No comments about Tim Walker Pictures.

5 comments about Costume in Detail: 1730-1930.

1. Not only have I learned an amazing amount from this book, it has truly saved me from making very costly mistakes in selling vintage clothing. I adore period costume but good research books, especially when you are just beginning...are VERY hard to find. This book offers measurements, construction details and puts smaller accessories into context. Many times I would purchase a large box of antique clothing at auction that contained smaller items which would have me baffled. Countless times I find them in her illustrations. Pretty pictures are great, but her details will truly educate you. Thank you for this great reference. I wish you would do one entirely on personal accessories.



2. Excellent reference for illustrators and animators. However, "Costume in Detail" only covers women's costuming, which is unfortunate considering the attention the author paid to the material.



3. I bought this as a gift but I want a copy for myself. Can I say better?



4. the best of its kind. library copies constantly used by local stage costumers. a brilliant piece of work!



5. I would have loved to had seen the pieces of the garment drawn in their pattern shapes, but otherwise an excellent book with much detail written about each garment. Only other problem was that sometimes the writer's handwriting about the details on the drawings were a bit hard to decifer.

5 comments about Fairie-ality: The Fashion Collection from the House of Ellwand: The Deluxe Edition (Fairie-ality).

1. "Fairie-ality"..........it's so easy to be at a loss for words on this book, page after page of a beautiful collection! It is so beautifully done and illustrated that if you don't think "Fairies" have a wardrobe of their very own.... this will change your mind :). This book is a must have for all fairy collectors, little girls that dream of magic and also for those that just need a jump start for their own imaginations to take over. LOVE THE BOOK!!



2. I would list this book a 10 if I could, It is truly an inspiration to the creative juices. Excellant in every department.
   I would purchage this again and again if needed!



3. Very pleased with the book. It was a gift. In as new condition, as described. Fast shipping. Best price I found anywhere. Thanks so much!



4. This is such a whimsically Faery work of art! Ellwand has fashioned the most petite, realilistic, fantasyful clothes out of the prettiest petals and leaves (perfectly designed for the wee folk). I just love adoring each enchanting Faery outfit. Makes me wish I was tiny enough to wear each piece or even host a Faery fashion show and make the clothes for real! It's truly a wonderfully, beautiful and most unique art book! Here's to Ellwand. Also check out his Cinderlily!



5. Escape in the pretty pages of this extraordinary magic of the imagination.Clever, crafty, and truly unique.You will only wish that you could fit into these fantasy outfits.Out of a dream. Beyond the beyond beautiful.

5 comments about Victorian and Edwardian Fashion: A Photographic Survey.

1. This is one of the first books in a long list of fashion books that I own. It is one of my favorites. It is a bit academic as another reviewer mentioned, but I feel that's an important part of what makes this book a keeper. It covers European, mostly English fashion of the aristocracy. There are some great historical anecdotes. My favorites involve Empress Eugenie lounging audaciously around in her red knickers, and some about the rare daring lady to show up to the Ascott races in "pants". The writing isn't as witty as other books, but the historical detail is fantastic. There are quite a few pictures as well. The arrangement of the pictures and text is chronological and very easy to follow. The only drawback is that the pages are matte and not glossy. And the spine falls apart after a few years of hard labor.



2. It is a rare opportunity to see how people dressed in reality so far in the past. By contrast, fashion plates always show the garment in its perfect form, portraits are idealized, and original illustrations change the proportions, whether purposefully or not, to fit the times of the artist, not that of the garment. Photos do not lie.
   
   The pictures feature mostly upper-class people in attractive poses, and the reader can enjoy seeing these people in their clothes, in a variety of settings, in the middle of different activities (cycling, skating, boating, traveling through snowy mountains, playing tennis...). The people sitting for portraits are looking their very best, trying out different positions, picking their finest clothes. As for the garments themselves, the pictures are clear and attractive, and the details are so telling!
   
   The text dissects the pictures and explains costume of the era in detail, discussing the general trends, exceptions, class distinctions, and how the people in these old photos relate to all this. A Very good book for a costume historian.



3. A good and informative book. Just looking through it I learned a few things that I hadn't ever heard or noticed before, such as the way that tightlacing of corsets doesn't seem to have been too common before the late 1860s.
   The book is very reasonably priced. The only trouble, which probably, were it to be fixed, would make the book cost a lot more, is that I often wish the photographs were printed in better quality.



4. 
   This compact book is full of photos and it has great explanations from beginning to end. The author explains carefully every photograph, and also each of the fashions worn by the subjects.
   
   If you love old photos of Victorian and Edwardian fashions, then this is a nice book to own for your library. (Also, the price is reasonable).



5. Dover Publications, monarchs of 19th-century fashion surveys, have hit another one clean out of the park with this superb examination of Victorian and Edwardian fashion from the coronation of Victoria to the early 1900's. Originally published in England in the early 1960's as "The Mirror of Reality", this book was acquired and republished by Dover in a handy paperback edition up to their usual high physical standards (Dover is well-known for the high quality of its paperback books). Alison Gernsheim delves into every single aspect of costume in the period, from buttons to boots, and the accompanying B&W photos, well over a hundred of them, are worth even more words. The fashion-plate books such as Stella Blum's "Harper's Bazar 1867-1898" and Joanne Olian's "Victorian and Edwardian Fashions from La Mode Illustree" are absolutely indispensable for showing the fashions of the era as their designers conceived them, but you need - I say again, _need_ - this book to see how those dresses looked in the real world.

2 comments about Inspired Styles.

1. Pretty pictures included for each designer. Book as a whole seems bland. Should have gotten more off-beat designer/decorators- too much beige and too many shells and buddahs! Not really "good" taste- just alot of the same. While you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, it seems lovely to think someone is inpired by spices and purses and flowers, etc.
   But the inspirations on the inside were mostly one-word answers, almost completely devoid of descriptive language. Would have wanted more.



2. A coffee table book showcasing top designers in the home furnishings industry. A compelling forward by Cary Kravet - of Kravet Inc - the leading supplier of fabrics and furnishings to the interior design trade starts the reader off on a journey into the inspirations which motivate each designer. The pictures are captivating and the Q&A is an enlightening way to find out more about the personalities behind the great design.

4 comments about Sample: 100 Fashion Designers - 010 Curators - Cuttings from Contemporary Fashion.

1. My Mother in Law said she really liked the book. It was a gift so I didn't actually see it myself.



2. I accidentally discovered this book in my college's library and just had to have my own copy! I bought the paperback version and it's a lot more comfortable and manageable than the hardcover (which has various page widths that are hard to turn and looks chopped up), and costs much less too! Some of the designers featured are very bizarre and unpractical but still very inspirational!
   
   The book not only features clothing from international designers from all sorts of various places (including Asia, South America, etc) but it also features jewelry, shoes, accessories, and ...spear designs. Definitely a must have.



3. It presents recent collections from interesting designers from all over the world. It serves as a good introduction to some of them, so afterwards you can get to know each one's collection better. Good reviews, very nice images. And apart from that, a very nice book to use as a decoration for your office. : )



4. This book is absolutely fabulous, there's no other way to say it. Whether you're looking for a gift for someone who simply loves fashion, or are someone who loves fabric and the art of fabric manipulation (which is generaly called clothing), this tome is an excellent resource for information on up-and-coming fashion and designers. As a textiles & apparel major I find this book to be a great source of inspiration, but the layout, the wealth of large beautiful photos, and the artistic design of the book itself would make it a great coffee table book. The book is also a great bargain on Amazon, I have seen it for sale in several stores for upwards of $90. If I could give it more than five stars I would!

5 comments about Lachapelle Land.

1. I highly recommend NetworkNewBooks. My purchase arrived in three business days and in mint condition...thanks a lot!



2. After having bought David Lachapelle's "Heaven to Hell" in the Taschen bookshop in Berlin last november, I was flabbergasted by its content. Coming home I immediately surf to Amazon.com to order the other two books of this trilogy: "Lachapelle Land" and "Hotel Lachapelle". To me his work is the utmost synergism of fantasy, photography and art! For me, without doubt the most impressive and striking artbooks I bought in 2006!!
   
   Wubbe Koning, Heiligerlee, The Netherlands



3. How about photographing what your mind sees? That's the journey Lachapelle takes us in every picture. Lachapelle, along with a couple of other great photographers, is what I would call an acquired taste and a bi-polar one it is. Either you love it or you hate it...
   
   Anyone interested in serious photography should have, at least as a reference, any of Lachapelle's books.
   
   As for this one, all I have to say is that I enjoyed the journey. And what a journey it was...



4. I bought this book after being a fan of Lachapelle for a few years- and i've already got Hotel LaChapelle.This book doesn't really compare that well to Hotel Lachapelle, but its a good book to have if u want to document his work pre 1996, and although it has some stunning photographs, i was more impressed by the (presumably bigger budget) photos in Hotel Lachapelle, so. in a nutshell; if you trying to decide between this and His second book, get the second one, but this isnt a bad book to have.



5. I purchased this book after viewing David Lachapelle's website, and while it is certainly a decent collection of photographs, the photos lack some of the style that Lachapelle's more recent work has. If you are a fan of the work found on his website, then I would suggest Hotel Lachapelle instead of this book.

No comments about The Japanese Tattoo Design Handbook, Vol. 2.

5 comments about A Thousand Days of Magic: Dressing Jacqueline Kennedy for the White House.

1. I love reading and learning about Jackie Kennedy and feel she is the personification of elegance, class and grace. She was the EPITOME OF STYLE. For anyone that is an admirer of hers you won't be disappointed with this picture book (except I wish more photos had been in color so we could see her clothes in their natural hue). But it is evident Mr. Cassini is a very talented designer and Jackie was the ultimate subject. It is very easy to see why the world was obsessed with what she was wearing and how her style has influenced fashion for years on end. Great coffee table book.



2. I have always admired Jackie Kennedy for her style, grace and elegance. Therefore, Oleg Cassini's informative and illustrative book about the dresses he had designed exclusively for Jackie whilst being First Lady of America truly delighted me.
   
   Her reign (sadly) of a thousand days of "magic" was all too short for our mere mortals. A great coffee book table, I will always treausre it.



3. This is the BEST by far on Jackie Kennedy's simple but elegant fashion style. Oleg Cassini was personally selected by Jackie to design many of her outfits during her time as first lady. This book includes not only Cassini's finished articles of clothing, but also the original sketches he used in designing the clothes. On many pages he includes personal notes of thank you from Mrs. Kennedy, as well as requests for specific gowns or other items for special occasions. Not only was Jackie a fashion statement, she set the stage for years to come in the fashion industry! Oleg Cassini is a magnificent and world-renowned fashion designer, and will no doubt be long remembered for his fashion creations for Jackie Kennedy! The photos are stunning, and beautiful as ever...portraying Mrs. Kennedy all over the world wearing his designs. If you are a Jackie Kennedy admirer, Oleg Cassini follower, or a Fashion History buff; this is a remarkable book to add to your collection...more than worth the price!



4. I bought this book in 1995 when it first came out, it has held up beautifully, and is one of my all time favorite books about Jackie.

   A large, coffee table book that is filled with exquisite photos from Jackie's wedding day to President Kennedy through her time as First Lady, and her later years.

   Jackie has always been one of my favorite role models, and Oleg Cassini did one fantastic job in showing the sketches of clothing illustrations, as well as when and where Jackie wore them. He gives wonderful and detailed paragraphs of information that are respectful of Jackie. The book also has clear copies of the many letters of gratitude Jackie has written, as well as the many activities she was involved in.

   It is a true and dignified portrait of Jackie's greatest 1,000 days, and is a timeless treasure, showing the class, dignity, heart, and soul of a woman who will forever remain eternal.
   HIGHLY Recommended for the beautiful and dignified manner with which it is presented.




5. As far as I am concerned this is THE top book about Jackie's Fashions and I have either read, bought, or extensively reviewed all of them. This big coffee table book written by Oleg Cassini contains more information, better pictures and sketches than any other book about Jackie's fashions. In fact,I would say in some ways it is almost a biography of Jackie albeit a heavily illustrated one. Do not let the new influx of books about Jackie's fashions deter you from buying this book. The new books that came out around the time of the exhibit of her fashions at the Met are all ok . And Hamish Bowles book about the exhibit was the best of the three released during this timeframe. However none of these books match the lushness of Cassini's book!

5 comments about Everyday Fashions of the Thirties As Pictured in Sears Catalogs (Dover Books on Costume & Textiles).

1. If you want a comprehensive book that immerses you in the world of fashion from the thirties, this is the one. It is authentic and beautifully laid out and depicts numerous costume items from the thirties, though mostly focusing on women. The pictures depict everything from dresses to shoes, hats to gloves; the women's hairstyles, makeup, undergarments, and overall looks give the reader the most authentic possible view of fashion and the aesthetic ideals of the time. The catalogue also shows the prices and features descriptions that include fabric and color. There are some pictures of men's and children's fashions. This book is thorough and unbelievably beautiful. The whole series of Sears catalogue fashions by decade is amazing. I recommend them all!



2. I have to agree with the other reviewers. Modern fashion tends to look "dumbed down". I've owned this book for some time and refer to it often. Not to copy, necessarily; but to find inspiration. There are clothes available that still look "classic". Many of the original Sears pictures were in color but are reproduced here in b&w. Many of the reproductions have an overly fuzzy look. I suppose that's why the book is only $15 instead of 2 or 3 times as much. The Schiffer Sears series has sharp color images but you pay twice as much. You could buy the original Sears catalogs on eBay (I have a few) for even more. Your choice. This book will give you a good overview of the fashion changes during the decade and you can take it from there. Also of note are the accessories. A New Deal/FDR watch! A Buck Rogers watch! This isn't camp, either, but back in the days when this was serious stuff. Highly recommended!



3. Purchased this book soon after it was published in a Baltimore art museum.
   
   Modern Fashions and hairstyles today reveal absolute mediocrity. No style. No class. More to offend the eye than to please. Trousered females with short cropped hair and men whose hair is unkept wearing garments ill made. Swimsuits that leave nothing to the imagination worn by people who one just wishes were not visable because they keep themselvs as they do their awful cloths.
   
   This book is a treat to the eye. Wonderful cloths that show modern apparel was not alawys the norm.
   
   For the student of History this book is a valuable source of information on the cloths of the period, for which I purchased my copy. No scoloarly work but merely taken from the Sears catalogs of the time. Undergarments and accessories, shoes to hats, everything is shown here.



4. I own four books in this 'Searies' (Twenties, Thirties, Forties, Fifties) and I cannot recommend them highly enough. They are jam-packed with a great mix of pictures in good proportion which show the morphing of fashions over the decade(s). Dominant are women's clothing (formal, casual, dresses, hats, coats, shoes, with some undergarments, sportswear, nightwear, swimwear). Then there are smatterings of accessories (handbags, watches, gloves, powder compacts, belts, jewelry). Also some menswear and a small amount of childrenswear. All clothing is being worn.
   
   All pictures are black and white and have a certain (pleasant) level of graininess. What you get are the original pictures, prices and descriptions from the catalogs. There is only a very small amount of introductory material (just a one page 'Publisher's Note' for the Thirties).
   
   Changes over the series:
   The transition from drawings (all very good and realistic) to photos occurs in the Thirties.
   The variety of accessories appearing in the Twenties is largely reduced by the later decades (Fifties almost exclusively clothing and hats with some shoes).
   
   There's only one problem with these catalogs...you can't order the contents!



5. This is another useful research book, like all the ones that I've seen in this series, it's a valuble source for pictures of middle class, everyday clothes. It has pictures of women's accessories and shows some men's and children's clothes, which many period fashion books tend to ignore. Highly practical book for theatrical costumers.