5 comments about After a Fashion: How to Reproduce, Restore, and Wear Vintage Styles.

1. Note: my review is based on the first edition of this book.
   I think this book is wonderful--the author has also written computer manuals, and so her directions are very clear. (Come to think of it, most computer manuals aren't that easy to understand--hers must be special!) The book covers a wide array of topics related to vintage fashion. I especially appreciate the segments on sewing techniques--she explains basic things that I haven't been able to figure out from other books, like how to lengthen a pattern, and more complicated techniques that are very helpful when dealing with vintage clothes, like how to replace a lining. The author includes a lot of helpful hints from her personal experience. The book is organized into different topics, so you can skip the ones that aren't relevant to your interests.



2. I thought this was a useful book on costuming. There are lots of illistrations and detailed info, such as what style of lace, or what patterns were popular/available during the periods. Good buy, very helpful!



3. Best book I've found. Descriptions and illustrations for each historical period, as well as outfit planning, authentic fabrics, sewing and patternmaking tips, mending, restoring, and resources from A to Z -- books, websites, catalogs, periodicals... My #1 pick.



4. I'm a swing dancer and I love this book because it tells how to deal with vintage clothes you actually WEAR! Some books seem to think everybody who buys vintage clothes is some kind of museum. Or that they're rich and only buy perfect clothes in fancy boutiques. This book gives instructions for real-life cleaning, mending, and altering to fit you (for men's clothes too). And how to work with vintage patterns to make your own repros. This book ROCKS!



5. I wish I had know about this book years ago ! Needless to say I'm going to order copies for friends too. The layout is clear and easy to follow. The topic covered are comprehensive. There is plenty of information given to progress your knowledge further. All in all a great addition to the historic costumiers library.

No comments about Batik Design.

2 comments about Handbags Page-A-Day Gallery Calendar 2008 (Page-A-Day Gallery Calendars).

1. I realy like the product, and arived here, in Brazil, in very good condition, even that comes from Germany.



2. If you love handbags, this gallery style daily calendar is a must for your desk. Each photograph is printed on very high quality paper in beautiful color, and includes a description of the handbag. It's like visiting a purse museum. So much fun!

4 comments about Visionaire No. 29: Woman (Visionaire).

1. Don't get me wrong, I love Visionaire and own many issues and hope they keep putting out new issues, but I am also hard on them when, IMHO, they don't meet my expectations.

   It seems Visionaire has had an "up and down" quality issue as of late. Some issues are as elaborate as can be, others are like this issue, a cheaply bound "book" in a even more cheap looking "case".

   Since this issue is sponsored by "Olay Colour" I guess they wanted to make the case like a make-up "compact". The case is flimsy, tin, and silver colored with a "button" you press to make it pop open like a compact. At least that's what it looks like it's supposed to be. Whatever it is, one thing is for certain, the case is cheap and ugly looking.

   The book itself is a meager affair. It's soft bound with a red "velvet" material as the cover. There are various images in the book that are supposed to represent different aspects of women. There are mostly young and sexy representations with the occasional naked old woman thrown in or a cat nursing her kittens for an added twist on the theme. There is also a "life-size" nude dividing up the book, apparently if you had 6 copies of the book you could "build" the woman by stacking the books on top of each other. Is this creativity or just a cheap ploy to get people to buy 6 issues each of this "collectible" magazine? Anyway, anything with a print run of 6000 isn't considered rare, it would have to be under 3000 tops.

   Definately one of the worst issues to date, I'm sorry to say. It seems such a waste to have a subject with such possibilities done so thoughtlessly.




2. so alot of people say the depictions are "not nice"? oh well! learn to see meaning, try to get outside your own and society's fashionable limits for a second and view what other people are trying to say and thinking about whether you like it or not. this is communication. decode. if you aren't on the edge yet or simply mocking that edge that everyone's trying to jump on, take a look at visionaire and call it a prediction of your mind's apocalypse. change is good.



3. When I purchase a great art book, I can't wait to share it with my friends. In the case of "Visionaire 29: Woman," I'm reluctant to even put it on my coffee table. The allure of this book stems from its being a one-of-a-series, limited edition (only 6000 printed) publication. Other plusses are its high quality paper, velvet cover and the really cool, mirrored presentation case.

   What's between the covers turned out to be a disappointment for me. [Note: #29 is the only "Visionaire" book I've seen, so I can't make a comparison to the others]. There are about 100 pages of mostly photos (both color and b/w, many nudes) with a couple of paintings, sketches, etc., included. About 70 people were listed as contributors.

   While some of the photos are interesting, beauty does not abound here (try instead: "Photographs" by Patrick Demarchelier). Noteworthy are the photos by Karl Lagerfield, Peter Lindbergh (of Madonna) and Marcus Piggott/Matt Alas. What I don't relish looking at are pictures of a sex doll with its face slashed, a nude torso with nasty cosmetic surgery scars, or some overly back-lit stills from a stairway video installation. There's also a photo of a cat nursing her kittens ("woman"?). Okay, so if the subject matter isn't always charming, maybe there's supposed to be a theme or message to this compilation of art. I couldn't find one.

   If you're a collector of rare, trendy photo books, it might be worth your while to plunk down the steep price for this. But, in my opinion, the bad outweighs the good here.




4. Finally it has arrived, the latest Visionaire. It should have arrived in october 1999, but as you probably know, the editors of Visionaire don't care about that. They probably think is is fashionably. Well, #29 is all about Women, and nothing more. They are many nude pictures in the book and what I think is really not nice, is a picture of a woman in her 70's naked. Very nice are the various pictures by Mario Testino, and the drawings by Mats Gustafson. My favorite is Lady Amanda Harlech by Karl Lagerfeld. Fabulous pictures in black and white. One of the greatest things about Visionaire is that they always come with a special gift and this time it is a metal/chrome box around the book. Really great with a great design value. Buy this one before it's sold out,because it comes in an limited edition of 6000 copies. Also look at Visionaire #28: the Bible. This comes with a fabulous box designed by Philippe Starck.

3 comments about Leg.

1. If you like legs, this cute coffee table book is perfect for you. In a word this gem is legi-licious.



2. I would have liked to seen more attractive legs in it but it's a cute book.



3. This book contains many different pictures throughout the ages of the shape of the woman leg in every possible situation. In stockings, bare leg, with platform shoes, or flats, you will find a picture for your foot or leg fancy.

No comments about Fashion Plates: 1950-1970 (Schiffer Design Book).

1 comments about Handbag:To Have & To Hold.

1. This book gives a nice rundown of different handbag styles, and designers. It's simple and slightly informative. I mainly wanted the book for pictures and inspiration, which it gave me. I enjoyed the section that goes over the types of handbags, just because I was clueless as to their names and such. Overall, I was pleased.

No comments about The frontier scout & buffalo hunter's sketchbook.

No comments about The Designers: Saks Fifth Avenue.

No comments about Gatherings: America's Quilt Heritage.