5 comments about Different Like Coco.

1. Coco Chanel was a heroin addict, vicious anti-semite, and Nazi "collaboratrice". She slept with men she didn't love to set herself up in the dress making business where she made a tidy sum peddling overpriced frocks to wealthy women. It mattered not a whit to her that there was a depression followed by the German occupation. If you want to write a biography of a French woman why not pick someone who actually contributed something of value to the world such as Heloise-- the medieval abbess with very advanced ideas, Eleanor of Aquitaine--the French born queen of England who ruled in her son's stead, or one of the thousands of "resistantes" who risked all to combat the Nazi occupiers.



2. What an insidious little work this is! While trying to convince the reading public (mostly young girls, I suspect) that Coco was "unique" and "beautiful", all sorts of negative body image messages are foisted on the reader. Note, for example, five pages from the end, which reads:
   
   "Women no longer wanted just to dress like Coco - they wanted to be just like Coco. Her distinctive beauty lay in an attitude, something that even the richest of socialites couldn't buy."
   
   This is written next to a drawing of Coco, looking chic and svelte; standing next to her is a large woman wearing the same outfit and hairdo as Coco, looking decidedly grotesque and frumpy. The underlying message? Beauty standards are decidedly narrow - and thin.
   
   But the best part of the book - the message I think our daughters need to hear loud and clear - is the cutesy little drawing of the young Coco on the back cover. What is she doing? Stuffing her bra.
   
   So much for the woman who banned the corset, only to add toilet paper to her bustline. Again, what a fine message to share with the youth.
   
   This book should be consigned to the flames. I am sure that a book could be made to tell an endearing story for young people about fashion and about Coco - without promoting such negative body images and stereotypes.
   
   Unfortunately, this book is not it.



3. As Maurice Chevalier sang, "Thank Heaven for little girls" . . . at least we can thank Heaven for one who grew up with an independent spirit, and an imagination for corset-Less chic. Coco Chanel (1883-1971) said "In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different." The book's end papers reproduce other quotations from this fashion icon, including "Fashion is made to become unfashionable!"
   
   Elizabeth Matthews has written a perfect Springtime fancy, and the pen & ink illustrations are every bit as lively, just right for introducing children & their very willing parents to a story about the little girl Coco who overcame her tough childhood with sewing skills learned in a Catholic orphanage. She could hold her own with snobby students of privilege and learned much by watching her peers. She later hung fabric on mannequin forms and basted in her relaxed styles which brought her fashion immortality.
   
   The author, who graduated from the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, chose Chanel as her somewhat innovative subject for children's picture books. Matthews is sure to have studied much about Coco Chanel and her clever "inventions" of the cartigan suit, and in 1926 "the little black dress." Reviewer mcHaiku isn't quite as old as the famed Chanel No. 5; it contained more than 80 ingredients, a new fact about 'parfum' for this reader. Chanel epitomizes a certain fortitude & determination that we hope young readers will try to replicate.
   
   Perhaps they will remember another of her sayings: "INNOVATION! One cannot be forever innovating. I want to create CLASSICS."



4. Children's non-fiction books have come a long way, not just in style but in subject matter. How great that Candlewick saw fit to publish a picture book biography of, astonishingly, someone the average child is probably unfamiliar with -- a woman who died long before the child was born, from a country not much studied in grade schools, representing a profession hardly mentioned at all: fashion designer. But Elizabeth Matthews, through text and pictures, has made Coco Chanel someone little girls (and open-minded little boys?) can identify with. Chanel's story is a literal rags-to-riches tale, and Matthews' enchanting art work captures her heroine's style and joie de vivre (not to mention chutzpah, to mix linguistic tags) beautifully. The cover image itself could be posted on a little girl's bedroom wall. And underneath, perhaps, the words "Dare to be Different. Like Coco."



5. 
   First time children's book author/illustrator Elizabeth Matthews could haven't chosen a better subject than Coco Chanel. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design Matthews obviously has an appreciation of Chanel's numerous contributions and reflects that feeling in this charmingly illustrated story of the famed courtier's life.
   
   Orphaned at the age of 12, Chanel and her two sisters were relegated to an orphanage. It was a mixed blessing because it was there that Chanel learned to sew. She had a lively imagination and often dreamed of being with a family again and being accepted by a society that now ignored her because she had no position, no funds.
   
   Later, at the age of 18 she was dispatched as a charity case to Notre Dame, a finishing school. There the difference between rich and poor was more marked than ever so Chanel learned how to emulate the wealthy - she studied their manners, and the way they walked.
   
   Upon leaving Notre Dame Chanel found work at a tailoring shop. Even then she was determined to better herself. Obviously, she couldn't afford to dress the way the rich women did, the ones she wanted to accept her. So, she made a life altering decision - she would deliberately be different. She made her own dresses, very unlike the corseted gowns the wealthy ladies wore. She carried this off with style and a touch of arrogance.
   
   When a wealthy young man fell in love with her he bought her a small shop in Paris - the rest is fashion history.
   
   "Different Like Coco" is not only an entertaining story for young readers but is also an example of how someone can "embrace their uniqueness and dream big."
   
   - Gail Cooke

5 comments about In Style: Secrets of Style: The Complete Guide to Dressing Your Best Every Day.

1. I don't have strong feelings either way about this book. It's organized well and includes interesting information about fashion history, proper fit, and clothing care, but nothing that I've really used.
   
   Perhaps I'm the wrong audience. I'm a young professional in my late 20s working in a creative field, and I'm on a budget. Some of the tips in this book -- like, say, the statement that most women should own a pair of flesh-toned pumps -- really do not apply to me and my needs. The styles here, I believe, are meant to be timeless. The pieces it notes seem, for the most part, to be items to invest in. I'm just not at that point -- if you are, perhaps this book will meet your needs better than it did mine.
   
   In summary, while I enjoyed the book and have no complaints about it, I also did not find any practical suggestions that fit me and my life. I hope this review helps steer others toward or away from the book, depending on their needs.



2. I bought this book and the Lucky Guide to Shopping and found the tips given in the other book to be better. If you were deciding which one to buy, I would say that I didn't find this book as helpful in identifying basic or classic pieces and there are relatively few practical shopping tips that I could use in the future.



3. This is much better book than the second In Style book. There are detailed tips on how to look for the best fit and what shapes flatter which body style. I was hoping to see more pictures of actual clothes so that's the reason for four stars.



4. I THOUGHT THE BOOK IS EXECELLENT AND IT IS WORTH THE PRICE.



5. I have purchased other style books in the past, but this is one of the most useful because it breaks down body types and what looks best. My goal was the dress sexier and more feminine and this books has taught me what types of tops and bottoms to achieve that look. Now that I stick to the rules of thumb they provided, I am more comfortable with wearing whatever I pull out of my closet because I know it will fit great and be stylish.

1 comments about Fairy Fashion Dress-up Book (Rainbow Magic).

1. I didn't see the book but my grand-daughter loves it! It helped her to see what some of the other fairy books are and what the fairies look like since I read them long distance, then mail them to her.

5 comments about Historical Fashion in Detail.

1. When I bought this book, I was a budding historical seamstress. It is a marvelous representation of historical dress! The pictures are lovely, but the design sketch of each garment is what really sets this book apart. The descriptions explain the construction as well. A smart purchase you won't regret!



2. The photo close ups showed the amazing details of the craftmanship in that time period. I only wish there were more French pieces.



3. I purchased this book to see more examples of dress from the time period. I was very satisfied with the pictures it shows of the clothing. It shows a pencil drawing of the entire garment and then there is a colored photo of certain details on an actual garment from the period. In the pictures you can even seee some of the hand stitching. Many of the dresses are very detailed with embroidery which of course someone must have taken forever to stitch on. The garments are beautiful examples to look at for anyone interested in this time period.



4. It did not have most of the information I was seeking. I wanted to find info on the style of the time in detail. Although a few years had detail and were helpful for my needs, I was expecting to see more years be explained in detail by the title. It spent to much of the book talking about things that for my mind didn't tell what the fashion styles were. For the most part I found the book disappointing.



5. A great read for all seriously interested in the history of fashion. Very detailed photos with clear text. The work nicely fills the gap where costume books who concentrate on whole garments can gloss over. Dovetails nicely with the Janet Arnold and Norah Waugh more scholarly works. Totally recommended for those who want more!

5 comments about Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman.

1. I found the book to be very enjoyable and definitely thought provoking. Even though I don't run a company, it got me thinking about ways I could have a similar affect on our world. If the book did that alone, I would consider it a success.



2. The tone of arrogance and condescension really diminish what would otherwise be a good autobiographical case study of growing a hobby/skill into a successful brand. Critical self assessment is sometimes subordinated to over emotive passages and screeds about Chouinard's take social and economic trends. Some of the more interesting aspects of forming company goals and culture were lost amid a general tone of contempt for what Chouinard considers `the business world'. The good stuff is there, you just have to get past the maverick chest thumping and "I am a reluctant businessman and I run my business better without old and tired business practices and paradigms. . . like profit".
   
   Two things were rather galling. First, the first sentence "No young kid growing up ever dreams of becoming a businessman." Well, sorry, a lot of kids actually do, they dream of following a parent or relation in a particular line of business or endeavor, just because Chouinard wasn't like that doesn't mean it doesn't occur.
   
   Second, the restructuring of 1991 was a prime example of the arrogance and hypocrisy that marks the books tone. In July of 1991, Patagonia fired 20% of its workforce. So what does Chouinard do? He packs his executives off to Argentina for a `walkabout' to discuss goals and direction. Nice. You fire a bunch of people then you blaze a huge carbon footprint down to Argentina to brainstorm. WOW, that is brilliant. Excellent use of corporate and global assets. That's the kind of morale crushing maneuver that Chouinard pillories `the business world' for throughout the book. "Where's the boss?" "Oh, after the red ink of the second quarter, he and the executive committee went to Argentina to figure things out." Right out of Dilbert.
   
   Again, some good information buried amid the screed and propaganda (at Patagonia, it's not propaganda, it's activism). I would recommend reading Goldratt's `The Goal' parallel with this. Still, the book is a good case study of brand development and growing a hobby/skill into a corporate business.



3. I thought this book was excellent. It definitely causes you to think about the relationship of your business to the world at large.
   
   The most helpful part of the book was how Patagonia incorporated their principles into the decision making for the corporation. The real world examples were helpful and easy to understand.



4. Conscious review of all aspects of business is the theme here.
   
   Yvon is definitely strong in his beliefs about what needs to happen. He doesn't pussy-foot around the issues. As he states "Patagonia's image is a human voice. It expresses the joy of people who love the world, who are passionate about their beliefs, and who want to influence the future. It is not processed; it won't compromise its humanity. This means that it will offend, and it will inspire."
   
   The book will have the effect you choose to let if have upon you. For me, it was completely inspirational as a model to operate in. Truth be told, even if everyone operated the way advocated, we probably will not get out of the mess we are headed for. However, in the words of Ghandi, "Everything you do is insignificant, but it is very important that you do it."
   
   I read the book as an emerging consciousness - first self concern, then concern for the interests of other people, then concern for other beings, finally concern for the balance of the ecosystem. It is an ethical progression that we all should make, even though it is not a cultural norm.
   
   Well worth reading. Well argued from the environmental or business perspective.



5. Yvon Chouinard built an iconic business which exemplifies commerce with a conscience. I have long been enamored of their products, the photography, and the essays of their catalogs. As a surfer and career environmentalist I was anxious to read this book.
   
   Yvon shared some interesting philosophical perspectives. He takes the position that people who believe the earth to have been created and not the result of evolution are hiding in their faith from the facts. Furthermore, because creationists don't believe in evolution they don't aspire to improve. (Clearly, Yvon never heard of the doctrine of sanctification.) He argues that abortion is a means by which we can keep too many children from being born and then over-running the carrying capacity of the ecosystem. And Republicans? Don't get him started! He might be the only mean spirited Zen Buddhist of whom I have had the displeasure to read.
   
   There is so much to commend here with regard to encouraging businesses and individuals to be environmentally and socially engaged. Too bad the message is soured with arrogance, condescension, and obvious ignorance of those he apparently considers to be enemies of the environment.

5 comments about Patternmaking for Fashion Design and DVD Package.

1. The best book for learning pattern making and as a reference when you are working in the industry!



2. i never received my item because they were sending it to the wrong address and i guess someone took it. They then promised to give me a refund which i haven't recieved yet either but it's only been a couple of days. I hope i at least get that back!



3. I find this book very informative. It contains info on every aspect of making clothing. I do not think that this book is expensive for the info it has in it. I have spend hundredths of dollars on books that where a waste of money, this book is worth every dime. Len



4. This book is just what I was looking for. Now I can design what I want to make and this book can show me how to draft the pattern. I love it.



5. This book is very good for students that are trying to learn how to make patterns. You might need to get a little bit of help from an expert but it helps a lot although it has some errors on.

2 comments about Wife Dressing: The Fine Art of Being a Well-Dressed Wife.

1. Don't be fooled by the title. Even though the book is vintage 1950's the attitudes towards selection of
   clothing, maintenance of clothing and dressing tips are very timely.



2. I was so happy to read in the fashion blogosphere that Wife Dressing has been dusted off and brought back into print. My first edition copy has crumbled to dust, and I am so pleased by Glitterati's reprinted it. The new illustrations are fabulous, and I love Feitelberg's new introduction that does a stellar job of contextualizing the book. I've bought a copy of it for my 26-year-old niece, who is getting married this spring, to give her fashion advice and to make sure that she appreciates feminism!
   
   As a young girl growing up in suburban Chicago in the 1950s, I saw my mother and her "ladies that lunch" friends emulate Ann Fogarty's advice. My mother lectured me from the pages of that book on dressing with elegance, and when Fogarty wrote about packing 19 steamer trunks of clothing for a trip to Europe, my mother made sure to bring 20. Back then, us girls expected to go to college, maybe teach or nurse for a few years, before retiring into the home. And look, now, fifty-odd years after Wife Dressing was published a woman is making her way to the White House.
   
   Now don't be too hasty in judging Wife Dressing because of the era that it came out of, not only does it have some very useful fashion advice, the book also shows the ways in which women could still have their way. I would even call parts of it subversive. Sure, it's not Betty Freidan, but Fogarty shows how women can assert their authority and independence within the confines of their stereotypical 1950s gender role. Fogarty was no housewife--she spent many years as a model and a fashion designer, even after her marriage. It's a book about working from within the system, which can be a valuable skill, and after all, marriage in any era still requires a great deal of diplomacy.

5 comments about The Meaning of Sunglasses: And a Guide to Almost All Things Fashionable.

1. This was such fun to read. Brits have different writing styles than Americans, and so I had to WORK a little harder to read this book (and I mean that in a good way). It's a hoot.



2. As much as I'm a fanatic about following Project Runway, the fashion industry takes itself waaay too seriously, so this book is a great leveler. The "encyclopedia" approach makes it a perfect book to dip into little spoonsful at a time and, like the best premium pint of ice cream, it's rich with humor and not too sweet.



3. I got this book to bring as a light entertaining read to bring on vacation. Unfortunately, reading this book was like being stuck watching an unfunny comedienne go on and on and on with the same tired old gripes about fashion. She starts off mildly amusing and insightful, but this quickly deteriorates into whining. I never laughed, I don't think I even cracked a smile.



4. Yes, this is a highly entertaining book for anyone interested in fashion, particularly for those aware of its frequently ludicrous and self-delusional aspects. However, as funny as the author can be, she relies on five or six forms of witticism that have become predictable by p. 117, let alone p. 234 (THE END). Furthermore, why the obsession with Kate Moss?! I think most of us who care about fashion have long since figured her--and her fashion-world significance--out. Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan...likewise, not really what I'm responding to these days. I was hoping for a bit more insight, something beyond the People/Us demographic of fashion reception. The author cites Anna Wintour several times, but doesn't engage with the Vogue reader who's genuinely interested in the aesthetics of women's wear. She's mostly worried our heels are too high and we insist on showing cleavage and wearing thongs. Yup, got it already, and without a flippant how-to manual, too. And how about not biting the hand that feeds us? I'm willing to bet the author prefers her Miu Miu's to her Easy Spirit's just like the rest of us!



5. This book is just too much fun!
   
   If you've ever pondered the amazing power that fashion holds over the females of this species, you will find here much to tickle your funny bone.
   
   Ms. Freeman wittily exposes our bizarre, lemming-like tendencies in this collection of mini-essays. You will laugh out loud while reading because if you don't recognize bits of yourself in this encyclopedia of dos, don'ts, and why did Is, you will certainly recognize someone you know.
   
   My favorite bits in the book have to do with fashion trends and the choice between "looking fashionable and looking good". I also enjoyed the section "Get: fashion that girls do and boys don't". Hats off to Ms. Freeman for her ability to poke fun in such a wicked and yet ultimately sympathetic manner.
   
   In short, Get: this book. And you, too, will know the real meaning of sunglasses.
   
   Jennifer Skinner
   Author of The Very Small Closet

5 comments about What Not to Wear.

1. The information is this book is really good. However, it is pretty funny that in the pictures of what you shouldn't wear the authors went to the trouble of posing in the worst possible posture (see page 80). I don't care what you have on, if you are standing as the author is on page 80, it will look bad. The pictures are pretty fun... not even a smile while posing for what you shouldn't wear. Overall, the book has good information and I recommend it.



2. my mother bought this for me as a gift, and she completely wasted her money. this book is AWFUL. the pictures are bad, the posing is terrible-- if you slouch and frown, you''ll look bad no matter what you're wearing! They should have used models who actually HAD saddlebags or flat chests or flabby tummies... maybe they just wanted to see their faces in print.
   
   I cannot even express how awful this book was. I agree with one other reviewer-- I get MUCH more out of a copy of Vogue than I ever would from this book. And at a fraction of the cost...



3. The thing I like about this book, and all of Trinny and Susannah's books, is that they are written to help everywoman look her best. I like too that much of the material is geared toward the grown woman who wants to look grown, rather than like a teenager. They are real champions of a mature and classy look - almost harking back to the days when young women were looking forward to being adults, with sophistication of dress. The advice about shapes and colors is very helpful. I too give it four rather than 5 stars because I agree with some other reviews here that there may be some conflicting advice for conflicting "problem" areas - but they give us a start on pulling ourselves together.



4. Maybe you have to be quite a bit older than 25, and think if something looks bad on you it's your fault. But aren't there others out there like that? This book cured me of thinking it was my fault, and also of unflattering necklines, showed me which shapes were good, and got me out of wearing absolutely only black. I was so badly off that I did not know what Missoni was until they told me to look at Missoni's color sense. Almost no books like this have the 'older' (thirty plus) woman in their sights. I'd say this book was for the fashion-hopeless in that large age group, who would secretly like to have a bit more style. These women are funny and very british upper middle class, "Sloane Rangers" as they were once called, so you have to be able to take that, and have a bit of a sense of humor. Their follow up book is great too.



5. Fist of all, I'll start off buy saying ladies, if you're 25 or under, this book is not for you!!!
   Second, if you only identify with one or two attributes categorized in this book, this book will not help you very nuch, as you will only be looking at a maximum of 10 pages from the entire book. Plus, the help is so generic and limited. They only give you a list of 4 or 5 helpful cuts/lines/lengths, and a series of 4 or 5 stlyes/etc. to avoid. Well, I realized that there are FAR more stlyes/etc. in the world than 5, so if I go to the store and find something NOT mentioned in the book, how am I supposed to know if I can wear it or not!? Most books are designed to give you a starting point to further progress your fashion savvy conscious, but this book did no such thing. It was a dead end leaving you wondering what the heck you're supposed to do now. DON'T BUY THIS BOOK. EVEN IF YOU FOUND A $0.50 DEAL, IT'S NOT WORTH IT.

5 comments about Costume Design in the Movies: An Illustrated Guide to the Work of 157 Great Designers (Dover Books on Fashion).

1. A very complete list of costume designers and the movies they worked in or designed the costumes for.
   The preface and intruduction have some very interesting data and information although the book in itself lacks in any of these, it's just succession of names, dates and movie tittles.
   In any case, the pictures published are very good and the general information very constructive.
   The author did a great research and this book serves as a encyclopedia for costume designers.



2. 
   Good book! Lots of black-n-white photos of famous movie stars wearing wonderful designer fashions!
   
   This book was originally written in 1988,thus,the 157 famous Hollywood Fashion Designers listed in this book are all here --- from the very beginning of Hollywood's Fashion movie Era , and then all the way up to 1988.
   
   (NOTE: The reason the copyright on this book is 1991, is because the author added an information page in 1991. However, this book was really written in the 1980's).
   
   Anyhow, this book lists all the Academy Award Fashion winners and also all British Award Fashion winners (in regards to Hollywood FASHIONS), from the late 1800's up until 1988!



3. Excellent reference book with biographies of the most famous designers at the different studios. Nominations and Academy Awards are also referenced. There is an index that makes it easy to look up a film and find out who designed the costumes. I use it frequently. In some cases more than one designer worked on the same film. There are photographs of the designers and also their designs, however, I would like to see even more photographs...especially for the period 1930 through 1970. I would rate this book 4.5. It is also a good value for the price.



4. I love fashion & many great designs were done by the designers for the old movie studios. It was interesting reading about how designers came up with ideas of an outfit to cover flaws or accent a movie star (i.e. Barbara Stanwycks low butt, Crawfords shoulder pads).



5. One of my favorite things about watching classic films is seeing all the amazing fashions! This book is a great collection of photos of classic stars wearing classic costumes. Lots of stars are in here including Bette Davis, Norma Shearer, Carole Landis, Lana Turner, Joan Crawford, and Irene Dunne. You will learn who designed each outfit and there is a little biographical information about the designers too.