was larger in the book, but it packs a lot into 275 pages.



2. If, like me, your husband is the kind of guy whose attitude is, "I'll wear if it a) fits and b) doesn't stink," this book will be a huge help to you.
   
   Of course we all want our husbands or gentleman friends to look halfway decent. But if he doesn't particularly care to extend much effort in that direction himself, Betsy Durkin Matthes' "Dressing the Man You Love" will be your boon companion in understanding the ins-and-outs of men's clothing (a little more complicated than it looks!) and in caring for that clothing.
   
   In addition to an excellent, thorough overview of men's clothing from types of tweed to types of tie patterns, Matthes covers body types; alterations; figuring out what colors best suit his skin tone; dealing with store salespeople; and more.
   
   The book is sensitively designed, graphically attractive, and sprinkled liberally with funny quotations about fashion, style and clothing. Daniel Cooney's black-and-white illustrations suit the text and tone of the book, and are detailed enough that they're not there just for decoration; you can actually learn from them.
   
   I'm thrilled to have this book on our bookshelves, and consult it when shopping for my husband. Thank you, Betsy Durkin Matthes, for a much-needed basic guide!



3. .
   Beginning with the basics size & shape of your man, Betsy Durkin Matthes asks questions that are easy to answer, but very important in picking the right kind and color of clothes for your man... or men, for yourself.
   
   Chapter 1: Classifications include: the perfect (and not so perfect) man; the string-bean - or lanky; the short challenge; the larger man and his needs; ironclad men (those with the 6-pack belly and muscles like The Rock. Additionally a chart with suggestions for the body types helps pick out the right items.
   
   Chapter 2: What colors are best? Years ago I was classified as an Autumn, and found that the fall colors enhance my appearance; I also buy clothes in the other seasons such as bright yellow (spring), black (winter), sky blue (summer). With the colors outside my season I change the way I do my make up. Since most men do not wear makeup, the choices are more important. Keeping the seasons in mind is helpful in buying the right color clothing and accessories to bring out the best in your guy.
   
   Chapter 3: This is tricky because there are probably a lot of clothes that need to be tossed out -- so you attack his closet...but don't shock him, get him to help you and to understand why his wardrobe needs an update.
   
   Chapter 4: If you don't generally shop in the men's department, just take the plunge and browse. Follow the guide she provides, and fill in the form for your man. Some of these items are jacket size, sleeve length, pants around the waist and to the floor, even tie length because a tall man needs a longer tie. This is filled with good information.
   
   Chapter 5: The salespeople -- if they are on commission, they may try to get you to buy more than you need. That is the value of all the previous questions, answers, and guides. You'll know if they want you to buy everything or the ones that are right for you. You are in charge.
   
   Chapter 6: Now the suits - every man should own at least one suit. This chapter is loaded with pictures that display the cuts of jackets, pockets, lapels, etc. We see the current fads everywhere, but the classics are sharp and can make the man.
   
   Chapter 7: What's the best fabric for a suit? There are a variety of wool types and other fabrics, and some are better for the cut and type of a jacket than others.
   
   Chapter 8: The covers patterned fabrics such as: pinstrip, chalk stripe, window pane, and more. The chart Matthes provides has clear pictures of each type, thus making it easier to discuss with your man and the salesman to find the right one for your man.
   
   Chapter 9: How do you get the right trousers. Suit trousers really don't work as dressy slacks. With a bunch of pant types pictured for you, you'll know cuts, cuffs (yes or no).
   
   Chapter 10: Covers vests -- to wear or not to wear?
   
   Chapter 11: The Tailor is truly the person who can make an off the rack suit look custom. When you find a good one, consider him a jewel.
   
   Matthes' Glossary will answer all of your questions so that if the tailor asks if you want barrel cuffs on a broadcloth pant, you'll know what to say.
   
   With 25 fascinating chapters, you'll find that you are able to choose the best way to dress your man, or for a man to dress himself.



4. Betsy Durkin Matthes' book DRESSING THE MAN YOU LOVE is a tour de force illustrated guide to helping a man dress his best according to classic standards of clothing excellence. The illustrations and tone of DRESSING harken to a more civilized time when people expected men to be gentlemen and consistently look their best, while it presents an up-to-date modern awareness of materials and style.
   
   This is a thrilling book for anyone who's wished to know the secrets of what makes the difference in appearance for a well-dressed man, as it takes the reader into the fascinating world of men's fashion. Matthes sets precisely the right mood for helping anyone dress their favorite man to the nines, regardless how little they may already know. With a friendly tone, DRESSING inspires, educates, and helps to empower and embolden us to offer solid mens fashion assistance in ways that make a huge difference.
   
   DRESSING is relaxing and reassuring to readers of all levels of fashion awareness, as it sets one's mind to correctly prioritizing what areas to focus on in improving your man's wardrobe... from the best places and times to shop, to what to shop for... to how to work most effectively with a tailor. Matthes consistently achieves the perfect balance between providing the "big picture" of fashion planning and a wealth of information on all the little things that together make such a big difference in the overall look. Details such common suit weave patterns, tie patterns, color coordination, sleeve and hem lengths, and proper alterations are covered beautifully with vivid descriptions and ample sketches.
   
   Highly recommended!



5. Being a man, it was not easy for me to sit down and read this book based on its title. I must admit that I did not know what I was going to get out of this book. However, after reading the book I must now admit that I have learned much from Betsy Matthes' book.
   
   The book is just what the title suggests: a book on how to dress for men. It is actually a well written book that moves quickly. The illustrations in the book also were helpful and the pointers that Matthes gives are well worth your time.
   
   Overall, I was happy to have read the book. I have learned that some of my own dressing habits need to change. It's amazing how much you don't realise goes into dressing for success until you see it in this work. Good job Betsy!

1 comments about Tibet Style.

1. A delightful photo essay recording the innate sense of style in the way the beautiful Tibetan people have dressed themselves for centuries. The combinations and compositions of textiles, color, animal skins , embellishments and ornamentation is nothing less than spectacular...considering they had no access to any parisian couture salon. Often with many cases of tribal dressing, there is more function than pure design at work, but despite, the aesthetic is stunningly raw, yet eye catchingly oppulent. And their natural rugged, even harsh, environment only enhances the glorious, majestic glamour of their native clothing.

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

2 comments about Fashion Since 1900: The Complete Sourcebook, Second Edition.

1. I ordered this book to help me select costumes for a local theater group. Sometimes it is difficult to tell which era a donated dress or suit is from.
   
   I liked the way the clothing was drawn in pen and ink instead of photos. One can clearly see the defining lines of the styles. It will be a very useful book.
   
   It would have been more helpful to have had a greater number of drawings in the category of "daywear" and to have omitted the category of "underwear". However, I am sure that she did not just have costumers in mind when the book was written.



2. Fashion Since 1900: The Complete Sourcebook is a pick for any college-level library interested in fashion history. Over 1250 color illustrations offers up a history of women's fashion in the modern era, covering the development of fashion styles from lingerie and leisure wear to evening and bridal wear. The best designers and their influences and contributions are provided in a series of fine color photos and reproductions using paintings, photos and the garments themselves, all reproduced in unique color and arranged by decade to accompany complete garment descriptions. The full-page drawings are remarkable reproductions and essential for any comprehensive fashion history collection.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

1 comments about Fashion Design: Process, Innovation and Practice.

1. The collaborative effort of Kathryn McKelvey (Senior Lecturer at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle) and London-based fashion and textile designer Janine Munslow, Fashion Design: Process, Innovation & Practice is a textbook-style resource that aptly combines design projects and portfolio exercises with a straightforward, problem-solving approach to anticipating and satisfying market needs and trends. Black-and-white illustrations add visual impact to the solid information about applying techniques of proportion, fashion prediction, media promotion, and much more. Highly recommended for anyone with a keen interest in fashion design as a career, Fashion Design will be of interest to anyone curious about how the European fashion industry works "behind the scenes".

No comments about Imperial Wardrobe.

1 comments about Eyewitness: Costume.

1. This is a good, easy reference book. I highly recommend it for grade school children who may not be up to the task of reading long explanations about historical costumes. It covers a lot of time--from Adam and Eve to the 1990's.

1 comments about Handbags.

1. Really enjoyed it and passed the title along to other members of the Antique Purse Collectors Society

1 comments about Goddess: The Classical Mode (Metropolitan Museum of Art Series).

1. This is an exhibition catalogue for the Metropolitan Museum of Art costume institute. It chronicles the influence the fashions of ancient Greece and Rome has had in more modern times on women's costume.

   Printed on a very nice matt paper (even for photos) it contrasts examples of ancient art such as statues and painted vases with the work of later fashion designers. We get examples of the work of Halston, Madame Gres, Prada, Liberty, Dior and Mariano Fortuny just to name a few. This book is as much a photographic essay as is it is an exhibition catalogue. It has been produced in an elegant style with full page photos one side and text on the other giving it a clean and uncluttered feel.

   Recommended if you have any interest in ancient costume and its impact on later fashion design.

No comments about Free Style Scraps - Pictogram (Bnn Pattern Book Series).