2 comments about 305 Authentic Art Nouveau Jewelry Designs.

1. This was a gift to a friend in Europe and he LOVED it! Very quick shipment and everything great. Amazon is fantastic, as usual!



2. I LOVE this book, and have turned many of these designs into tattoos. Never seen anything like it on any other person, either.

3 comments about Fashion and Its Social Agendas: Class, Gender, and Identity in Clothing.

1. overly distracting language, which constantly repeats itself in several chapters. There are good points within the book it just takes a while to reach them!



2. this author has a serious misconception of class. this book is also extremely american-centric.



3. Clothes choices and fashion style often dictate the creation of the self and its image: but how? Crane offers a somewhat scholarly exploration of fashion trends from 19th century France to modern America, drawing important links between style and social change. This approach will interest not only art libraries, but schools offering social science studies.

5 comments about Ready To Wear: An Expert's Guide to Choosing and Using Your Wardrobe.

1. this is a pretty good book but it would be helpful if it had more pictures of outfits that one could put together



2. This is one of the best fashion books around. It's full of useful information, very pragmatic, and particularly helpful for professional women.



3. This book reads very well. The advice is sensible and doable. The author presents an approach to stylishly clothing and organizing oneself.
   
   The author's biases about color preference and style of clothing do come through though one cannot question her belief in what she states-she sold her wedding gown to finance her business venture.
   
   All in all a useful book.



4. This is a terrific pracitcal guide to organizing your wardrobe and style to make life easier, and project a confident image. Mary Lou provides useful advice on how to understand your lifestyle and body, and organize your wardrobe accordingly. And her stories are fun! Since reading her book, I've redone my closet so I can walk out of the door feeling completely put-together (no shoes with messy heels, clothes with missing buttons, or mismatched accessories.) I also consigned 20 pieces, invested in a few outfits that make me feel terrific, and people keep asking me if I lost weight!
   
   I highly recommend this book regardless of your budget, age, style or body type! And I hear Mary Lou Andre might have a new book in the works - can't wait!



5. Mary Lou Andre knows what she is talking about when she gives down-to-earth advice on organizing your closet and building a good basic professional wardrobe. Her recommendation to first go "shopping" in your own closet so that you can focus on what you really need to buy to make everything work is excellent. Following her advice in this book will help you avoid impulse buying and style mistakes.

No comments about Start Your Own Clothing Store and More (Startup).

5 comments about Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars.

1. Absolutely Love Love Love this book! The pictures are fabulous and the costumes gorgeous! The designer did a terrific job! I recommend this book to anyone who loves design. I would've loved to have seen more but alas I'll just have to check out the website Star Wars Fit for a Queen, its combines both.



2. Great photos. NOT recommended for people looking for Episodes IV, V, VI costumes. A lot of this book is dedicated to Padme Amidala and her handmaidens' wardrobe, but they had the most costume changes throughout the first 3 movies. The costumes are beautiful and detailed. I love this book.



3. Each picture in this book is beautiful. Every costume from Star Wars is in here including how to make each costume. Its amazing how beautiful most of the costumes really are especially Padme, Padme's Handmaidens, the Queens of Alderaan and Naboo and the Jedi. Buy this book and it'll make you want to go out and make each costume yourself.



4. Say what you want about the Star Wars prequels, but one thing I think even the staunchest critics of those films must agree on is this: they had fantastic costume designs. This fact is brilliantly attested to in Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars. Within the pages of this hardbound volume you will find vibrant preliminary sketches as well as radiantly photographed examples of the costumes used throughout the prequels (that's right - this book only contains the costumes form Episodes I, II, and III; the title is a little bit misleading. The revolutionary costumes from the original trilogy are only mentioned in passing a couple of times). For anyone who has an appreciation of the art of costuming, for someone who's a big Star Wars fan, or for someone who, like me, is always looking for a good visual reference for art, this is a tremendous buy - a bargain at any price. Enjoy!



5. This book is a fabulous collection of photographs and information on the Star Wars costumes. The photographs show each costume in great detail and discuss the making of each costume from the sketch stage all the way through completion. I would definitely recommend this book! You do not have to be a Star Wars fanatic to appreciate this book.

1 comments about Green is the New Black: How to Change the World with Style.

1. Green is the New Black: How to Change the World with Style, by Tamsin Blanchard is a terrific book!
   
   Blanchard discusses all aspects of green, sustainable clothing, as well as fair trade fashion. There are plenty of resources for ethical designers and businesses.
   
   Blanchard understands we are not going to stop making clothing purchases, but does believe that we should buy less of it and better quality clothing.
   
   She suggests ways to recycle clothing. And writes about "swishing" parties, where you trade clothes with your friends.
   
   I love the section on DIY style--Blanchard believes we should wear what makes us feel comfortable and individual and suggests cool projects to easily make ourselves.
   
   I also recommend Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet, as it shows how to make your home,food and personal care products eco-friendly and healthy and Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World to make all your spending eco-friendly and fairtrade.

5 comments about Fashions of the Gilded Age, Volume 1: Undergarments, Bodices, Skirts, Overskirts, Polonaises, and Day Dresses 1877-1882.

1. I am very pleased with this book and I think it gives a load of information for a very reasonable price.
   
   The book (together with vol.2) is overfilled with all kinds of garments you can imagine and for each sort of garment there are always many styles.
   
   It is not directly a drafting book, it does not tell you how to draft your own bodice etc. by using your measurements, but the method of using the patterns and the enlarging rulers is very close to that and, as I think, it might produce a very good substitution for a custom-drafted dress with saving a lot of your time and being very simple to do. It is something between custom drafting and pre-sized patterns, because you create the garments by using your bust and back length measurement, which are the two most important measurements for making a garment suited to your proportions and it will probably need only little easy modifications like adding/substracting from waist and hip width and maybe some changes for the front length. But all possible and most frequent modifications are very well explained in the book.
   
   It is all written in such a way that even with no or little knowledge of drafting, you'll be able to produce a probably very well fitted garments.
   
   For a drafting professional, it's a good help when doing things like skirts, especially draped overskirts and all garments creating a shape or silhouette that is hard to figure out. Even if you won't use the patterns for enlarging and draft the things yourself, you can very well keep to the shape of the patterns as you can see, unlike in so many pattern books, NUMBERS.
   
   I think this book has the best ratio of the price and the information given of all costume book I've come through. It's a pity that there are no such books for earlier periods:-(



2. This is a great book for seamstresses with some experience(I think it would be too hard for beginners.It would be good if you have some comprehenesion on sizing(drafting patterns yourself for example)but that isn't even necessary.I think it would be easier though:)
   
   Frances Grimble gives clear instructions for changing patterns to size and even to different body shapes(large bust, short back etc.
   You do need to take some time for this, but well, you'll have an authentic pattern in your hands, how great is that?;)And there are so many in this book! I was having a very hard time finding real historical patterns in The Netherlands(so far found one french journal from 1902)and I feel like a kid in a candystore now.:)I <3 this book already.
   
   You can make a complete outfit, from undergarments to overgarments.
   
   If you have some sewing experience and you love this period it is really a great book!
   
   
   
   Amazon's service is excellent too. It didn't take very long for the item to arrive(from US to the Netherlands)(with one step faster shipping, expidited?)it was even a lot faster then the estimated arrival time.



3. This book is wonderful. I believe I own every book Frances Grimble has written and anxiously await more. The variety of patterns is amazing and allows the experienced sewer to create their own designs from various components, like sleeves and collars. This sure beats trying to decipher the patterns in an original 1890's issue of Harpers!



4. This book contains patterns for the following:
   corsets, hoopskirts and bustles (some)
   underclothing and negligee wear (quite a few)
   day and evening skirts (only about four)
   day bodices (quite a few)
   evening bodices (some)
   overskirts (some)
   polonaises (some)
   day dresses (quite a few)
   
   some = around ten
   quite a few = over 20
   
   I would recommend this book for anyone who likes victorian costuming. It not only works as a pattern book, but as a source book, having lots of pictures you can use for reference. Even if you just look through it, it really can help you understand the styles of that era.



5. The pictures and descriptions within the book are an excellent reference if you are researching and intending on recreating one of these beautiful designs. Advanced knowledge of sewing skills is a must for those who wish to recreate these (definantly not for the novice sewer). Frances Grimble, you've done it again. Please keep them coming. I will buy every book you put out.

5 comments about The Metrosexual Guide to Style: A Handbook for the Modern Man.

1. 99% of what this book is anything that any 12 year should know. For example, don't burp at the table. Hard to believe that a whole book can be filled with such "valuable" advice.



2. Hilarious. It made me laugh out loud in the bookstore, and it'll make a great gag gift for a friend, so I'm giving it 4 stars.



3. This book is AWESOME. Clear, concise and well written. Includes EVERYTHING a man should know about food, fashion, travel, style, grooming, health, fitness, art, etiquette, you name it. I use is as a guideline for everything. Easy to read with a good sense of humor.



4. This book is full of useful advice, but do not mistake it for instruction on how to become a gentleman. Despite what one would think, I have come to appreciate this term "Metrosexual" as it distinguishes those who use manners and the appearance of urbane sophistication for their own self-advancement from true gentlemen. True gentlemen show respect for themselves and others, bringing the light of civilization to a darkening world, and leaving society better for their efforts. A gentleman's manners, urbanity and consideration are a lifestyle, not a mask that is donned for selfish convenience.
   
   Thus, if one is seeking to become a metrosexual, this book fits the bill. If one wants to be a gentleman, keep shopping.



5. The trend of metrosexuality has exploded within the last couple of years. This little handbook from Michael Flocker is hoping to help you jump on the bandwagon! The book has 12 sections: Introduction, Etiquette, Wine, Dining, Art/Culture, Music/Books/Film, Fashion/Style, Grooming, Body/Fitness, Sex/Romance, Home Decorating, and Metrosexual Mindset. There are many reasons why you might enjoy this book. First the layout is fantastic because in each chapter are subsections which give you an overview and then zero on in with the details in bullet points. Also the book has some new and interesting tidbits that you may have never thought of which can help give you an 'edge' to just the plain metrosexual. The information is fun to read and enlightening. I learned for example that the new desirable body image is a leaner toned body rather than the muscular beefcake. Also it tells you how to do the european air kiss and seduce someone. If you'd like to read about those things as well as the general stuff like what fashions you should always avoid and how to order wines in a resturant then this is the book for you. The one downside is the book may be TOO simple for those metrosexuals who all ready have it all down and were looking for much finer details than the book has. Recommended for people new to the whole thing, not recommended for those who are looking for an all comprehensive guide.

1 comments about Petit Connoisseur: Fashion (Petit Connoisseur).

1. This is another beautiful Petit Connoisseur book that because of it's high quality and engaging images is perfect for gift giving. And it has a great sense of humor which keeps it fun for parents and kids alike. I highly recommend this tome.

1 comments about Fashion Forecasting.

1. Ms. Brannon is a professor, and this is a textbook. A supurb textbook that unravels, analizes, graphs, charts, and narrates the dynamics of consumer choice in light, effortless prose. It is an epic study that brings aboard the great cast of characters who have devoted their lives to staying a jump ahead of us. (The bibliography is 16 pages long!) Whom do they watch? How does a forecaster know when an innovation has good "legs"? Is it in tune with the times, or a counter current? All this and more is told as Ms. Brannon peels the onion that is fashion.
   Did you ever wonder how Tommy Hilfiger connected with his market? The story is here.
   For me, this was a great read, like say, "The New Yorker." And I am not even in the biz.