5 comments about Fashion Computing: Design Techniques And CAD.

1. Out of the 4 books that I have read so far teaching Adobe Illustrator this is the best - my graphics have improved immensely in the short time that I started using this book (and I'm only a third of the way through the book).
   
   The only downside is that with the update in Illustrator (CS 3) some of the instructions for Illustrator do not work and I have had to search through the Illustrator Help menus to download updated instructions.
   
   So the book needs a little updating, but generally I would recommend this book over others so far.



2. I have started using Illustrator software recently and this book have served a good support for flat sketching the garments for women,men and kidswear.Is also gives tips to prepare portfolio, but you already should know basics of how to use Illustrator programme. It is nicely illustrated book and one can get ideas. But again its a basic book and does not cover all the aspects of flat sketching.



3. Great book! Even if you are a complete beginner you will find this book an informative and useful resource. It gets you up and running quickly with really simple, step-by-step, illustrated techniques for fashion computing using current software.
   
   In my fashion design studio, we predominatly use CorelDraw, Illustrator and Photoshop, and found this book informative for each of these packages. It covers the basics - how to create flat drawings from vests, skirts, shirts, dresses to pants, and then moves on to producing mood and design boards, visualizing your design ideas using Photoshop. The section on creating a digital portfolio is also vital in todays digital world. Plus it covers womenswear, menswear and childrenswear.
   
   It is well illustrated with great examples of flats, illustrations and fashion presentations from illustrators and designers in the fashion industry and from top fashion schools and universities globally.



4. This book has great pictures of fashion illustrations and is helpful because it gives instructions for 3 different CAD platforms, but as far as giving explicite directions on "how to", I found it lacking in substance. It seems that the really great stuff in the book was still hand drawn,scanned in and manipulated a bit with Photoshop. If you are absolutely brand new to these programs and need help gettting started it might help you. For me, it will be more of a pretty book to look at once in a while rather than a reference for problem solving.



5. It is fantastic! Top Marks!
   By following the easy steps laid out in the chapters, I cannot believe how simple it is to draw and color my flats, scan and manipulate my fashion drawings and then bring it all together to create my presentations in Photoshop.
   
   I use Illustrator and Photoshop primarily at fashion school, and the other books I own do not explain the tools and techniques as simply as this one does...plus the examples are all fashion and textiles based! For the price it's great value.

3 comments about Misshapes.

1. I loved it. Really cool photos. Great layout. Lots of variety. The fashion is great. They really captured the essence of the "hipster scene". So worth the money.



2. These kids suck. This scene is for the most part fabricated and non-representative of what really goes down in the NY scene.



3. The kids at the party are cute. This book is such a neat documentation of New York nightlife and fashion. The layout is amazing. All of the photograpic contributions really mesh well with the portraits. Perfect size to hang onto as a reference or to sit on the coffee table. Good mix of celebrities with normal people, had to look a few times to find some people. Kudos.. very clean and sophisticated, well worth purchasing, and perfect for any age!

5 comments about The Way We Live: An Ultimate Treasury for Global Design Inspiration.

1. brilliant pictures of landscapes from around the world and homes. I particularly enjoy the pictures of various stairwells together or doorways for example.



2. I thought this book was exceptional.
   This book deals with design in all parts of the world, but much more than this it gives you the feeling of the cultural richness of people who live in these spaces. It is visually beautiful and evocative.
   I think the photography is outstanding. The photograper has a real knowledge about light and composition. It is rare, I think, to have so many excellent photos in a single volume. Along with this, the narrative is direct and insightful.
   For those interested in design, the book offers many ideas for all types of settings. None of the ones presented are stereotypical or stiff.
   The most winning aspect in this book is the realism and beauty that we are able to see around the world. The colorful, serene, and eclectic nature of many settings make this book a delight to read over and over again.



3. Have you ever walked or driven past someone's home and wanted to look inside? Looking through this book is a bit like that on an international scale. The book is a beautiful work of art in itself, the presentation top class, the paper quality excellent, the binding great. It is packed with marvellous photographs of interiors, accompanied by descriptive text. What it isn't is another of those boring interior design books, filled with rooms that are painted offwhite, with large mirrors, potted palms and overstuffed sofas. This book is interior design getting real!



4. Stafford Cliff has collected images from all around the world and with the help of superb photographer Gilles de Chabaneix has done what few other innovators in design have done - created a book that is, yes, about design, but is equally about how climate, place, ethnicity, tradition, cultural philosophies, and history inform the decisions people make about their living environments.
   
   Not just viewing the gracious homes of the wealthy of the planet (though there are plenty of gorgeous 'palaces' of design to please the most art hungry eye), Cliff views the differences geography makes in dwellings, from spectacular vistas of the sea to the mountains and to the deserts, and how the climates influence the manner in which 'design' is used. As interested in discussing and sharing the most humble abodes with the most lavish mansions, Cliff doesn't miss a beat as he and de Chabaneix journey to places obscure and places of notoriety. The emphasis is always on the manner in which the people of these dwellings adapt and incorporate their living spaces to their environment.
   
   A book that is both sumptuous in design itself and tender in its approach, THE WAY WE LIVE will appeal to both students of design and to those who long to understand the essence of living, wherever they travel. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, December 05



5. As an interior designer, I often start thinking about new spaces by doing research as to what other people have done in the past in similar situations...this is a great book to have in your library for that purpose. I've referenced it many times to show clients the sort of "mood" I'm looking to create before we sit down to hammer out the nuts and bolts of how that feeling translates into a different space with different furnishings and fabrics...this book won't teach you how to make curtains, but it is well worth the investment as exactly what it says it is..."a global design inspiration".

5 comments about No Lye: The African American Woman's Guide To Natural Hair Care.

1. Good book on how to do certain things to natural hair, but I think I'm still going to go have someone show me how to do them. The "how to" doesn't really transfer in this book as well as it does in actual "show how to"



2. I was displeased with the book, I felt it focused way too much on dreadlocks. I wear my hair natural, but I wil never wear it as dreadlocks. It brushed through the tips pf taking care of hair and the pictures were not that clear. Don't get me wrong its a decent book, especially if you want to grow dreads.



3. I bought "NO LYE!" Tuesday and returned it Wednesday. It was not nearly what I expected after all of the rave reviews. The illustrations were limited and the sections on twists was no help at all. I bought "Textured Tresses" today and love it. There is a lot of celebrity name dropping but who cares. It is well written and provides product names, numerous illustrations, detailed how-to's and a salon directory. Also there is a section on picking the right stylist and salon that I found helpful. Don't waste your money on "NO LYE!". No lie.



4. Excellent book which provided much needed encouragement to go natural. I've been "relaxer free" since April 2006 and now in the process of transitioning from extensions. Thanks Tulani !!



5. This book is outstanding. It is hair therapy for damaged scalps, strands, tresses, locks and otherwise damaged hair with good intentions. Knowledge is power--it discusses the history and culture of our hair, composition, its' entry into the African American mainstream, styles (cornrows, individual braids, extensions, natural hair) treatments, and care for our crown & glory. Thank you, this is a precious gift.

5 comments about Medieval Costume in England and France: The 13th, 14th and 15th Centuries.

1. Medieval Costume in England and France provides a great overview of the different styles of garb during the specified periods. It is divided by century, and further grouped by Royal/Religeous/Common styles. The line drawings are helpful in giving a general idea of how the different styles look. There are some general layout illustrations that would be helpful to an experienced sewer, but a beginner would need additional information to create the look, not provided by this book. ("The Medieval Tailor's Assistant" is perfect for this additional sewing information) I'm not a historian, so I can't comment on the reliability of the sources, but as a newcomer to the SCA I found this book very helpful in finding garb that would fit chosen personna. There are excellent historical descriptions, and frequent reference to sources. For what it intends to offer, this is an excellent book.



2. Very informative. Excellent historical reference. Describes the hows and whys of fashion evolution the 13th through the 15th centuries, very well. An informative and interesting resource.



3. I use this book as a refrence for all of my hopelades and Surcotes, and several of my men's things. I love this book!!



4. Absolutely love this book. Though it is simple, I feel it's one of the essential clothing books if you're doing recreations. The layouts are great, the explanations well-done, and there are easy-to-follow diagrams for patterns. Documentation in the form of illuminated manuscripts and rubbings from funerary monuments, etc, also are VERY helpful. Personally, I don't make a single thing without consulting this book at least once!



5. I bought this book because I needed a read and was busted at the time. This book reminds me of my 10th grade reasearch paper. Short clips, pictures second hand. It contained very little actual information on the period,reasons or construction. I give it one point for effort and another because it has pictures. It might be good for an elementary school or junior high library to do a short paper with. Otherwise save your pennies.

5 comments about The Lingerie Handbook.

1. It was a book I have always needed but never had.
   It's really worth reading not only for those who are really in love with lingerie, but even for more practical readers who want to make their life more comfortable. I've read the book in a couple of days and really enjoyed and wanted to have more. Very concise and to the point. A good investment to return to when it was already once read.



2. This is a great overview on how to select lingerie best suited for your body. The author, Rebecca Aspan, is wonderfully compassionate towards her readers and understands women from AA to EE... The book celebrates the female form with practical applications, such as helpful ways to measure yourself. She even has a chapter for men!
   
   Something great about the book is Aspan includes an array of body types for her lingerie models from full to thin, from busty to compact. She understands women are created uniquely and really has a firm understanding of female bodies and what fits, flatters, and supports. She offers useful tips on how to properly wear a bra, how underwear should comfortably fit, etc. This is less of an overtly sexual book, if anyone might have misconceptions of the title. Yes, it is a sexy little book, but sexuality simply comes with the territory. It's more of a book for a woman to take better care of her body, personal dress, feel comfortable and confident because she's not pestered by a pinching bra or a horrendous wedgie, and feel great whether someone will enjoy her underwear with her or not.



3. It never occurred to me that all it would take is to put as much care into what you wear underneath your clothes as you do into your outfits each day-it really does give you an extra boost of confidence and makes you feel beautiful. Thank you to Ms. Apsan for giving women one more thing to make themselves feel good each day!



4. This book has lots an lots of pictures. Pictures of women wearing the wrong and right underwear; Yes right and wrong underwear for the clothes your wearing. The text is very informational and very undersanting.
   
   I'm a male; I wanted to know more about womens undes. I leared alot from this book. I did not know that most visable panty lines came from wearing to small panties, also how you should not wear white panties with white sheer pants. The book tells you to try colors like nude. your going to have to buy the book to find out the rest.
   
   I told my wife that she was wearing the wrong bra and she told me she was not. I measured her and told her she needed to be fitted. I convinced her to be fitted by a pro. She did and she bought a couple bras. Went home throwed away every bra she had (yes every bra she had). The next day we went out bra shopping. I never seen her so happy about bra shopping. She never liked underwire and I told her how your not suppose to feel the underwire. Now that she has the right size underwire is all she looks for.
   
   As a man I found out why there so much to choose from and how to buy. I bought a couple things I like (The lingerie I buy her I tell her I bought me someting knowing how she only wears it for me). Now she wears what I buy as underwear even down to the thongs and g-strings as everyday undes. She feels very sexy now. I think that now I'm married to a diffent women. Her personality has changed for the better. Underwear is the first thing we put on. Yes only we know whats under there but whats under there can make us or brake us.
   
   This book is a great read for both female or male.



5. I saw a review of the book on the Internet and added it onto my wish list on Amazon.com. I put it there kind as a joke. Leave it to my mother in law to purchase the book that was added on to my wish list as a joke.
   
   I didn't really mind because I was interested in the book so I read it. The author of the book is the owner of the store La Petite Croquette a lingerie store in New York City.
   
   Although the book is really meant for women it was interesting for me as a guy to read. Most of the book is put together in a no nonsense "This is what you need to know when it comes to lingerie"
   
   The first two chapters of the book talk about why owning high quality lingerie is important. It focuses on how lingerie makes a woman feel sexy and attractive.
   
   The nitty gritty portion of the book really starts out with chapter 3 when it starts talking about bras. This is easily the largest single chapter in the book and it simply states what most women should really know. There is a lot of information about finding the right cup size and band size. It also has a short section on important dates in bra history. It includes a little bit about different styles of bras and what different bra types are good for.
   
   The next section is on panties. It talks about VPL visible panty lines. Different styles of panties are listed and once again a list of what type of outfits each is good for.
   
   The next few sections talk about sleep ware, shape ware, stockings and pantyhose and tights. Each section is organized like the section on bras.
   
   The next section is one of the best section its called tips for women. It basically covers the same topics as the first two chapters but organized in a different way. It even talks about the very racy Perl Thong which sounds like a very interesting outfit to me.
   
   There is also a nicely written section just for men. I think the major two point listed for men was be prepared for sticker shock. (lingerie is expensive) The other hint know the size of the woman that you are trying to buy for.
   
   There are two other section one on caring for lingerie. The author advises washing all lingerie by hand. If you don't have time to wash by had use the gentle cycle. However she advises never drying you lingerie in the dryer always air dry. The heat of the dryer will destroy the elasticity of any lingerie.
   
   The last section talks about the different types of fabric and how a person can build up there own lingerie collection.
   
   This is a really good no nonsense book about what a woman should know about lingerie. I wish that my wife would sit down and read it. I think that women often forget how much simple lingerie can do to flame up passion in a man.
   
   I would advise this book to any woman. I think this book has something most women have not thought of. The section on bras would make this book good for almost any woman. I think the simple fact that 9 out of 10 women are using a bra that does not fit proper is shocking.

2 comments about Nuno Nouveau: Fashionable Felt for Accessories & Home Décor.

1. Good publication on the Nuno-type of Felting being done so much in New Zealand. If you're a felter and want to branch out to Nuno, this book will give you good information and spring board your creative ideas.



2. The title was promising, the content very disappointing. It shows some basics only. Nuno felt has been around for awhile now and I was hoping for some originality.

5 comments about Designing Knitwear.

1. I had read that in order to effectively design knitwear, you need this book. That article was 100% correct. This is a fantastic reference for the knitwear designer because Deborah Newton has been in the field for decades, and has a solid grasp on how to design regular garments. This translates for very informed discussions on why you'd choose to construct the garment of choice and the designer touches you would add for polish. If you are a serious knitter who has always wanted to create your own designs, then this book is for you!!



2. If you are feeling a little 'tied in knots', or limited, after following everyone else's patterns, and want to branch out a bit, this is the book for you. It is an embarassment of riches in inspiration and options. Designing Knitwear will give you much information, and the boost you need, to get those creative juices flowing. It's got a lot of suggestions for looking in some unlikely places for knitting design inspiration. It also has patterns for some high fashion sweaters, suits, and jackets. As such, this book will never go out of style, as you simply select the elements you want, and plug them into your project design.
   
   The sections on garment construction, and the effect of patterned stitches are detailed, clearly written, and easy to understand.
   
   The basics are all there for planning the construction of a project. The patterns included also provide ample opportunity to take the suggested pattern, and modify it to make it truly your own. The information is solid, sensible, and you can find lots of ways to integrate the suggestions into adjustments, or a whole new design. New yarns seem to arrive in shops every season, and this book gives you clear directions for evaluating any yarn for any project.
   
   Deborah Newton also includes much explanation and detail regarding various types of construction, from smocks to sweaters, to dressmakers designs. Some of the patterns given might not appeal to everyone, but everyone can use the information to make a smashing design of their very own. There is lots of information on stitch selection, and the effects that can be obtained with varying stitches.
   
   The details given are really helpful, particularly for elements of garment design that you see in fashion magazines, but rarely in knitting books. This is one of the very best collections of information about a wide variety of design options, and done in detail I've never encountered before. I've knitted for decades, and if I'd only had this book when I was wanting to 'improve' on some sweater patterns, I'd have avoided hours of ripping and starting over.
   
   Ms. Newton has me thinking of projects for next winter's knitted presents. And, I may just find a use for those oddments of yarn that could be combined into a wild and wonderful jacket, incorporating stitch designs that I'd have never considered prior to reading this book.
   
   Knitting allows you to control every aspect of garment construction, from texture, to size, to sleeve design, to collar...the options are endless. This is a book that will give any knitter inspiration and confidence to really be creative.
   
   I'd recommend this book for every knitter who is seeking perfect fit, perfect design, and ways to select new yarns for any project. The only limitation is your imagination. Designing Knitwear is encyclopedic in its scope and very well done indeed. The only problem you might have is figuring out which, of the endless options, will be right for your next project.



3. I wanted to learn how to design, and I tend to need plenty of visuals when I'm learning something, so this book is wonderful to have. Tons of pictures and the text is clear and informative of course.



4. First, the good: there is a lot of information here about different fibers, explanations of silhouettes, ease, and different styles that is very helpful. There are tips on sketching and charting your own designs, as well as structural details of different styles, e.g. set-in sleeves, saddle shoulders. Much of the information is opinionated, but the author usually explains her reasoning.

   The bad: I found many of her technical explanations incomplete and/or difficult to follow (and I've been knitting for about 10 years). I also found the many (many, many) self-gratulating personal references a bit tiresome. 'This is how I do this,' 'I like to do that,' 'Let me tell you all about a perfectly brilliant design idea I had one day while waiting for the bus,' etc. Somehow I got the impression the author has an air of superiority, as if to say her way is NATURALLY the best way, if not the only way. Maybe this irritated me more because I disliked most of her designs and thought them all but unwearable. If you're into 'haute couture' or 'wearable art,' you might enjoy them more; I prefer to design garments which are more subtle.... or, as she might say, 'bland and pedestrian.' (If that means saying "No" to big bulky coats knitted of fuzzy chartreuse mohair, complete with giant buttons, then color me bland and pedestrian.)

   Bottom line: For the technical and structural elements of design, this book is worth looking into, but I'm still looking for a better knitting design book.




5. I am only a beginning knitter but I've checked this book out of the library several times in the past couple of years. The photos are gorgeous; even the pictures of swatches are eye-candy. This is not a book of patterns, rather, it is a sort of 'how-to' book for design inspiration using various sources; old photographs, coutour fashion, sewing patterns, and of course beautiful yarns and fibers. Don't pass this up if you are not ready to design your own knits. It will inspire you to keep knitting and treat yourself to some gorgeous yarns even if it is only one skein to make swatches from. This book is as much about the process, or journey as it is about the finished product. I was tickled the first time I checked out the book and discovered the author was from Rhode Island. Since then, I've wondered if she still lives here and holds workshops.

5 comments about Bridal Gowns: How to Make the Wedding Dress of Your Dreams.

1. I really like this book! I knew it would be good information because of what I know of the author (extremely talented and accomplished seamstress and owner of the New Hampshire Academy of Sewing), I just didn't expect it to be so jammed packed with not just good information, but great information!
   
   The fully illustrated tissue fitting of real brides, the hints on the most flattering features of gowns for different body types, the information on lace and sewing with lace - it's all just really helpful and completely applicable to real people sewing real bridal gowns. She makes this sometimes scary and intimidating venture approachable and doable.
   
   Highly recommended.



2. This book covered the basic Palmer Pletsch pattern fitting techniques (though Fit for Real People is more thorough), and features some tricks for veils and bustling that are wedding gown specific. It would be particularly useful for making a gown for someone with fitting challenges, but it's not a great resource if you're trying to clone an engineered gown from a bridal salon. That's where "Bridal Couture" comes in handy.



3. The book arrived quickly and in great condition. It looks like it has lots of information to help with making my daughter's wedding gown...I'll begin sewing in September.



4. Very informative I will use the book alot



5. I am in the Bridal Alterations business and also sew weddings on the side. I am just starting out and wanted to learn more about the insides of wedding gowns. I have used other books by these women (Fit for Real People) to teach sewing classes in local fabric stores and knew they'd put out a great product. Inside they tell you what fabrics to use for interlining, interfacing, step by step construction, patern fitting, and more. There's even a checklist for constructing a wedding gown and yardage and instructions for making petticoats. I REALLY recommend this book!

No comments about 49 Sensational Skirts: Creative Embellishment Ideas for One-of-a-kind Designs.