1 comments about Perfume: Joy, Scandal, Sin - A Cultural History of Fragrance from 1750 to the Present.

1. This giant book is a wealth of information, not just about perfume but about the position perfumes have taken in cultural history. Special attention is given to perfume in literature (especially Baudelaire) and the illustrations are fantastic. This is not just a surface-treatment coffee-table book, it is dense with information on every facet of perfumery and goes into great detail regarding the creation and significance of many specific perfumes. Well-researched and beautifully written, it is a must for any serious collector or fan of the olfactive arts.

No comments about Tokyo Rock Catwalk: Visual Kei Bands Big in Japan.

3 comments about Essentially Lilly: A Guide to Colorful Holidays.

1. This book was written by the Grand Dame of Palm Beach for those of us who love to entertain. It has many different holiday menus filled with yummy foods and beautiful pictures. Lily includes a lot of helpful hints and ideas to make your celebration the best one. Try her Peach Muffins with Pecan Streusel, the Lemon Blueberry Bars, Seafood and Avocado Salad with Lime Vinaigrette and the Baked Ham with Ginger Pineapple Glaze and you will get rave reviews from family and friends.



2. I love Lilly Pullitzer's outlook on life. This book has great recipes and ideas for the holiday's. The illustrations are wonderful too! A delight and treat for yourself.



3. I purchased this for my mother for Christmas, she loves Lilly Pulitzer and her clothing. The illustrations are great, lots of cute quotes and interesting recipes, too. I purchased the Entertaining version last year. I hope she will release a new theme every year.

2 comments about Apparel Product Development, 2nd Edition.

1. this book is a must for people seeking knowledge in the field of fashion & textile ,help in perparing for the gound realities of the trade ...



2. This book is the only book I found so far that has bring me up-to-speed in the apparel industry. It has explain a lot of details of the general business practices within the apparel industry and also give me a direction on how to start my apparel business.

3 comments about Hats, Hats, Hats (Around the World Series).

1. Although this is a very cute children's book, I was very disappointed. I was in a hurry and wanting to take advantage of getting free shipping. I am a knitter and was trying to find a book on knitted hats. When I searched knitted hats for patterns this book came up. I looked at the cover and loved the knitted hat, went ahead and ordered, and when it arrived I was so disheartened that I hadn't really taken the time to look more closely. Luckily I have a young grandchild who could enjoy the book....



2. We all enjoy these books. My daughter is not yet two but she loves Ann Morris' entire series of books and likes to identify things in each photograph. The photos are obviously dated but I don't believe that lessens the impact of what the author and photographer are trying to do.
   
   As she grows, we'll continue to read these books, moving on from identifying simple items to talking about cultures, traditions, environments, geography, socio-economics, and etc. In the final pages of each Ann Morris book there are maps and descriptions of locations/subjectss for each page that allow readers to discuss where places are in relation to one another and what is really happening in photos versus what a young child (or adult!) might imagine is happening.
   
   I recommend these books for curious children starting at age 18 months and all the way up into the school years.



3. This is a wonderful book for early elementary school age children. It is multi-cultural showing hats of people from all over the globe. This book will tie in nicely for a teacher that is interested in providing a thematic unit on people. Beautiful full-color photographs.

5 comments about Style and the Man: How and Where to Buy Fine Mens' Clothes.

1. I enjoyed A.F.'s other books enough to buy this one, although it is not nearly as practical. The sections on where to buy clothes are not only out of date by now, they are also designed for people who have far more money than most. Actually, I don't know why this book was published originally since, if you have the money to shop at these stores, you probably already know about them. It almost seems like a matter of credentialing, but who knows.
   
   I would buy one of A.F.'s other books if you are just looking for a men's clothing guide. However, if the subject matter really interests you, you will find that each of A.F.'s books covers much of the same ground, but in slightly different ways, so that there is value in reading all of them, including this one.



2. This book, published in 1996 and half of which is a directory of shops, was bound to be outdated months after publication much less ten years after, as it is now. Hence the four stars instead of five.
   
   Given that, the first part of the book is crammed with a precis or summary of Flusser's recommendations that he has used several hundred pages to expound in his other books ('Clothes And The Man', 'Dressing The Man') and makes the book worth the (used) book price.
   
   I do not understand others who warn against this book because they think it is not objective enough! This is a book written by Flusser so of course you will get his subjective view. Had it been written by a committee of tailors, well then, I would expect a more balanced view, but it is not. It is up to the intelligent reader to understand they are getting a product of one man's opinion and then proceed accordingly.



3. As noted by many reviewers, the clothing fact information is first rate.
   
   The second part of the book on shopping and retail establishments is so out of date in 2005 that I really question whether a purchase is worthwhile if retailer information is primary purpose of proposed purchase. A good 60% of the information on establishments in the US and London is totally outdated or the stores have gone out of business.
   
   Try the library or borrowing from a friend to see if any of the desired information is still relevant before purchasing. This book needs a serious update.



4. What if you live outside of New York? This book isn't applicable for anyone outside "The City." Buy a book from John Bridges instead.



5. I bought this book a year ago, mainly because of its high ratings. But I was disappointed. I read it once and I found the style of writing outdated and the content not so useful: many addresses where you should buy things, but how useful is that? I don't live nearby these places, and I want to learn WHY you should buy certain things so that I can decide for myself what is good to buy and what not. Such info is given only very briefly.

5 comments about Costume Through the Ages: Over 1400 Illustrations.

1. This was purchased as a gift for my 11-year-old granddaughter who is very interested in historic costumes. She immediately, on Christmas day, sharpened the special hard-lead colored pencils I bought to go with it and proceeded to submerge herself in the detailed illustrations. Seemed like a successful gift to me.



2. I love to use this book as a quick visual reference while working on shows. When helping a customer, or explaining something to an assistant at our shop, this book is the easiest way to do so. It is so great to have a book where I can flip to a certain date, and have pages full of pictures grouped together to show someone what exactly I am thinking of. We have to work at a fast pace, and this book saves me lots of valuable time.



3. They say up front that they (the authors) purposely did not put in any writing to as not to sway our view of the clothing. Alas, that means if one does not know period clothing from LOTS of different periods, one will not be able to identify items. Still, lovely drawings. It will make a fine adult coloring book! (Yes, I'm serious) :-)



4. This book consisted of black and white 2D scetches that lacked any real depth or detail. They are basic and generalised in presenting each period and contain nothing new that you would not have already seen or known about that decade.
   I do not recommend it to anyone who has a intrest in costume or design, but think it would be better suited as a childrens colouring in book.
   Don't waste your money.



5. This is quite simply a fabulous book, and a very useful one too! I am an author who writes historical novels, and when I need to know what the characters I'm writing about would have been wearing in any given year from antiquity through to modern times (1930s), I turn to this book. Fortunately, it's not cluttered with text, but merely contains drawings, pure and simple and straighforward. It's the quickest, most accurate reference book I own, aside from my dictionary, of course.
   
   My only qualm is that it doesn't contain anything about undergarments, such as bustles, knickers, petticoats, crinolines or girdles. But then, the pictures in this book are sourced from historical paintings, sculptures, mosaics, illuminated manuscripts and so forth, which probably never showed such things, as they might have been considered indecent or irrelevant. (I suppose not too many people throughout history wanted to be painted in their underwear!)
   
   If you're a writer, an arts student, a costume designer or just someone who has an interest in the history of fashion, I would highly recommend this book to you.

4 comments about Beaded Jewelry The Complete Guide.

1. I was rather disappointed with this book as the text is pretty basic and is duplicated in other books. There are some ideas for beading. I found chapters 5-7 the most useful.



2. I loved the detail in the book. From basic stringing to more elaborate jewelry-making techniques, Susan Ray offers a complete guide to creating beautiful jewelry. The size of the book makes it portable and easy to store in any beading case. I gave a copy to my boss who enjoys unique beading projects and she loved it too!



3. Well, Susan has done it again. I love the look and feel of this square, spiral bound book. A floppy book can send beads flying off your table as you grab at your book; how nice it is that you can actually open to the project you want to work on, and the book stays open (gotta love that spiral)!
   
   The projects are inspiring, as are the photos.There is a chapter on creating different types of beads, from polymar to lampworked. How do you determine the length of your bracelet? How do you add the ending clasp? Need to know some basic crochet steps? Do you want to add found objects into your jewelry? There's plenty here to keep you busy. Beaded Jewelry also contains a resource guide and contact information on the contributors. What more could a glass and bead lover ask for?
   
   I sent a copy to my sister and to a friend in Germany and they both love it!



4. Beaded Jewlery: The Complete Guide by Susan Ray is a fabulous book!! Especially for beginning beaders. It not only gives ideas on patterns but also introduces you to the beading world: how to find beads and accessories, the different types of beads, how to select beads, and even a walk through of a typical bead store. The instructions are easy to understand and follow and the pieces are beautiful! A great inspiration to really get those creative juices flowing. It also describes several beading techniques to give your piece that unique look, just the way you want it. Overall one of my favorite guides.

2 comments about Dress at the Court of King Henry VIII.

1. I just recently got this book, and am just loving it. Much Like Elizabeth I's Wardrobe Un'locked, it drips with all the information I love to read. As a Costumer, it gives deeper insight into creating accurate costumes. When I first fell in Love with the Tudor Era, I didnt realize just how little REAL information there was to the construction, fabrics, the real names of pieces of clothing and such. This really lays out the details of who, what and where. I will be able to use this resource for many years to come.



2. This book has a lot of information covering the age of Henry VIII, the Tudor King of England in the early part of the 16th century. There is information regarding the fashion styles of his wives, sisters, and children. I would suggest this book for those who are into researching this time period for costuming, and who can form their own conclusions on the research provided. I would not suggest this book for those looking for a how-to on costume creation.
   
   I looked forward to this book for over a year, and ... was a little frustrated when I was able to read some of the sections. There is a lot of info waiting for the reader, from the written inventories that survive that is given in the appendix. There are a number of images of interest, most of which I have seen in other books I've collected, but here they are available in one book, some of which are in color (most are in b&w).
   
   One of my frustrations dealt with three images that provide a front, side and back view of a man's extant short gown; the kind of gown Henry is commonly seen wearing. But there is only a one sentence mention (that I've found so far) of these photos of this surviving garment, and that one sentence says very little. If these are of a surviving garment, and the garment is still available to look at, then it would have been a lot more help to people to actually provide info on the inside view, or how the pleats are attached, or something more than the one little sentence and three photos. I do appreciate those three photos, tho. I've not seen them anywhere else, and I can't even find them online at the museum they are in (but that server connection keeps dying, so I can't explore for long).
   
   Another area I had issues with covered fur collars and capes, and the author cited another author's article on this. I've had the pleasure of meeting Prof. Tawny Sherrill ("Fleas, Fur, and Fashion: Zibellini as Luxury Accessories of the Renaissance"). Ms Sherrill in her scholarly article proved the term of "flea furs" as being a Victorian term, not a word that's really appropriate to the use or wearing of furs (especially zibellini - the point of Sherrill's article), but Ms. Howard not only cites Sherrill's article, but continues to use the "flea fur" term, perpetuating this costuming myth to her readers.
   
   Another area; Ms Hayward goes into commentary of later women's dress... and suggests a new masculine style of bodice, possibly a doublet with what is modernly called a "Medici collar", although she admits that none of the records has any entries for women's doublets. I've done Tudor costume and research for awhile. To me the two images she offers appear to be the standard gown with a high necked partlet of black that is a different material than the gown. The third portrait appears to be a long loose gown. The only thing all three have in common is the style of their collars. If there is possible support for a doublet style, she should have provided some more info to prove this, especially since she does cover partlets as a garment item, so she is aware of them.
   
   These items have cast a shadow of doubt over the rest of Ms. Howard's conclusions in her book.
   
   On the good side so far (as I am still reading this book... it is pretty extensive). There are aspects that I've not seen elsewhere, like the original transcriptions for the Wardrobe accounts from different time periods of Henry's reign. There are a few images I've not seen elsewhere, either, including the extant garment images I've mentioned. I really like the inventory listing in the back. This is nice, and similar to the inventory listing in QEWU. I can't wait to get into reading this further.
   
   Maria's conclusions at a few points are a bit... stretched, as I've already mentioned. But the amount of info included, including a break down of different garments by name vs the years they are worn, and a color chart and fabric chart that is similar. The new images, some other quotes and comments found from other original sources, and more, are things that are not found in other books I've read.
   
   The book author states this book was done in the style of Janet Arnold's "Queen Elizabeth Wardrobe Unlock'd". There are a lot of good and well researched information from various written texts, surviving textiles, and the inventory transcripts... but there are aspects that have left me a bit frustrated considering the updated research that is available today.

No comments about Knitted Critters for Kids to Wear: More Than 40 Animal-Themed Accessories.