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1 comments about Culture of Fashion: A New History of Fashionable Dress.

1. If you're interested in fashion, fashion history, design history, pretty pictures of clothes, and/or how commerce and social values affect style, you must get this book.

5 comments about Vintage Style: Buying and Wearing Classic Vintage Clothes.

1. I was very disappointed in this book; I had hoped to find a nicely laid out book that presented lovely or interesting vintage pieces that regular people have worked into their wardrobes. I thought I'd see particularly fine examples of some classics and maybe some more unusual pieces. This is not the book for that. Some of the pieces are not even vintage (!!) but are rather meant to represent a 'classic' type of clothing. For example, one woman is shown wearing a no-sleeve turtleneck sweater which, we're told, is from the 90's but "could have come from the 50's." Whaaaa? And while the authors are obviously shooting for sending the message that vintage pieces can be timeless and that well-crafted clothing works in any time, I think that message is already well-known to vintage clothing lovers who would presumably be interested in this book. I wanted to see people doing interesting things with 50's swing coats or perhaps showing how they wear classic 30's or 40's style without it looking costume-y. If you're looking for this, don't buy this book!
   
   Another thing I didn't like about the style is that the authors often sound snobbish, dropping names right and left without giving any background information on why these are famous names in the first place. Personally, I don't give a flip whether something is made by Pucci. If it looks good and is well-made, the label only adds to the expense.



2. As an introduction, I am not a "fashion expert", or knowledgeable about vintage fashion to any depth. That said, I believe I have a good sense of style, and wanted to learn more. Almost every page of this book left me wishing for more; as I turned the pages I went from excitement [at seeing something new] to boredom [at another impracticable idea] to interested [there are many historical gems in this book] to unbelieving [at another picture/idea that looked completely wrong to me] to contented [sometimes short sections of the book just came together because the author has a very nice writing style].

   Most of the book is a list of 37 clothing styles (36 for women, one for men, with examples of business, casual and evening variations for each) and most of these did not live up to their potential. Each style usually takes 5 pages to explain, with lots of pictures. For a non-expert like me, there was not enough explanation on what made each style different and appealing. Most of the pictures, rather than explaining and amplifying the style, were "fashion shoots" showing the owners in their clothes, posing in various stylish ways - the emphasis was on the person, not the garment. I would have appreciated more controlled pictures of the clothing, and close-ups showing its advantages. Many times the author says It's about "The linings, the detailing, the tailoring. It's about workmanship. It's about the way it fits and the way it moves." However, there is not one picture or one paragraph explaining any of these things for any of the 37 clothing styles!

   For some odd reason, the author is stuck on the decades also. As other reviewers noted, most of the book is 1950's and later. Many times you will read: "In what decade was it made? What difference does it make?...", yet attached to each picture is a decade. More frustrating, there is very little explanation why one picture is "50's" and the one next to it is "70's". Some of her ideas just seem crazy or outlandish, like wearing shorts & pajamas in a conservative work environment. (You won't stand out as long as you wear your Chinese pajamas under a sport coat and match the colors in the Pucci shorts with your blouse!)

   I appreciated that real people are wearing these clothes, and not the latest supermodel. For me, the best part of the book was the end with little vignettes on classic styles, vintage finds, & shopping. Again, most of the shopping section should be extra for anyone who reads the paper, shops at the mall, and has an idea of what garage sales and flea markets are all about (but for beginners there are a few additional bits of information in there).

   After reading 37 examples of how everything can be acceptable anywhere, as long as you are stylish, you should feel encouraged to go out, buy something different and try it on. To critique this book, there should be much better books out there, for both beginners and vintage experts; however, this is one of my first books so I just don't know which ones they are.




3. tiffany dubin really knows her stuff and doesn't get too lofty for the average person who just wants to see what all this hype about vintage is about. she shows fun ways to mix and match your existing wardrobe with cool finds. this book is a perfect guidebook, fun to look at and has some amazing rescources as well as a fun group of what must be friends showing the clothing off. A+



4. This was an ambitious project, by all means: over two hundred four-color pages and a jacket blurb that proclaims the book "nothing short of a money-saving source guide and an inspirational blueprint for understanding how to wear vintage clothing with style". Alas, Vintage Style fails on both counts. While some of the photographs display lovely vintage pieces--a terrific off-white Dior ensemble from the 50's, for example--the majority of these vintage-ensembles-as-mainstream-choices would draw unwanted stares at best, and embarrassing comments, at worst.

   As for being a source guide, money-saving or otherwise, the book merely lists (on the final few pages) a handful of vintage dealers in each of the general regional areas of the United States, with the majority being in the New York and New England areas (surprise, surprise). The disclaimer states "A complete list would be impossible to compile". Apparently so: if you're a resident of The South, we're informed, there are only two vintage sellers of which the authors are aware: one in Miami and one in Atlanta. Well, that's news to us Southern girls! Furthermore, no price points are mentioned (these would help steer the vintage shopper to boutiques whose merchandise she could afford) and no information on the stores' areas of specialization (i.e. designers and eras represented) is given either.

   Although there are plenty of color photographs, the majority are strangely styled and badly out-of-focus. A puzzling eight-part treatise on hacking up a (seemingly) perfectly good black lace dress with a pair of scissors concludes with the wearer looking less Comme des Garcons than extremely silly. And there is a disappointing shortage of accessory shots: don't those New Yorkers like vintage jewelry and handbbags as much as the rest of the nation?

   Yes, you'll see some designer outfits shown on non-models in Vintage Style. But for about $37 less, you can flip through the society pages of W magazine and have a similar experience.




5. This book is really aimed at vintage fashion neophytes. For any one with more than a passing knowledge of vintage fashion save your money. As an aesthitic experience the book is great, lots of pretty pictures. However, there is nothing really of interest in the book. As a test if you know who courreges is do not buy this book, there is nothing here you don't already know.

1 comments about Denim Mania: 25 Stylish Ways to Transform Your Jeans.

1. i hate to say that i was disappointed with this book. I own their first one, so i was hoping and expecting for this one to be just as flyy, but it wasn't. i own several deconstruction books and many of their pants, jackets and skirts ideas weren't that creative and flyy like i wanted it to be. I understand that there's nothing new under the son, but i just expected something more edgier (sp?) from them in this one.
   
   I skimmed through the book before i purchased it anyhow at barnes and nobles, so i knew what i was getting into. Since i love accessories, one that was my favorite was the headband. I know there's more, but i haven't picked up the book since i bought it sadly :( . Nonetheless i'm still a fan and supporter of their work and i will continue to be!
   
   peace

5 comments about Attention to Detail : A Gentleman's Guide to Professional Appearance and Conduct.

1. this book should be titled "professional appearance for dummies". most of the information is very very basic. remember, this book is only 51 pages all inclusive. in that space, it covers dressing, posture, emailing, eating, etc. not a lot of information on any topic.
   
   on top of that, some of the information is wrong. for instance, the author derates asymmetrical tie knots like the half windsor as unprofessional. this is inaccurate and the half windsor is one of the three most popular tie knots for business. (another - the four in hand - the most common - is also asymmetrical)
   
   if you "don't do nuance" and want a couple of rules to live by - this is your book. alternately, if you are young and need a good introduction, read this. otherwise, its really not worth the money.



2. Prior to buying this book, I read a review that said it was too simple for real office professionals but good for teens just entering the workplace as a starter guide. I think that is a good appraisal.

   So I bought the book as a gift for a teen just graduating from high school.

   As a gift for a teen, I am disappointed with the sketchy, plain cover and the sketch quality of the illustrations.

   I am also disappointed that including shipping and handling I paid some $17 or $18 and received a book that looks like I paid $2 for it. Therefore, it is not well suited as a stand-alone gift either. This was not a "good deal."

   In spite of it's cheap appearance and thinness, the information inside is good for a first, elementary, book on dress and conduct.




3. Although they have a definite conservative slant, that slant is the reality of proper dress for interviews.



4. This one isnt as good as his other with the black cover... but it gets the point across. Good starter tips.



5. This book is for a young man who is about to graduate from high school or college. If you are looking for a serious book about men's fashion, I suggest you look elsewhere. Perhaps you may want to look at Josh Karlen's 'Indispensible Guide to Classic Men's Clothing' which I found informative reading in the areas of suits, shirts, and outerwear; or even Tim Meehan's 'Suit Yourself' which I thought was interesting in the areas of "dress" casual and "corporate" casual. It took me about 10 minutes to read Mr. Greenleaf's book after skimming the chapters on 'Shaking Hands', 'Shining shoes' (who has time to put shaving cream on their shoes?)and business etiquette. If you need work in these areas, then this book is for you. If you are already established in the business world and have already committed all the fashion crimes early in your career but are gearing more towards the next level in classic men's fashion, this book is not for you. This book is a very basic primer for a person whose closet is empty.

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