5 comments about Manolo Blahnik Drawings.

1. Beautiful book! Truly inspiring (and addictive!) for any shoe addict. Love, love, love it!!



2. I was so inspired by this book, I'm a shoe designer so I totally love this book. The sketches, the colors, it's just awsome! definitely worth buying!!!!!



3. The drawings in this book are amazing. I think the book would be better with photographs of the finished shoe next to each drawing. Also, the about Manolo section is too small, it could have given a longer biography.



4. Maybe I am biased because I personally love the designer, however I think this book was a great idea and very charitable of Mr. Blahnik. He gives us a look into the process which he has artfully perfected



5. For anyone with a shoe fetish or a passion for fashion this book is worth it. Splashy colors, great text. I read half of Wintour's foreward and bought the book without flipping through the rest. BUY BUY BUY!!!!

5 comments about Dior.

1. 
   This book is perfect tribute to the Master and to the house of Dior. IT is a soaring achievement of beauty and scholarship. It is breathtaking. DO your self a favor just buy it.



2. This is an amazing book following the House of Dior. The selection of pictures are phenomenal and the quality of the book itself is fantastic. I have it on my coffee table, and everyone that sees it, picks it up and looks at it for hours. Gorgeous book. Far superior to any other books about Dior that I've come across.



3. "Dior", is simply the best book around that explores the history of this legendary Couture House. It is full of the most beautiful Images and truly shows the luxury of Dior Haute Couture. The book begings with Christian Dior, Master Himself, then goes on to Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Boehm, Gianfranco Ferre, and John Galliano. The Images depict the allure of each crators' masterpeices, and the craftsmanship inside a Dior Haute Couture garment. The cover of the book is stuning on its' own. I'am sure this book will one day be a collectos item!



4. This is a great book that provides plenty of fantastic images and history of the house. Great as a table book as well as research.



5. This is a HUGE book, but I suppose in order to sum up all that is Dior it takes a redwood. This book is exhaustive and it traces the Dior fashion house from the Elegant Mr. Dior to the iconoclast Galliano. I for one love the way Christian Dior made a woman look, his style was revolutionary in many ways, but traditional at the same time. His most famous proteget Yves St. Laurent, pales in comparison to the master, as an innovator and as a designer in general, though Mr. St. Laurent was certainly a great talent in his own right. As for the current work of the house of Dior, to be honest i of course like the coutour that reflects Christian Dior, but some of the more outlandish styles as reflected by in house designer Galliano leaves a bit to be desired, and what is up with his personal look, where Mr. Dior exuded class, Mr. Galliano looks like he's trying out for a Chelsea production of Pirates of Pensance, but I digress. I like for instantance what Tom Ford did for the House of Gucci, but I'm not that please with the direction Galliano has taken Dior, but alas that does not preclude my enjoyment of this fantastic book. A fitting tribute to one of Europes great fashion houses.

1 comments about The Fundamentals of Fashion Design (Fundamentals).

1. Whether you are starting out in Fashion Design, or you are a teacher in the Fashion arena, or you have a general interest in fashion, this book is for you!
   
   It is clearly written and logically structured. The entire design process is covered, from developing the initial concept through to creating a collection. Each step is outlined and helpful photos enhance the text. Topics include: Concept, theme, research, storyboard, silhouette, proportion, fabric, accessories, drawing, developing a collection, branding, and careers.
   
   There is a section of interviews with people who work in the fashion industry. These give the reader a great view of where fashion can take you. They provide a useful insight into the real world of working in fashion. You might become a designer, a buyer, the leader of a fashion company, a selling agent, a fashion editor, illustrator, stylist, photographer. There are interviews with people who fill these roles.
   
   "The Fundamentals of Fashion Design" would be a great text book for a fashion course. It is attractive and easy to read, while still covering topics in enough depth to challenge your thinking. It would also be suitable for anyone who wants to further develop their interest in fashion and the fashion industry.
   
   I was impressed by this book, and I will be recommending it to my students who are studying fashion design!

5 comments about Vera Wang On Weddings.

1. Please don't buy this book if you need honest, reasonable tips for your wedding. This has some beautiful photographs and makes a nice coffee table book but it is waaay to huge to lug around as one may wish to do. Photos are nice but that is basically it. In addition, I wish it had more photographs of gowns. Doesn't have as many photographs of a variety of gowns as I had hoped.



2. Same old stuff nothing different.



3. This book became the Bible of a certain bride I knew when she was getting married in a VERY big service and I was one of her friends involved early on in much of the planning. We had about three other mass market wedding books as well as a hired advisor/planner but those were quickly cast aside in favor of this one. Soon more faith was placed in this book than in tomorrow's sunrise. "What's Vera say about..." became the catch-phrase of the season.
   
   Vera Wang and her staff not only create beautiful wedding dresses, but they know the occasion of wedding from A to Z. Fair warning, this book does pre-suppose that some serious money is going to be invested in the service and reception, but for those who are planning a once in a lifetime event they want special in every way, I know of no other source I'd put more faith in than this. Everything is compartmentalized and arranged so that the important aspects merit more attention than those that can simply wait till later. I also liked the "take it easy, things will be all right" message that kept popping up almost subliminally in the little reassurances that were scattered about. Those were really appreciated by those of us who were dealing with a perpetually freaked out bride, and in a few cases, made a real difference.
   
   I'm in favor of something more minimalist when it comes to weddings, but for those who want an elaborate service and don't mind spending a lot of money to get it, then this is a book that prove worthwhile more times than you'll be able to count.



4. Beautifully presented... a wonderful showcase of blissfully simple yet incredibly elegant gowns... also features glimpses into fabulous famous brides & their weddings.... very inspirational & truly lovely ....



5. As other reviewers have said, this is a gorgeous book. It's very oversized--larger even than most coffee-table style books--and has lovely pictures throughout which cover every aspect of wedding celebrations. Included, of course, are many samples of Wang's own work as a bridal gown designer as well as photos from her own wedding. As a wedding planner, however, this book is less useful. Although Wang does include her own commentary, some of which is interesting and helpful, there really isn't enough information for the book to be used as comprehensive planner. Furthermore, the organization of the book is somewhat confusing, as it does not follow a typical wedding planning chronology. Despite these issues, brides-to-be and others are likelyto enjoy this book, if only to "look at the pictures."

5 comments about Fast Fit: Easy Pattern Alterations for Every Figure.

1. I really like the way this book is put together. You can find any area that you want to alter the pattern for easily and the instructions are clear and easy to follow. It is great for anyone needing to alter patterns for themselves or others.



2. Okay, I love this book! I'm brand-new to garment sewing and the first pattern I sewed was such a disaster that it went straight to Goodwill!! The best thing about Fast Fit is that it is not intimidating and it gives a good overview of how to figure out what exactly your particular fitting problems are. I actually liked the cartoon photos, because they are by nature exaggerated and it made it very easy to tell where to look for garment wrinkles in the mirror to see if that was an issue for me. I discovered that I have big [...] (well okay, this wasn't a total surprise!) so I shouldn't use the full bust measurement to pick a pattern size, also that I need to make adjustments for a long torso and for my square and broad shoulders. I agree it's not the end-all book on the subject, but it's a good starting point for a beginner like me.



3. a quick reference book to correct patterns. I helps also to correct a few of skinny ladies' imperfections, which was quite a surprise in a world that thinks that round forms are a problem and too many bones showing are beauty!
   I am absolutely happy of this book!



4. With the exception of her wrap knit top pattern, I'm not a fan of Sandra Betzina's patterns. They're just not my style. They're a bit dated and frankly aren't figure flattering. This book is a crystal clear exception. For those who prefer ready-made patterns who don't have a perfect figure, this is the book for you. I still have several patterns that I love and make my own alterations to them. I can't wait to try out her versions that are much simpler and easy to follow. I also sew for my mother and I expect that I will be making fewer alterations to the final product using the techniques in this book. Try and ignore the not-so-flattering color pictures that accompany each figure problem or you'll find yourself looking in the mirror a lot and asking, "do I really look like that"?



5. This is by far my favorite pattern fitting book. Every pattern you sew must be fitted--and differently for every person you sew for. Every fitting solution I have tried from this book turns out great. Each fitting solution in this book is given in one-paragraph summary form (the "Fast Fit") for the extremely experienced tailor, and then given in simple, numbered steps for the very beginner. In each fitting solution Ms. Betzina makes an extra effort to find the simplest modification that affects the fewest pieces of the pattern, unlike some alteration books that have you shredding the pattern into small pieces. She even gives you the sequence in which to make your modifications.
   
   I often refer to her ease charts that tell how many inches each area of a garment should measure beyond the body measurement. She includes suggestions for how to modify knit patterns for woven fabric (i.e. where to add extra ease to make up for the loss of stretch). She directs you through taking body measurements, altering a fitting shell, making measurements on the flat pattern, comparing your pattern to clothes in your closet and making a pretest garment. Throughout the book there are little windows with helpful fitting tips, e.g. "To make length adjustments, alter both above and below the knee--not just at the pants bottom--to preserve the integrity of the pants or skirt style." There are also little workshop sections thoughout the book with special features, like "Adding Pleats," "Duplicating Pants You Love," "Creating a Princess Seam" (on a pattern where there was none), and "Sleeve Swap" for using sleeve designs from other patterns.
   
   Most of the book is composed of specific fitting problems (like "Large Upper Arms," "Round Upper Back," "Rounded Body," "Thick or Thin Neck," "Small Waist," "Uneven Shoulders"), how to identify the problem and then 2 or 3 well-illustrated pages with step-by-step solutions for altering the pattern. My favorite is Ms. Betzina's adjustment for narrow shoulders which is simple and perfect--it adjusts the shoulders and raises the underarms and does not change the sleeve.
   
   I can't say enough good things about this book, so I'll add a few more. The book is published with a sturdy hardcover and a spiral spine so it lays flat on the table so you can easily refer to it as you work. There is plenty of white space for your own notations or for post-its. There is a comprehensive index and even a list of the patterns Sandra wears in her photos that appear throughout the book. As I make each adjustment I actually learn the logic behind it and add it to my knowledge for the future. This book is the perfect link to grow from being an amateur sewer to being a tailor without a lot of effort.
   
   Every sewer who wants their garments to fit should have this book on their sewing table. Well Done Sandra Betzina!

5 comments about Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars.

1. Absolutely Love Love Love this book! The pictures are fabulous and the costumes gorgeous! The designer did a terrific job! I recommend this book to anyone who loves design. I would've loved to have seen more but alas I'll just have to check out the website Star Wars Fit for a Queen, its combines both.



2. Great photos. NOT recommended for people looking for Episodes IV, V, VI costumes. A lot of this book is dedicated to Padme Amidala and her handmaidens' wardrobe, but they had the most costume changes throughout the first 3 movies. The costumes are beautiful and detailed. I love this book.



3. Each picture in this book is beautiful. Every costume from Star Wars is in here including how to make each costume. Its amazing how beautiful most of the costumes really are especially Padme, Padme's Handmaidens, the Queens of Alderaan and Naboo and the Jedi. Buy this book and it'll make you want to go out and make each costume yourself.



4. Say what you want about the Star Wars prequels, but one thing I think even the staunchest critics of those films must agree on is this: they had fantastic costume designs. This fact is brilliantly attested to in Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars. Within the pages of this hardbound volume you will find vibrant preliminary sketches as well as radiantly photographed examples of the costumes used throughout the prequels (that's right - this book only contains the costumes form Episodes I, II, and III; the title is a little bit misleading. The revolutionary costumes from the original trilogy are only mentioned in passing a couple of times). For anyone who has an appreciation of the art of costuming, for someone who's a big Star Wars fan, or for someone who, like me, is always looking for a good visual reference for art, this is a tremendous buy - a bargain at any price. Enjoy!



5. This book is a fabulous collection of photographs and information on the Star Wars costumes. The photographs show each costume in great detail and discuss the making of each costume from the sketch stage all the way through completion. I would definitely recommend this book! You do not have to be a Star Wars fanatic to appreciate this book.

5 comments about The American Quilt: A History of Cloth and Comfort 1750-1950.

1. I love this book, having received it last week. I read it cover to cover by the second day it arrived. I have already picked it up again to research a specific quilt type. A wealth of information and wonderful color photographs of numerous quilts. I recommend this book highly for those of you who are looking for inspiration, as there are no patterns. All in all, quality reference material.



2. I'm very picky when I purchase books because I want them to be worthy of my time, money, and shelf space. This book fits all of my needs! It contains excellent information about the history & culture of quilts and has fabulous photographs. It's 264 pages have a welcome spot on my shelf.



3. As a history buff, Civil War reenactor, and (very) beginning quilter, I wanted a basic reference book to help me learn about quilting styles and techniques from the Colonial through Victorian periods. This book provides that information and much more. In simple yet evocative language the authors lead us through the development of American quilting and discuss how social, economic, and political circumstances affected how quilts were designed and constructed over the years.
   
   This book is a fascinating glimpse into the past, tracing the evolution of our country through the stitches of quilting. The supplies and tools that were available at any given time, together with the imagination and ingenuity of women at each point in history, resulted in the emergence of new techniques and designs. It's amazing to page through this book and see how something as seemingly simple as a quilt block takes on a whole new meaning in the context of its time. For example, in the 1840s, a time of migration to the West: "As family and friends were uprooted and separated from one another, a great many women carried quilts composed of blocks with precious messages from those left behind, whom they would likely never see again."
   
   Chapters include:
   
   Fabrics - fiber production; weaving and dyeing; fabric printing; fabric designers
   
   1750-1825 Preindustrial America - how the settling of the colonies related to trade and in particular the production of fabric; seaports; the role of women in the New World; quilt styles of the period including whole-cloth, medallion, and mosaic piecework
   
   1825-1850 Rise of the Cult of Domesticity - how social and economic changes were reflected in the fabric arts; women working in the mills; friendship and album quilts
   
   1850-1875 A Tranquil Nation is Ripped Apart - reform movements; effects of the Civil War; children's and dolls' quilts; new block designs; indigo and white designs; influence of the sewing machine
   
   1875-1900 The Grand Epoch - prosperity in the centennial period; effect of availability of education; crazy quilts; log cabin quilts; decorative styles shown at the Centennial Exposition of 1876; Hawaiian quilts; mourning quilts; fundraising quilts
   
   1900-1950 A New Century of Quiltmaking Begins - influences of the World Wars, Depression, and the New Deal; small piece "competitive" quilts; fairs and exhibitions; African-American women's quilting; Amish quilting; flour and feed sack quilting; 20th century quilting personalities
   
   Additional resources include tips on dating and investigating antique quilts, how to conserve and maintain antique quilts, where to view antique quilts, and more.
   
   'The American Quilt' has hundreds of beautiful color plates of quilts, quilt blocks, and textiles. This is a lovely and engrossing book for anyone interested in American history or women's history, as well as in quilting and other fabric arts. Highly recommended.



4. The benchmark of quilt book histories. Anyone interested in the history of quilting in America should include this book in their library. The photographs are striking and the accompanying explanations add to the reader's knowledge of the quilter's stories. The author's have given the quilter a priceless resource to which I refer often.



5. Thank you so much for the fast shipment and the wonderful book!!!

4 comments about Knit with Beads: Stunning Shawls and Wraps: Easy Techniques, 15 Beautiful Designs (Knit With Beads:).

1. I ordered this book about a week ago, and I love it. I think the shawls, wraps, etc are lovely. My daughters would love several of the patterns to wear. There are a couple of modern designs like a beaded shrug and a top that is just a wrap around the bust line perfect to fit over a tight fitting tee. Then there are some more formal designs that would be great for Sunday such as a lace shawl with beaded edge and a little pearl edged capelet. Then there are some older "mother in law" type designs like a pull over cabled and beaded poncho, and a large shawl wrap, and a double breasted capelet. Anyway, I have several projects I want to try out of this book and I now know how to bead and knit thanks to this book.



2. Scarlet Taylor's KNIT WITH BEADS: STUNNING SHAWLS & WRAPS is for knitters who want to embellish a knitted product with something different. The author's a knitwear designer who was inspired to adorn her own knitting from the offerings of a local bead shop: her creative shawls and wraps offer up something quite different from the usual knitter's guide, making KNIT WITH BEADS a fine addition to any knitting library.



3. This book is great for learning the various ways of adding beads to a knitted item. Each technique is explained and its applications discussed briefly.
   
   The projects are so so, mostly poncho type circular things that look like sausage casings, but you can really learn beaded knitting here and make some lovely things.
   
   If you want fashionable projects, this is not the book. If you want a technique book for your own ideas, get this book.



4. I am a huge fan of knitting with beads but this book is not for an advanced beading knitter. It is however a great book for anyone who wants to get started with this wonderful technique. The tutorials are excellent and the projects are not hard at all and this is really a huge bonus because often times a beginner will pick up and advanced book and will get very frustrated but again this book would be a great starter for anyone wanting to learn knitting with beads.

4 comments about Poiret (Metropolitan Museum of Art Publications).

1. This gorgeous book is loaded with large colorful images of POIRET's masterful fashion designs. GREAT gift for anyone who appreciates luxurious textiles, intricate beadwork, the lost art of couture, the early teens/20's era. This is a great resource book for designers, artists, and textile makers. The best of the coffee table books out there



2. Mr. Koda and The Costume Institute scores with this lovely exhibition catalog! While not as lavish or sumptuous as The Philadelphia Museum of Art's 2003 Shocking! The Art and Fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli by Dilys Blum (at this juncture the absolute gold standard for Costume exhibition catalogs) this remains nonetheless an absolutely gorgeous volume. A perfect counterpoint if you will, to the even more lavish 1987 Rizzoli volume Poiret by Yvonne Deslandres. The current Poiret is a feast for the senses, especially, if you were unable to visit the exhibition in-person. You shan't be disappointed.
   
   A note about Rizzoli: In the decades of the mid 1980s and early 1990s this publishing house offered some of the most beautiful volumes devoted to the great couturiers. If you haven't already acquired them, I highly recommend each of them. The first was the aforementioned Poiret, followed with Christian Dior by Francoise Giroud in 1987; Balenciaga by Marie-Andrée Jouve and Jacqueline Demornex in 1989, and Vionnet by Jacqueline Demornex in 1991. Hopefully, Rizzoli is commencing such a series once more with the November publication of Lanvin!
   
   As the revival of long-dead haute couture houses continues, of late with Vionnet (as yet another ready-to-wear venture) in addition to the aforementioned volume, I also recommend the spectacular Madeleine Vionnet by Betty Kirke published in 1998



3. I think this is the best format for a costume/fashion book of a designers work Each article is photographed on a white mannequin in a white space with beautiful lighting. Each garment is shown in a full length photo and some have front back and detail views. For those who want to understand the cut of clothing, this provides as much info as one can get short of seeing the garment itself.



4. This large tomb is a gorgeous accompaniament to the ongoing exhibition at the Met. Most of the book consists of full-page photographs on high-quality matte paper. While I'm a couple thousand miles from the exhibition, the book's photos means it's possible to see Poiret's wonderful clothes in close detail--and how amazingly timeless many of them were--as in you really could wear them today.
   
   So, why four instead of five stars? Because the text is good, but not superlative. Lots of good information about Paul Poiret, but I'd like to have had something that places him in the context of other designers--how they were influenced (if they were)and a livelier writing style--good fashion writing, even of the historical ilk, should be witty.
   
   It is, as I say, a gorgeous coffee table book. These days, it sits on a side table next to my couch because the matte gold cover just looks so darn good. I would buy this book if I were an interior designer just for decorative purposes.

1 comments about Fashioning Fabrics: Contemporary Textiles in Fashion.

1. This book shows us how to take a simple fabric and turn it into something more by manipulating or embellishing it into something else. We see the work of skilled designers who specialise in making something more out of a flat piece of material then transform it into something wearable.