1 comments about Amazing Angelina.

1. A tiny little paper publication but full of super ideas if you don't know what to do with the Angelina Fiber. The "creative" or artistic ideas could be better but the instruction is very good.

No comments about The Apparel Industry.

1 comments about The Windsor Style.

1. The Windsors, while they were living, epitomized style, glamour, and wit. Ultimately theirs was a wasted life, empty of meaning in the end. From the heady days of their scandalous romance, life was all downhill, a private struggle to conserve their dignity in the aftermath of the abdication. To fill this emptiness and lack of purpose in life, the Duchess obsessed on perfection; of herself, of the things she collected and of the table she set. The Windsor's sous chef spent hours sorting salad leaves into leaves of exactly the same size to be set before their guests. Their relationship was a hollow recreation of the childhood the Duke never could leave behind. Moulin de la Tuilerie, their country home outside of Paris, was the York Cottage of Edward's youth reborn. Wallis herself was Queen Mary, obsessively arranging the display of small objets and cosseting the little boy who was King. A long time servant said, "They had nothing and no-one. They were just two lonely old people." Suzy Menkes takes the reader on an interesting tour through not only of the tangible objects of this relationship, but of the relationship itself.

4 comments about Women's Costume of the Near and Middle East.

1. I found this book many years ago when I was starting 16th century Ottoman Costuming. Fifteen years later I still recommend it to my Ottoman Costuming students. While much of the book comes after the 16th century, there are some very good line drawings showing seamlines and pattern shapes for 16th century Ottoman garments. While this book has some inaccuracies and conclusions I do not agree with, it is a GREAT book to START your research with. Its very extensive bibliography gives many other sources to extend your research.



2. I have a long standing interest in the clothing of the Near and Middle East, so this book drew my attention. Unfortunately, the title is misleading. This book is ultimately only about women's clothing of the Ottoman Empire, and doesn't even do a good job on that.
   
   Scarce attempts to review the clothing traditions that influenced Ottoman clothing. She wanders far afield, and in my opinion, often astray, as she jumps to questionable conclusions about the connections among the disparate systems.
   
   The section on actual Ottoman clothing ought to be the best, but there, too, Scarce trips and falls. The illustrations are often insufficiently captioned, lacking important information, so that the reader may not always realize what the true relationship of each is to the text and to other garments. Some items from specific ethnic and cultural groups living within the Ottoman Empire are presented as if they are representative of Ottoman Turkish clothing, and the relevant information, which i have found in other sources, is lacking anywhere in the book.
   
   I have this book and use it, but only in conjunction with other books on the clothing of the various groups she draws from which include better historical details and information on the provenance of specific garments.



3. I think this has to be THE definitive book on the subject and now it's back in print. Sadly I paid over 100.00 for the out of print version. This book is loaded with images--paintings, sculpture, actual garments and pattern diagrams. It is extremely well referenced. I enthusiastically recommend this book.



4. This is a amazing book! If you are interested in reproducing authentic costumes, this is the book for you. I have used this book many times to make my own costumes. There are patterns and pictures of each piece of clothing so you can easily make your own reproduction. This is the only book you need if you want to make a Turkish costume. It is also an excellent book for a college research paper. This book is too good to pass up!

5 comments about Patrick Demarchelier.

1. Patrick Demarchelier is one of the best artist of this age; his Photographs are pieces of history. Into this book you'll find his masterpieces: emotions in B&W!



2. A must own book for people that love b&w photography. Patrick is excellent at getting the perfect angle for the image. The way the natural light and shadows enhance the objects is great. The true persons are drawn by the way the pictures are taken.



3. My 12 year old saw this book on one of the display tables, picked it up... for the cover (naked lady) and glanced through it. He then later came running up to me saying... Please buy this book. The pictures are excellent. Well now, my son is interested in photography as a hobby.



4. This is one of the best books of portraits that it has been my pleasure to view.

   Before going further, let me observe that the book contains much female nudity that would earn an "R" rating if this were a motion picture.

   Glenn O'Brien in the book's introduction captures the essence of the book well, "The beauty standard is being raised once again."

   Whether the subjects are beautiful (and many are) or not, the result is the same -- a deep look into the personality and character of the model done in large, vivid detail in wonderfully contrasting duotone. One of the best tests for this book is to compare the celebrity images you see here with others you have seen of these same people. These images are more warm, more revealing, and more fun to see. Mr. Demarchelier has a light touch that gets out the happiest version of a person. You'll find yourself laughing and smiling your way through this collection, for sure.

   The portraits displayed here are uniformly of very high quality, and provide nice contrasts of subjects (nose rings, boulders, children, and elephants among the beautiful people).

   Here are some of my many favorites:

   Nude, St. Barthelemy, 1994

   Nude, St. Barthelemy, 1989

   Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales, London, 1993

   Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and their daughter, Los Angeles, 1994

   Versailles gardens, Versailles, France, 1994

   Gianni Versace, Paris, 1992

   Nude, New York, 1995

   Corbassiere, Paris, 1994

   Helena Christensen, New York, 1992 (second image)

   Cindy Crawford, Leh, India, 1989

   Jasper Johns and Leo Castelli, New York, 1993

   Roy Lichtenstein, New York, 1993

   Naomi Campbell, New York, 1990

   Isabella Rosselini, New York, 1994

   Robin Williams (4), New York, 1990

   Robert De Niro, New York, 1990

   Sisters, St. Barthelemy, 1991

   Christy Turlington, New York, 1990

   Alice Dodd, New York, 1994

   Natasha Kinski, New York, 1993

   Warren Beatty from "Dick Tracy," Los Angeles, 1989

   Elton John, Paris, 1992

   Janet Jackson, Miami, Florida, 1993

   Arthur Demarchelier, New York, 1991

   Patrick and Mia Demarchelier and their three sons, New York, 1987

   Meg Ryan, New York, 1994

   Claudia Schiffer, St. Barthelemy, 1991

   Paul Newman, Beacon, New York, 1994

   Elle Macpherson, New York, 1990

   Cindy Crawford, New York, 1990

   After you look closely at these images, notice how lines and flaws provide balance and perspective in the same way that perfect figures provide proportion. How can you create more waves of enjoyable symmetry?

   Drink deeply from the bubbling joy of humanity!




5. This depicts some of what we know and expect of Mr. Demarchelier. His ability to capture so much in a photograph, in a look, is what makes him so incredible as an artist. If you are a fan of his work, this work should be part of your collection.

2 comments about Geoffrey Beene: The Anatomy of His Work.

1. As this is one of the few books available on the artistry of Geoffrey Beene, it is both a welcome addition to the world of fashion-photography books and sadly, a very weak treatment of the how-and-why of his work. The photos are oversized and some are gate-folded, but there are not nearly enough to cover the breadth of more than 30 year's design that is Beene's history. He is and always will be apart from many American designers. His is a mixture of the ease/casual feel of sportswear, and at the same time, the epitome of the couturier/dressmaker's craft. Aerodynamic, sleek, modern, iconoclastic are just some of the words used to describe his vision. However, the publisher neglected to go into greater detail as to why Beene is described as such. It would have been helpful to read of his early days working in Paris couture workrooms picking up pins and assisting with the production of toiles. Such is one of the many stories that surround the Beene legend. The quotations from Beene himself are somewhat informative, but someone should write a definitive biography of his life and work in greater detail. A nice book to look at, but not much more.



2. I'm surprised that Booklist calls the text of this book "witty and informative." I found the text to be the major weakness of the book. It's vague, rambling, and completely UNinformative. I didn't learn about Beene's background, education, training, or business. All I got was a lot of fashion-speak garble about his brilliance and genius. The writing is just really, really bad.

   The most interesting part of the book is the final section, which is entirely quotes from Beene himself. The photos are lovely, but 120 is too few to give a good overview of Beene's work; he has been designing for 30+ years and must have designed hundreds or even thousands of garments by now. This book shows too few of them.

   Overall, this book was disappointing.

5 comments about Obsessed by Dress.

1. What a delicious selection of quotes about fashion! This book would really help me explain to people why I am obsessed with getting all dressed up in costumes, outfits and accessories. The gorgeous illustrations add to the charming cuteness of the book. These quotes show that there is real meaning and philosophy behind fashion and it's form of self-expression. Clothes and appearance really do make a difference!
   An essential book for fashionistas. I shall cherish this book forever!



2. Toby Tobias' adorable book takes the questioning element out of my daily clothing puzzle. This morning, Edith Sitwell told me to 'be myself'! The in-put from great minds of the past is a radiant rainbow of fun, humor, delight and wit. Ballerina@Large.Dash-Dot



3. Tobi Tobias' new book, Obsessed by Dress, brings delight far beyond the sensual pleasure of holding a book that is exactly the right hand heft for the object itself. It corroborates ones joy of personal adornment through quotes from those who have the wit and style through the ages to say what you have been thinking and feeling all along about why have arrived a this particular persona. You become marvelous in your own eyes.



4. One doesn't have to be a clothing aficionado to have a rewarding time with Tobi Tobias's "Obsessed By Dress." A small-size book with a biggness of content, "Obsessed" is alive with famous-person clothing quotes, meticulously researched by Tobias, reflecting her passion for Dress and great writing. Dickens, Proust, Virgil, Keats, Dior, Dorothy Parker, and RuPaul are among those quoted.



5. This is a lovely book, full of wit and surprises. It's obvious that Tobias has chosen quotes from books with which she is familiar, rather than compiling a hodgepodge of witty bon mots, selected at random. The bonus, in addition to making one think about fashion and its place in civilization, is reminders of books one has read, or wants to read, or should.

   Armed with a few quotes from this book and a little black dress, one could conquer any cocktail party in fine style!

No comments about Merchandising Math: High Margin Returns for Retailers and Vendors (The Delmar Fashion).

No comments about Things I Wish My Mother Had Told Me: A Guide to Living with Impeccable Grace and Style.

No comments about Jewelry From Sarah Coventry And Emmons.