1 comments about Clothes of the Ancient World.

1. A great pictorial for everyone from 3 to 93. 48 pages. Cuts through academic rhetoric to give clear and concise images of ancient cultures' costume and hairstyles including those of Ancient Mesopotamia, Assyria, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Hebrew, Persia, Crete, Greece, Rome, Celts, Ancient India, Pakistan, and China. A good reference for reproducing costume and hair for plays, reports, etc.

No comments about Help Wanted: Fashion Designer (American Girl Backpack Books).

3 comments about Slipcovers (Creative Textiles).

1. As an experienced seamstress that wanted to branch out into slipcovers, I found this book to be the answer to my prayers. I have several other books that have much prettier covers and use more glamorous fabrics but nothing that even comes close to the detailed steps provided in this book.

   First off, making a slipcover is hard work. Nothing easy about it. I liked this book because it covers, in detail, each standard arm shape of sofas and chairs and gives pictures of exactly how to design and construct each type. The steps for making cushion covers is excellent. From how to make the pattern, making welting, putting in the zipper, to sewing the final seam. I refer to it each time because of the detailed construction pictures.

   Most other slipcover books make way too many assumptions about the construction steps or try to describe things in text without pictures. This book does both very well.




2. I bought this book to make a slipcover for my sofa - a project I'll admit is WAY beyond anything I've ever attempted. (Never been much on sewing). I had, however bought a similar book on curtains and was able to follow step by step producing a beautiful set of full length (9 1/2') lined curtains with goblet pleats and a roman shade. I wanted to find a similar book on slipcovers and this was my gamble.

   I will say, this book does have a lot of extremely helpful illustrations and I like the format for instructions. The project I did was broken down into 32 steps. HOWEVER, as someone who got through college calculus by reading the book, I was stumped on most of this. I had to read and reread the steps before beginning and began without a very good understanding of the process. By continually rereading the steps as the project progressed, I managed to finish and ended up with a pretty good looking cover. The biggest problem was lack of reference. You were told to do something with a hem or seam, but not which seam or hem and often not on which piece that seam or hem was located. There were illustrations for most but not all of the steps - I needed them all!

   I don't mean to be unfair to the authors/editors of this book. It is a very well organized piece, and the best of what I found at Amazon given the limited information about these books given here. I'm sure it's difficult to put such a mammoth project on paper, but I feel it could have been remedied with simply more instruction. Someone who has done a cover before, or had more experience in general might find this a great book, but no beginners please.




3. This is a well-done book. It offers clear, detailed photos (yesssss!!!), instead of those TOTALLY UN-HELPFUL DRAWINGS that so many silly books have nowadays. I am going to finally attempt my first sewing project with the help of 'Slipcovers" by Creative Textiles.

1 comments about Dr. Martens: The Story of an Icon.

1. This book is a beautiful, colourful, illustrated history of those very cool shoes. It is more than the history of a shoe, but the history of the people who wear them. Filled with quotes and annecdotes from famed punks and other musicians. Brimming with beautiful photos with an emphasis on the footwear.
   Singing to readers praise for various bands including The Who and The Clash, as well as providing a very thorough history of a number of doc-wearing subcultures. There are the stories of the skinheads, punks, mods, and more.
   Steeped in tales of history from the 60s til the present, with mentions of all the things that made these decades important, from The Clockwork Orange to Madness.
   This book is witty, attractive and very easy to admire.

1 comments about Fibel Und Fibeltracht.

1. The fibula was a type a clasp use for holding ones clothes together (as in the example of a tunic clasp) and for decoration. Even though this volume is written in German those without a familiarity with German but is a student of archeology will still find it a great guide.
   
   Giving the history of the fibula from the late Bronze Age to the time of the early middle ages it shows in great detail with numerous line drawings the possible ways the fibula developed and evolved.
   
   It is also a great taxonomic reference.
   
   Much time is spent on the Celtic fibula.
   
   One of the very helpful things about this book that you really don't find anywhere else in books on the fibula is that there are lot of illustrations on how fibulas might have been worn based on how they were found on the corpses in inhumation graves.
   
   Worth the price of the book alone is an illustration showing how a series of fibulas might have been assembled in the hair of a female wearer.
   
   The fibula was of great importance to the ancient Celts and sometimes were used as a form of payment.
   
   The fibula became a form of high art during antiquity and those not familiar with the fibula and its history will be fascinated not only with their beauty but the degree of techincal expertise, the sense of invention, sometimes the subtle humor and artistic sophistication they reflect.
   
   Highly recommended especially for the Celtophile and those with an interest in history.
   
   Jim Connell "Hallstatt Prince"

No comments about InStyle: Parties.

5 comments about The Evolution of Fashion: Pattern and Cut from 1066 to 1930.

1. A great book covering from the year 1066 to 1930. Includes patterns for undergarments, outfits and accessories.
   Includes hats, caps, and bonnets.
   Easy to use, and very informing.



2. I have been using this book for years to help with designing costumes for various Community Theatres and Madrigal Groups. Though the costumes themselves are English, they give you a wonderful idea of what was popular for the elite from every western country during a wide range of periods. The best part of this book is the fact that you can tell they did their research. From the way people changed their movement, to the undergarments that were needed to support the clothing, to how they were decorated, I could go on for another page. It is the perfect resource for anyone who designs for a living or just for fun.



3. In the words of the authors, "Fashion is the translation of the wearer's personality into the language of clothes," and this volume is a comprehensive overview of the changes in the ideal personality as reflected in the dress of English court dressers, interpreted through secondary sources (paintings, prints, carvings, sculptures and manuscript drawings) during the reign of 31 English monarchs. For each of 56 eras in fashion, clear and detailed B/W drawings (by Hill) of male and female adult dress are presented with a thorough overview (by Bucknell) of general characteristics of the fashion including headware, shoes, and undergarments and a summary of trends in decoration, accessories, movement for both genders, padding and restriction, and typical fabrics and colors. For all illustrated outerwear garments, 1/8" scale pattern shapes (by Bucknell) are provided as a base for adaptation for those interested in re=creation, and are simplified and presented without seam allowances or construction notes. No information is given on construction of foundation garments (corsets, hoops, panniers, padding) which are necessary for many of the garments shown. The book is intended to assist theater designers, cutters, illustrators, costume history drudents, and actors in achieving an accurate silhouette for a given period, and I would say it amply fulfills this goal. Some construction suggestions for theater use are included but nothing on the level of a mainstream fashion pattern, so this book should not be a sole resource for an average home sewer contemplating a period halloween costume. Minimal illustration of placement of details such as pleats, pockets, buttonholes or casings. Patterns have no notches or facing pieces, merely reference letters to mark attachment points on complex constructions. No garments beyond English court dress are covered, so don't look here for Chinese Imperial fashion or Eastern European peasant garb. I found "the big pink book" at a Ren Faire vendors' row and have enjoyed the thoughtful consideration of fashions from the past on many occasions, including construction of a 1550's/1560's era court gown for my wedding. It was particularly helpful to examine the outline of pattern shapes for sleeves and skirts that have not been in fashion for centuries, particularly for the very complex shapes such as bustles, layered flounces, intricate pleating, and extensive boning or wiring. As a professional costumer, I would love to see an index added that might allow readers to review what eras were associated with a particular element of fashion (for example: velvety fabrics, circular hoops, false buttonholes, use of bows as decoration, pastel colors, or very restrictive skirts) but this is minor and the book is quite functional sans index. All in all, a fine and indispensable reference in my library.



4. This book was the primary text in a costume history course I took in college, and it still stands out among the many costume books I've since accumulated as one of the most helpful. For those concentrating on a particular period who want to see lots of variations within that period--for example, those who are concerned with the difference between an 1853 sleeve and an 1854 sleeve--this is not for them: it depicts the basic style of each period and in written text describes the popular fabrics, trends, and design variations. As an overview that shows what people were wearing during the reign of every English monarch from 1066 to 1930, it is unsurpassed. Where other costume books tend to be vague and skimpy on pre-16th-century styles, this text clearly indicates what year a style belongs to and does not lump together a few drawings as examples of "medieval dress." The book includes patterns for every major garment pictured, but these, as other reviewers have noted, are not for novices. All in all, this is a wonderful book for a variety of purposes.



5. This book has some FABULOUS ideas and variations, but the patterns are all 1/8th scale and there is NO detail as to what goes with what (directions for sewing) or even suggestions for fabric. For designs and ideas, especially for SCA and Renaissance, its Faboo, but you need to have a background in costuming or at least some serious sewing to make this stuff look good. Definitely requires skills beyond the basics. SIMPLICITY it is not = (

5 comments about The Truth On Modeling.

1. I found The Truth on Modeling by Erin Pinckney to be an amazing and honest resourse for young hopefuls to gain insight into getting started. It is so difficult for beginners to know where to begin and Ms Pinckney tells it like it is. The so called "glamor" of the industry overshadows the fundamentals needed to get started and this author seems to have her hand right on the pulse. I recommend the book for any parent who has a child interested in a modeling career.



2. The great thing about this book is that you don't have to sift through the makeup and photography and skincare sections(like some other modeling books)to get to the real information. This book is ALL info and no fluff. My mom bought it for me and I am glad that she did! I continue to refer to it as I try to enter the modeling industry, it's got some really good information.

   I particularly like the fact that the model/author is not a "supermodel" and gives a unique and realistic perspective. A good book...read it:)




3. I enjoyed this book because I felt it provided me with some insight I wouldn't have otherwise. I think that the model who wrote it definitely was trying to impart some knowledge and protection to the beginner, via her own experiences. I particularly appreciated the listing of agencies.

   I felt the book (although only 65 pages in all) did have some really great tips and info packed into those 65 pages. Although not a thick book, it's a good beneficial read - and at a very fair price compared to some other modeling books:) I hope this review helps some of you.




4. While the author may have plenty of experience on the runway, she is not particularly well versed in other aspects of modeling -- areas which offer far more rewards and latitude for the aspiring model than the runway. Her print and advertising experience is far to meager to offer advice as an 'expert' in the industry. Many of the 'facts' presented in the book are misleading to the model just starting out in this complex arena.



5. I think the book is great, because it works like an outline for a new model and it is created by a working model. Amoung the items it offers are a guideline to industry standards, descriptions of a variety of types of modeling so you can see best where you fit in, listings of agencies, as well as tips and no-nonsense advice. It also sets forth interesting anecdotes describing pitfalls to avoid. You are walked through the process from the first time you are asked "has anyone ever told you that you should be a model" to your first booking. As a former model, I thought this book was very informative.

1 comments about Thierry Mugler.

1. His name is Thierry 'Manfred' Mugler and he had a unique vision of what clothing could be and what it could do for the wearer. While a garment might simply serve to cover the female form and insulate it from the elements, Mugler knew that clothing can also enhance the female form and transform the woman who wears it into the image of her own imagination. To enhance, empower, enchant, and expand the realm of possibilities of what a woman can become is the drive that makes the Mugler mystique. This collection of images presents Thierry Mugler couture creations set against backdrops that exude as much charisma and presence as the garments themselves. A post-moderne vampire gown ( complete with a bat-formed handbag ) stands on the towering facade of the Chrysler building while, a few pages further stands a liquid, metallic gown with pearl-frosted fur wrap stalking the Gallery of Mirrors at Versailles. Carole Miles wiles the day away in the Algerian Sahara clad in golden body armour (a la C3PO from Star Wars) while nearby, Iman simmers in a confection of golden plating about the wrists, ears, and breasts. This books gives more stage to the heroic monuments where the garments are featured than to the garments themselves. These ae not mere images meant to market this seasons collection or sell a given pair of trousers...far from it. These images are the fulfillment of fantasies that so many have never known enough to dream of themselves. To stand on the crown of the Opera de Paris on a clear, blue day, draped in a ferocious piece of Mugler's mightiest handiwork making a salute to the sun may seem a bit unbelievable but when you see these images you will secretly say to yourself ( or to anyone in earshot ) "Damn, I'd love to try that someday".
   
   The book catalogs some of the most architecturally important
   landmarks ( both man-made and natural )paired with some of the most architecturally significant clothing designs of the 20th century. The garments are NOT neccesarily identifiable as 20th century fashions but, rather, were conceived and produced in the 20th century. They will certainly look and wear as inspired and ahead of their time in the 21st century as they do today. The images will demand the same awe and delight as well.
   This book is as rare as a great looking man who isn't already married, or gay, or BOTH so if you manage to find one, SNAP it UP!! You'll be the envy of your friends who appreciate impressive photography for its own sake as well as the folks who lose control over a well cut piece of fabric ( or metal, or lucite, or rubber, etc. ). Manfred ( Thierry goes by that name when he is trying to avoid recognition ) tells me he is preparing a new book of "his photographies" and I am looking forward to it's release so if you can't find a copy of this book, or 'Fashion , Fetish, Fantasy' then don't miss the boat when the next book drops. They are never dull and the run out fast.

No comments about Costume and Identity in Highland Equador.