1 comments about The Herman Miller Collection: The 1955/1956 Catalog (Schiffer Book for Collectors and Designers).

1. This book may be the most important Herman Miller reference sorce out there. It out lines, with origanal catalog photos, what most collectors consider the most important design period ever.

5 comments about Liberace: Your Personal Fashion Consultant (Your Personal Fashion Consult).

1. I saw the review for this book in my local paper. I had no idea what I was really getting. What fun! I had ordered two to send to a friend. I probably won't cut out anything but it's a fun look see.



2. I have given this book as a gift for Birthdays, Hanukah, Christmas, Get Well and Thank You occasions. Everyone always loves it and gets a good laught from it!



3. The costumes? Fantastic! The blurb? It works...
   
   but I just didn't feel like I was getting enough bang for my buck. I wanted more costumes, more blurb, must more generally.
   
   For a greeting card disguised as a book it is more than adequate. But as a book, I would have liked it to be a bit longer, more pithy, more fun.



4. This book is truly the epicenter for Kitsch- and makes nice holiday tree ornaments, party decorations, hanging mobiles, and so on. Watch in August 2008 for the Elvis version!!!



5. I gave this to a friend for Christmas and he has continually quoted from it. I knew he would love it. Personally I would have liked it better as the paper dolls I remember from childhood, but my friend keeps it by his bedside to make him laugh every morning.

2 comments about Hemut Newton: Pages from the Glossies.

1. Before discussing this book, let me caution readers that the book contains many examples of female nudes, a number of which are in overt sexual situations. This book would be at least "R" rated if it were a movie. Treat it accordingly. I saw nothing that was not in good taste, but people who wish to avoid such images should be forewarned. When originally published, some of these images were considered quite controversial.

   The strength of this book is Helmut Newton's outstanding fashion photography. The weakness is that it is displayed in facsimiles from the magazines rather than as a collection of perfectly reproduced photographs. This approach allows you to see how the photographs work with the layouts and designs. Also, the poses and compositions (both strengths of Newton's) are very clear for your consideration. The actual images themselves are often reproduced very poorly, however, sometimes looking like something that came off of a bad copier.

   Unlike many of the great photographers of the 20th century who saw themselves as artists first, Newton saw himself as existing primarily through publications. "I realized very early on that the most important factor would be to be published, with a by-line . . . ." This made him see the artistic life of his work as secondary. "If any of these photographs end up on gallery or museum walls or in the possession of collectors, well all the better . . . ." Think of him as the exact opposite of Ansel Adams in how he wants his work to be expressed and remembered.

   This book contains more than 500 pages of color, and black and white images from over 3000 that Newton published through 1998. The examples come mostly from French Vogue (beginning in 1961), Queen, Jardin des Modes, British Vogue, Elle, Daily Telegraph Magazine, American Vogue, Nova, Marie Claire, Deutsche Vogue, Amica, Vanity Fair, Paris Match, Allure, and Stern. Most of the examples are from the 1960s and the 1970s.

   Mr. Newton's style is very lively. His models have strong personalities, and usually dominate the scene. They are also active, creating an excitement that draws attention to them. For example, he has a great talent for capturing models as they start to fall into a swimming pool.

   In many cases, suble humor adds to the picture, as with the swimming pool props. I especially liked the photographs where Mr. Newton appears in the photograph through his use of mirrors. Equally amusing were the photographs where the models photographed themselves using mirrors in the same way.

   As sexual mores and tastes loosened up over the years, Mr. Newton's work became more playful and free. I also thought it worked better. I enjoyed the brief essays in the book in which he explained how his relations with editors affected his assignments and the style limitations which he had to observe.

   Seeing these images made me hunger for a similar book filled with luscious, perfectly-reproduced images of just these photographs on large pages of great paper. Hopefully, a publisher will indulge me in the future. Now that will be a more than five-star book!

   After enjoying the poses and compositions, I suggest you think about where in your life you may be presenting yourself or your ideas in ways that steal much of their power. How can you ovecome that tendency?

   Put your best foot forward, whenever possible.




2. This retrospective shows Helmut's work as it appeared in numerous (mostly european) Vogue magazines. It's great to see how his photography was marketed through the decades. This collection is focused mostly on his 60's and 70's work.

1 comments about Rhinestones!: A Collector's Handbook And Price Guide (A Schiffer book for collectors).

1. A very good book for the rhinestone jewelery collector, although quiet concentrated on the "big" names, especially de Lillo. Very interesting historical background pertaining to origin of the trade and numerous, excellent quality photographs.

1 comments about George Washington and His Family Paper Dolls in Full Color.

1. I remember buying this book when I was in the 5th grade ( I am now 20 years old) on a trip to Washington. I bought this book at the top of the washington monument. I remember how I could have looked through the pages a hundred times. His illustrations are to date and very detailed. I remember there being several dolls of Washington and his family and a good amount of outfits for each doll. This will be a collectors item one day.

No comments about Small Endearments: Nineteenth Century Quilts for Children and Dolls, Second Edition (Hobbies - Needlework & Quilting).

No comments about Know Your Fashion Accessories.

No comments about The Ultimate Barbie Fashion Dolls Sticker Book.

1 comments about Japanese Woodblock Kimono Designs in Full Color (Dover Pictorial Archive Series).

1. I was looking for some kimono designs to base paintings or tattoos off of. I looked at the cover and was pretty impressed so I thought I'd order it. Well to my surprise the cover is pretty much the best stuff in there if your looking for more image based stuff. Not a bad book but I feel a little let down.

2 comments about Flapper Era Fashions: From the Roaring 20s.

1. The title of this book is misleading. Only the years 1925 and 1927 are represented in this book which is basically just a reproduction of various pictures from two fashion catalogs from those years. There are color and black and white drawings with descriptions. Good if you are somewhat interested in twenties fashion and want to see a few examples, but not if you want a book about fashions from the entire decade.



2. Item came quickly, well wrapped and in perfect condition. What more could I want? Thanks!