5 comments about Posing Techniques for Photographing Model Portfolios.

1. This book was definitely a good overview into the techniques of posing, but it could have been a little more in depth as far as locations (indoor/outdoor) and the use of furniture affect a model's posture.



2. After a couple flips on the pages, I found it with little information next to nothing. Very disappointing...



3. This was just another run of the mill book that had some pretty good pictures but it did not inspire me nor did it give me the details of the behind the scenes lighting set up or details of the camera settings. The pictures were nice but if you are looking for some meat, it is not in this book. JMHO



4. The title of this book suggests it is very specific and, indeed, two of it's six chapters are about posing techniques. The rest of it, though, is a mishmash of very general tips ("make a fake-portfolio of magazine images you like" or some variation of it is repeated over and over again) and useless definitions (there is an entire chapter defining what fashion, or glamour, or commercial photography is - someone buying a book as specific as the title suggests does not need this).
   
   Even in the useful parts, the book suffers from lack of structure and many of the examples contradict the guidelines presented on the text. It really seems this book was made in a hurry, and the end result is a big disappointment. I gave it two stars because there is, indeed, good information lost in the confusion, but it really should have much more.



5. This is the only book on this topic I've found that offers specific, constructive techniques. Rather than just diagrams of where the model was and what lights were used, this actually talks about hand placement, body positioning, etc.

3 comments about Basics Fashion Design: Developing a Collection.

1. When I ordered this book for my college age daughter, I did not realize that she might need it in one of her classes. Well I found out that it is required reading. It's a great book and it has helped her tremondously. I think she has already read it three times and counting.



2. I tutor a second year fashion course and I found this book really useful when putting together lesson plans for my students around building a collection teh book breaks the process down and explains it really clearly.
   
   Another book in this series about research and development was also really useful.
   
   Fashion can be a subject full of "light" stuff, but it is also a serious business with lots of money at stake. Design decisions are too important to just make on a "whim". These books helped me to be able to put a technical structure around the design process for my students which I hope will make them better designers in the future.



3. Developing a collection could arguably seem an easy enough thing to do, but once you've read this book everything becomes much clearer, and you realise that there is actually a lot of work involved behind the scenes of a 30 mins fashion show.
   This book does a great job exploring and explaining the various stages in the realisation of a collection, including research, design, development, editing and presentation. I've found it particularly interesting because it describes who and what is involved in the creation and development of a collection, from its early stages right up to its promotion. It also dedicates a whole final section specifically to fashion students who need to design their own degree collection; therefore I would strongly recommend this read to anybody studying to get into this industry.
   The richly illustrated sections of this guide give a fascinating insight into the world of top designers, revealing details which are not well known to people outside the industry. I really liked the numerous interviews with famous fashion designers; their approaches to the subject are quite different and I think this is a very smart and clear way to provide a glimpse into how the development of big collections happens. Research and planning are vital parts of the process; a designer must be aware of present and possible fashion trends, of the different market levels he/she is approaching, and finally the customer's identification and needs.
   I personally think this book is a really good introduction to fashion collections, since it not only describes the various stages and people involved in the process of designing and creating a collection through the use of renowned examples, but it also offers practical tips and information - iand graphical aids such as charts and diagrams illustrating how everything is organised and related.

5 comments about The Little Black Dress: How to Make the Perfect One for You.

1. This book has wonderful step-by-step instructions for couture construction, and can be very useful, but it doesn't have many "tips" or ideas for selecting styles that are best for particular fitting challenges, or working around those challenges. It is also somewhat limited in its discussion of fabric selection. Overall, though it is a great resource for thinking through and construction of this wardrobe essential.



2. There are armchair dressmakers, those who watch Project Runway, and others, those who itch to appear on Project Runway, who actually enjoy creating beautiful garments from scratch with their own hands. Without casting even slight aspersions on the former, I want to make clear that Simon Henry's The Little Black Dress: How to make the perfect one for you (2008: The Guild of Master Craftsman Publications LTD) has been written entirely for the latter. If you're really, truly committed to the nuts-and-bolts of couture, this volume will prove immensely edifying.
   
   Henry is no amateur; he knows whereof he speaks. A professional designer and dressmaking tutor for well over a quarter of a century, he mastered a range of techniques from European fashion houses before embarking on his own distinct path. After a brief but comprehensive illustrated history of its prime subject, The Little Black Dress quickly starts to talk shop, and that is where the bulk of its 175 pages comfortably resides. High quality sewing machine, serger, adjustable dress stand, tailor's scissors, and steam-generating iron with sturdy board are derigueur here.
   
   Beginning with photographically diagrammed sewing techniques like curves, darts, finishes, seams, and hems the author walks through construction of an accurate body block then on into the dress proper. Why so much attention to a little black dress in the first place? Henry notes that if such an animal as the one essential wardrobe piece exists, this is it. Nearly every top designer has featured one, and, perhaps more than any other garment, it elegantly embodies the notion of an iconic, virtually timeless fashion staple.
   
   Whether you're just thinking about serious dressmaking or deeply involved in the process, Henry's book should occupy an important place in your technical library.



3. Very empowering book for a beginner. Rather than trying to fit a commercial pattern (which is an absolute nightmare), this book teaches you to make your own. What could be more practical than having a little black dress that FITS? If you are brand new to garment construction this will not be a weekend project. Take your time to learn the sewing techniques and fit that body block until it is perfect. It will be worth the effort because you can make many different dresses from the basic three presented in this book. And the author makes that point, too, really encourages you to make your OWN LBD and gives you the tools to do so.



4. i think it is ambitious to teach so much in such a small book, but it is well done. The information is concise, well illustrated and pertinent to the production of a fine garment. So many books today use short cuts and "RTW techniques" that do not result in a quality garments. If one were to learn to sew from this book, it would result in a quality garment. Excellent reference for beginner and more experienced sewers alike.



5. This book is absolutely wonderful! If I could give it 10 stars I would. Why you may ask? Because as the saying goes "A picture paints a thousand words". The photographs in the book are so clear that nothing is left up to your imagination. Minimum instructions make this book a delight to read through - there are a few typos though. The dresses are simple and beautiful. So do not pass this creative delicacy up, you'll be missing out. The Little Black Dress: How to Make the Perfect One for You is perfect for beginners and advance sewers alike.

5 comments about Visual Merchandising: Windows and In-Store Displays for Retail.

1. If you are in the process of opening a new retail store here you will find a variaty of pictures and great ideas, as well of a brief explanation of marketing basis...!!!



2. At first I wasn't sure this modern and hip looking display tome applied to my humble bookstore. However, as I read it, I was furiously jotting inspired ideas for my own displays. The trick is to look at the principles behind the displays, which the author describes clearly and interestingly.



3. Fantastic book for Visual Merchandising, which takes into consideration all the elements you need to consider for in store and window displays. Lovely photographs of window displays.



4. Easily the best book I have found on Visual Merchandising for retail. It has great pictures and is easy to follow. It covers all aspects of the subject clearly.



5. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3I2B281HI4SWX This book is essential not just to retail store designers but also to business people in retail.
   
   The book takes an in depth look at all subjects relating to merchandising. It takes care to help readers understand every aspect of it.
   
   There are 6 main chapters namely, The Role fo the Visual Merchandiser, Store Design, Windows, In-store Visual Merchandising, Mannequins, The Visual Merchandiser's Studio. The titles of the chapters are pretty self explanatory.
   
   They get down into the details of concept and provides tons of examples and case studies from the real world. Some of the big store names featured includes Lane Crawford, Atelier 1 and Giorgio Armani.
   
   There are lessons on how stores can be designed, right down to the placing of lights and placement of shelves. Readers can also learn how to create ambience, carry out sales promotions, improve the usage of signages and fixtures and many other useful techniques.
   
   I've to say it again. This book is essential if you're opening or managing a retail store or helping to design one.
   
   (More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

2 comments about Promotion in the Merchandising Environment (2nd Edition).

1. I think this is good for the person who begin to learn market this area. They can get starting with it. Here are some parts of content I think that are clearly to make sence what the marketing doing. such as Role and Structure of Promotion , Consumer behavior, promotion organization etc.



2. Great book if you want to understand how fashion works business-wise. Comprehensive structure, demonstrative examples, intelligible language and all in all a very delightful book to read.

5 comments about Draping for Fashion Design.

1. The book came before the actual day that it was delivered, but I was disappointed in the book itself not the seller. That is why I rated it three stars and not five.



2. Very Helpful! Helped me take my designing to another level...I moved from drafting to draping.



3. Simple and straightforward approach to draping. Good supplemental tool and handy resource book for students of pattern making and design.



4. I took a draping class and my professor made us buy this book as our text book. It covers everything you need to know in Draping. The illustrations are a bit dull but the information is solid. Amazon was way cheaper than the book store



5. seems like that there are several versions of this book available. i bought the 1973 hardcover version, the one with white type on light green background on the cover. i don't know about newer versions of this book but this one is just painful. only every other step is confusingly illustrated ("figure 4-65/steps 3-7") with MINIATURE illustrations. you constantly have to try to find the right one for the part you are reading. this might have worked in the 70s but it is not working today. frustrated i tried to find something else and bought "the art of fashion draping, second edition, by connie amaden-crawford" and i'm thrilled!! EVERY step is clearly illustrated with big illustrations which you will be able to see easily from a distance while working on the dress form!

5 comments about The Perfect Fit: The Classic Guide to Altering Patterns.

1. Of my many alteration books, this is the only one that has the no-dart FBA. That's worth five stars by itself. The instructions in this book are very clear. It isn't a comprehensive guide to every alteration, but the ones it does include are covered well. Very clear pictures detail the steps. For each alteration, there are instructions for a minor and major adjustment.
   
   The Analyzing Your Shape section is okay. I don't agree with all of the "fitting goals." For example, if you have a small waist (one hand raised as a type), the fitting goal is, "Unless hips are full and out of proportion to small waist, draw attention to the waist." Puh-lease. I am a very pear-y black woman. I'm required to draw attention to my small waist. My goal is to create a closet full of A-line halter dresses with midriff rouching:-) When will the world become more inclusive when it comes to fashion and figures?
   
   Here's what's covered:
   
   Sloping shoulders
   Square shoulders
   Narrow shoulders
   Broad shoulders
   Forward thrust shoulders
   Neckline too high
   Neckline too low
   Neckline too wide
   Neckline too narrow
   High bust
   Full bust
   Gaping Armhole
   Small bust
   Narrow back
   Broad back
   Rounded back + Extremely high rounded back
   Full upper arm
   Thin upper arm
   Sleeve length adjustments
   Small waist
   Large waist
   Prominent abdomen
   Flat abdomen
   Swayback (skirts)
   Waist & Hip adjustments on gored skirts
   Full hips
   Small hips
   One high hip
   Full abdomen (pants)
   Swayback (pants)
   Full seat (pants)
   Flat seat (pants)
   Full thighs (pants)
   Full inner thighs (pants)
   Full outer thighs (pants)
   Thin thighs
   Pants length adjustments
   
   The last chapter is about fine tuning the fit of pleats, darts, shoulder pads and scooping curved seams.
   
   The pictures are a bit dated, but the info is timeless. I have no regrets about the purchase.



2. This book is superbly designed, has clear instructions and excellent photographs. You will be able to quickly thumb through the pages to find your particular fitting problem, and see one or more solutions, step by step. It is so easy to read, it is a pleasure to browse through. The photos demonstrate what a fitting problem looks like, very clearly.
   If you want to be able to tweak patterns to fit you better, you should own this book!



3. I'm really disappointed that this book is 100% geared toward fitting women's clothing. I wish that had been more clear in the description or the book's title. Even the photo on the cover looks like it could be a mens Oxford.



4. This book is great, it gives details and instructions that are clear and easy to follow. Lots of photos to illustrate. I highly recommend this book for new and intermediate sewers.



5. It was purchased for my daughter for Christmas and she loves the book. She says it is a great help to her.

5 comments about The Fashion Designer's Directory of Shape and Style: Over 500 Mix-and-Match Elements for Creative Clothing Design.

1. I purchased this book because the drawings were concise and allowed me to explore news ways to design patterns.



2. This book misses the mark for the aspiring designer or home sewer who would like to try her hand at fashion design.
   
   For starters, important sections such as "Design Development" are only two-pages long. The "Understanding Proportions" section (also just two-pages long) includes the drawing of a woman's figure with reference points for her bustline, waistline, hipline, etc. But that's all you get; there are no pointers on creating garments to fit average measurements. For example, what inseam measurement do designers typically use, and how does it vary among tall women and petite women? You won't find the answer in this book.
   
   The reader also is informed that she can use one other drawing of a female figure in the book to trace garments from the directory and create a "prototype fashion collection." Samples are provided for this "technique," but they won't put you or any fashion houses on edge.



3. This is one of those books that is not necessary for your sewing library, but it diffently comes in play as you go to modify an existing pattern or are trying to name some style of fashion you are interested in. I use it soley for that. When I modify my TNT (tried and true) patterns to achive a new look I like to see some ideas and this book provide that for me. It also has a fashion history in the front if I am interested in a 'period' fashion detail. Is it a 'must' have for the home sewer? - No probably not. However, it is a great home sewing library addition for ideas, inspirations and review of fashion details.



4. the pictures in this book are very good. It introduces a lot of fashion style.



5. This book is going to be a great resource for my teaching. It has some very good illustrations and photographs to show students about the construction of garments. Also a good basic knowledge of fabrics and their uses, which will be helpful. Very pleased I've added it to my collection.

5 comments about Baby Beanies: Happy Hats to Knit for Little Heads.

1. This book has some adorable patterns but I have found some mistakes in the directions, some being pretty large mistakes. I am not sure who does the patterns before they get printed but the cable hat pattern is not the same as the one pictured-very frustrating to discover a few hours into your work! The decreasing part brings the cable pattern to an abrupt halt so I am pretty disappointed with how it turned out. I think that since this book seems to be written for beginnner knitters, telling where in the pattern to switch to DP needles would be nice, also. I have made several of these hats and love the ones that didn't have mistakes (or ones I was able to catch) They are absolutely adorable! Oh, instructions on how to attach different tassles and things would also be nice-I am an experienced knitter but haven't done much with tassles and things. All in all, love the idea of this book, love the hats, but feel like the instructions leave a lot to be desired. Frustrating.



2. I had only some very basic knitting skills before I bought this book, and had certainly never knitted on circular needles. This book has taught me how to knit and has already resulted in at least half a dozen hats in only a couple of months.
   
   The book is clear, has a beautiful layout, lovely photography, great patterns and very easy-to-follow instructions. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning how to knit hats, or just how to knit in general. The patterns are also easy to adapt to adult sizes.
   
   My only complaint is that some of the hats seem a little on the small side for the age group indicated, but once you know this, it is easy to change the pattern to fit. A definite five star rating.



3. This book is awesome!! I love the patterns which are simple to follow and execute. The book even includes step by step techniques for every stitch used to make the hats. It gives yarn suggestions and is super easy to understand. I'm a beginner knitter and I've been able to make these hats no problem. The photos are awesome, super cute, and gives you a great reference to what the finished hat should look like!
   Overall this is an awesome book to have in your knitting collection!!!!
   A+A+A+A+A+A+A+A+A+
   
   Jenn



4. The pictures are adorable and the patterns are easy to follow, even for an advanced beginner like me. The book is well worth the money.



5. The book was in perfect condition. The patterns are very cute and easy patterns. Quick project for an experienced knitter with variation possibilities. Great for a beginner.

5 comments about That Extra Half an Inch: Hair, Heels and Everything in Between.

1. This book is a very lively read complete with anecdotes and pictures. If you are looking for ideas in classic style tips this is the book for you. I would veer from most of the shops and brands she specifically refers too, because you can find good quality for a bit less money elsewhere. One of her main mantras is quality over quantity. This is a great point, it is much better to have one expensive pair of jeans that accentuate you in the right places and make you feel good than it is to have ten pairs of jeans that make you feel blah. Grab this book and learn from it; you will have a great time doing so.



2. Victoria Beckham is so fabulous and endearing. I like how her POV came across through this book. It's definitely a light summer/beach or lake read. Most of the tips are fairly common sense and I wish there were more pictures or her in certain styles to illustrate what she is referring to (also a vest is a tank top, which took me a while to figure out). I did enjoy it though and would read more of her books if she came out with more!



3. This is absolutely one of my Favorite Books of All-Time (when it comes to style advice). After all, who would expect anything less but the BEST advice coming from the woman universally known as "Posh Spice"? I declare this book one of my Fashion Bibles.
   
   I will say, however, that this book is a little bit off for those that cannot quite afford higher-end designer products/clothes. To justify that, Mrs. Beckham has included some other store options & such.
   
   All in all, this is a delightful read! I recommend this for a woman/girl of any age who seeks fashion advice from a classy icon (okay, so the Spice Girls wouldn't exactly fit the description of "classy" per se, but Victoria certainly does! So don't hold that against her! *wink*)



4. The book is good but nothing amazing which is why I gave it 4 stars.



5. So, I've been watching "American Idol" with Posh Spice as a guest judge. I was pleasantly surprised by how positive and friendly she was to contestants. Anyway, that led me to checking out this book from my library. I'll admit that I heavily skimmed the book but what I got out of it was this- Victoria is funny, surprisingly down to earth and kind of modest. What I liked best about her is that I did not at all get the feeling like she thought everyone needed to be as thin as she is to look good in clothes (even if she really does!) or to spend tons of money. She gave tips that would work with anything, like the right length of your jeans, whether you are in heels or sneakers.