5 comments about Sensual Knits: Luxurious Yarns, Alluring Designs.

1. I got this book less than a month after it came out and at least three of the yarns used in the book were completely unavailable, one of which has been definitely discontinued. The point of the book was to use unique yarns that were soft and sensual feeling (hence the name of the book), so it is hard to try to find substitutes. It seems the editor should have checked to be sure these yarns would still be available when the book was published.
   
   Other than the yarn issue I think the patterns are beautiful, classic, and very fashion forward. It's a great book to browse and be inspired by and a few of the patterns appear to be appropriate for a beginner although many would be a challenge to even a more experienced knitter. If I can ever find yarn I plan to knit several of the items in this book.



2. I buy a lot of knitting books---probably too many. Usually there's a pattern or two worth knitting, and that's enough.
   
   In this book, I'd say there's a pattern or two NOT worth knitting. Everything else is an absolute gem. I've had the book three months and I'm already knitting two sweaters from it, the striking Transparency and the classic Balloon-Sleeve Jacket (which appears on the cover).
   
   This book should be on the shelf of any sweater knitter, especially, and anyone who wants to knit sweaters. Many of the designs are simple, but not the kind of "big-needle-fast-knit-crap" found in all too many books these days. These are thoughtful designs with shaping and drape to flatter most figures. Most are classics; a few are fashion-forward. Most are mid-weight (worsted, DK, Aran), some are lighter for a less bulky fit.
   
   Do yourself a favor and at least flip through this book, or check it out on Ravelry. I think you'll find you can't wait to acquire a copy.



3. The designs in this book are gorgeous-- simple, understated and classy. The unique silhouettes and lines are really lovely-- this is the first knitting book that I simply had to have, after flipping through in the book store.
   
   The only draw back is the errors in some of the patterns... some of them aren't even explained by the errata on the book's webpage. But aside from that, great patterns-- none of which are a bore!



4. This book just arrived a few days ago and I'm so excited about it. I have left it on my coffee table and I keep picking it up to look through all the gorgeous patterns. There are 25 items in the book, and only 3 or 4 that I likely won't make. Absolutely stunning patterns and the fashions are really current and sexy.
   
   I still consider myself a novice - have only been knitting for a year and I'm just getting started with more difficult pieces. This book is not for beginners, but there is a range of difficulty to the patterns, so you can absolutely progress through it, starting with something a little simpler like the shrug or a wrap and working your way up to the adorable dresses and lacework.



5. More time than not lately new knitting books don't live up to there names, this is certainly not the case with this title. There are few patterns that I wouldn't be very happy to knit and to wear. I have only started one pattern, the lily of the valley gloves. I fell in love with them the first time I saw them.

5 comments about Dressed: A Century of Hollywood Costume Design.

1. Do whatever you have to do to get your hands on a copy of DRESSED. It's a visually stunning, erudite and jaw-dropping look at the best costumes and costume designs since movies began. Deborah Landis curated and wrote this hefty collection, and it is her expertise that puts the costumes in context. A beautiful book to treasure and browse.



2. This turned out to be a great gift for a friend who is really into design and is a big fan of old movies. I would have liked to have seen a few pages of the book before buying, so I could get a sense of what to really expect. I would definitely think about purchasing it again--it makes a great coffee-table conversation piece!



3. This book should contain pictures of things worn in the movies, and it does. I wanted more information at times, and the book made me greedy for even more images, but disappointment in this book would most likely be the result of an aficionado's personal quirks and expectations of books of this sort. This book contains Incredible Pictures of costumes, articles of clothing that leave you awestruck by the minds that conceived of them. Pictures of a lot of folks who have passed on, shown wearing things made just for them, I think often just coincidentally in the context of a character - some so enhancing, so perfect, so flattering that all you can do is shake your head and do your best not to wallow in the comforting haze of nostalgia. A book about fashion, costume, and Hollywood. Lots of fun and illuminating facts about the people who paid for, created, made, and wore the stuff. While needing no handicap, when considering the times, the technology, the state of historical research - the realization of some of the older pieces shown in the book is staggering; achievements which broadcast themselves from page after page, from black & white stills, from the beginning of movie making [to the present by the way, which I am personally not as excited by - an inexcusable bias]. A terrific book.



4. This book was certainly well thought and presented. So nice to see the glamour girls of past decades.



5. The glamour of the book strikes any reader immediately. Particularly special is the text connecting the photographs and the costume sketches (so rarely seen!). One cannot come away from this book without a newfound wealth of knowledge of their favorite films and an appreciation for costume designers' thoughtful and purpose-laden participation in creating cinematic magic.
   No picture in this book is boring. I think the one of the most intriguing aspects is the choice of male costumes presented. I, for one, am definitely guilty of overlooking actors' seemingly plain suits for actresses' ball gowns in movies. I quickly learned and indulged in the equally important glamour (or lack there of) of male costumes. I now understand the fine tailoring in Chinatown and I now can smell Borat's grey suit (gross! can you imagine?).

5 comments about In Style: Style 101.

1. This book has a little something of everything: from how to walk in high heels, to how to get the perfect manicure, to how to set up the perfect bar for your next party. And nobody knows style like the editors of In Style, and this book holds up to the ultra high standards we have come to expect from them.



2. I found this book while loitering in a gift shop & read it in about an hour. It's not terribly useful for a 40 plus woman. It's a better book for women just forming their identity. If you have established taste, have been reading magazines & fashion/ beauty books for a while, this book will not offer you any new information. It is attractively presented & illustrated, if a bit random in its organization. The only information that was new to me was what should be in a bar.Otherwise, how to buy jeans, suits, black pants, lipsticks & sheets is second nature to a lot of women. Granted, I plan on giving this to my teenage daughter, as SHE doesn't know yet things like how to find & use a tailor, pour wine or decide how much to spend on a coat yet.



3. What a great gift idea for a recent college grad entering the job market or a teenager ready for a little more sophistication! (Not to mention those of us finally just getting around to using makeup and dressing better.)
   
   This basic guide to style is clearly written, with instructions simplified into lists, and cleanly illustrated. The suggestions are up-to-the-minute without being over-the-top outrageous -- in other words, a how-to style guide that's actually useful. Highly recommended.



4. What a great gift idea for a recent college grad entering the job market or a teenager ready for a little more sophistication! (Not to mention those of us finally just getting around to using makeup and dressing better.)
   
   This basic guide to style is clearly written, with instructions simplified into lists, and cleanly illustrated. The suggestions are up-to-the-minute without being over-the-top outrageous -- in other words, a how-to style guide that's actually useful. Highly recommended.



5. I really wanted to love this book. I had it on my wish list since I heard of it and, as a fan of InStyle Magazine, I had high expectations.
   
   Pluses:
   1 - Over 190 pages of content
   
   2 - Covers several topics at one time: fashion, beauty, home and entertaining.
   
   3 - Color photos
   
   4 - Loads of tips and ideas at one time (e.g. how to walk in high heels, selecting the best jeans and white shirts, decorating tips, party planning tips)
   
   Minuses:
   1 - Organization. The "beauty" topics are not in one chapter/section or the "fashion" topics are not in one chapter/section. Rather, you have to flip back and forth to see all the fashion topics because topics are mixed together. Example: you'll have a fashion tip on 2 pages, then make-up tips on the next 2, then decorating on the next 2, etc. As such, if you interested in looking up all fashion tips, you have to flip through the book or search for it on the Table of Contents page. Very frustrating.
   
   2 - Tips are usually just one page then there is a picture on the other. You never get much detail. For example, the tips for finding the perfect sunglasses are covered in 2 pages. The tips are covered in about 5-6 sentences (no pictures of the various facial shapes or sunglass styles for those of us who like 'visuals') on one page, and a photo of a mishmash of sunglasses (like you would see in an ad) on another page.
   
   3 - Not as comprehensive as I expected. Lots of the info here are tips I have gleaned from reading fashion magazines. If you already have other style/fashion books or read fashion magazines regularly, you find that you already know a lot of what is in this book.
   
   Style 101 would be perfect for the fashion/entertaining/make-up novice. It would be a great gift for a young female friend/relative, a new college graduate or a friend who wants a big 'tip' idea book that focuses more on quantity rather than quality.
   
   Again, I really wish the InStyle folks gave us more depth and detail in this book, like they usually do when providing tips in their magazine. I think they suffer from trying to cover too much at one time, which means that this book is far from comprehensive.
   
   If you want more comprehensive fashion/entertaining tips/advice, subscribe to InStyle magazine or pick up a copy of the "Handbook of Style - Expert Fashion and Beauty Advice Every Woman Should Know" (not as many 'tips' but it is far more comprehensive in covering the select topics). If your focus is mostly fashion, go for "The Pocket Stylist," "How to be a Budget Fashionista" or other style/fashion books out there. Otherwise, if you prefer quantity over quality, then this would be the ideal book for you.

5 comments about Bushido : Legacies of the Japanese Tattoo.

1. Recommended to me by a well known tattoo artist, this book truly gave me the nuts and bolts info I needed to make the big leap. Especially helpful
   to me were the explanations of the different areas of the body that are typically tattooed w/their Japanese names. There was also a stunning picture of a gorgeous girl with a ray of butterflies tattooed in the body suit style. As the art evolves from a badge of the criminal class to pure art, I believe we will see more feminine interpretations
   of this masculine art form. Excellent from text to pictures!



2. I was in the process of researching Japanese tattoos for my own tattoo design and purchased four books. Bushido was the best for telling the story and history of Japanese tattooing and the pictures were equally amazing. Bushido was informative and pictures were beautifully shot. By far the best book on the subject I have seen.



3. It's a cool book that shows us many curious aspects of the japan tattoo history and tradition.
   But, in another way, there's a lack of variety of photos, like koi fish and masks for example.



4. Horioshi work speaks for itself and this book is an impressive tribute to it. The pictures are fantastic and it's very nice to see that the family business has its heritage assured.



5. This book is a great reference for tattoo artists and other artists that enjoy the art of Japanese tattooing. It displays full page photographs (including close ups) so you can see the detail and subject matter quite well.

5 comments about Fashion Design Drawing Course.

1. But about how to draw inspiration from common everyday things. It`s really not about rendering or drawing fashion, but more about the thought process in making the garments.



2. This book is more about collection development than it is about fashion drawing. And the worst part is... it's so sparse on the information even for how to develop a collection. Everything is in a nutshell. It's like picking up a children's book-- you don't get much out of it other than the obvious.



3. Very basic, it goes on a summary overview of areas of fashion design. So, it's great for a beginner that is looking for a quick introduction to what fashion desing drawing would include. Not for someone that has a general idea on what fashion design entails and is looking for more "hands-on" more sophisticated projects. For example, I was looking on how to actually draw clothes wore by people...there was only one area for that, it covered actual drawing of the human body; about 4 pages. A lot of general, finding your style, mood boards, etc. To the title I would add "101" so it is not misleading, then it would be an excellent book!



4. The title is an absolute lie. There aren't even general sketches to look onto as templates! This book, chock full of details on how to become "inspired", may help if you need assistance focusing on what motivates you--but otherwise, it's not going to teach you at all about fashion illustration.



5. This is a well done and well illustrated book,and can be used by novices in Fashion drawing,or by professionals.

5 comments about Wacky Chicks: Life Lessons from Fearlessly Inappropriate and Fabulously Eccentric Women.

1. This author's verbal audacity is a thrill to read for those of us who love words and great writing. He can turn the simplest descriptive sentence into a "bon mot" one could "dine out" on for a week. The characters described in this book are charming, deadly, and adorable when young, but get stuck in their unique personas as they age and eventually become a cartoon of themselves. Kinda like the young girl with the black, smokey eyes is dynamite at 23 but when she keeps that same look, at 53, now the black eye make up sinks into the wrinkles around her eyes and she looks sad and foolish. Many of these women paid heavy prices for their "wackiness' and I wonder if they could have changed--who knows?? maybe with psychiatric drugs??--their personalities if they would have changed into an everyday life instead?



2. This book would have been great, but the author injects his own self-congratulatory narrative through the whole thing. Instead of biographical pieces of the women and their own thoughts, this is a collection of SIMON'S thoughts about the women, and his voice overshadows everything else. A little of the author's analysis would have been great, but he won't let this women be the stars of the show, it's Simon, Simon, Simon all over every page.



3. I love, love, love, love this book.
   
   
   
   
   
   It is a rally cry for women who have never quite been the norm.
   
   
   
   
   
   From the woman who wears high heels with her capris and little aprons...to celebrating Clementine from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind...(her potato collection - which only I though I noticed...)
   
   
   
   
   
   I have been a wacky chick my entire life. I've come to accept that I may not be normal, I may just be a little off-kilter. But I am fine with that.
   
   
   
   
   
   It is great to read a boook that does not focus on women as sexual objects, mate-seeking missles, or dizzy idiots. These are interesting, successful women who live life THEIR WAY!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   I have several Wacky Chick friends who will be recieving this book for special days. I cannot wait to enjoy their connection with this fun, fabulous book.
   
   
   
   
   
   It is all about the Wacky Chick...and her gay best-friend!
   
   
   
   
   
   The best part of this book is the logic behind each Wacky Chick's style (i.e. wearing an apron keeps your hands free...) I LOVE that...
   
   
   
   
   
   Thanks for celebrating women!



4. I'm a huge fan of Simon Doonan and quite enjoyed the book (particularly the parts about his mother and the wonderful footnotes that he included) but I think that it would have been better minus a few chapters. The women he wrote about were so over the top that after awhile it got a bit wearing and some of them began to grate on my nerves.
   
   It might have been nice as well to see different degrees of wackiness, especially since he was pushing the message about emulating these women and encouraging his readers to release their own wackiness. His examples were so extreme that while they made for entertaining reading, they're not people that most of us could in any way relate to.
   
   My only other complaint is that he urged readers who hadn't done so to rent the movie Auntie Mame which is a good idea but as a writer he should also have mentioned the book (by Patrick Dennis) that the movie was based on.



5. From the other reviews I thought I'd like this book. I can't even finish it (but I'm still trying). I know lots of "Wacky Chicks" but they're not as obscene and crass as the ones written about here. Seems you can only be "wacky" if you fit into the author's category and there we go again.....putting people into boxes.
   
   Honestly, the book was boring and I thought I could have written it better using my own eccentric friends.

4 comments about American Fashion.

1. American Fashion....finally a fashion book based on American fashion trends and beauty. This book really illustrates the ever changing trends of the past beautifully. I encourage anyone who is in love with reading about fashion to get this book. It is a great add to your fashion library collection.



2. If fashion is your addiction, meet your quick fix. This book is beautiful, accessible and comprehensive. For all students, followers, trend-setters of fashion design and style, it would make a wonderful addition to your library.
   It must be stated that the book is more a look into American fashion designers, from the end of the 1920's to 2007, than American fashion itself. After all, the book is published by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The best way to analogize how this fact affects the book is to compare it to a history of American Cinema, published by the American Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Oscar-awarding organization.) This absolutely colors, biases and focuses the approach the book follows into what is by definition a vast subject. Throughout, it places the designer as the determining and dictating factor of style within the culture. Whether it makes a good argument for this is up to you to decide... Nevertheless, I am of the opinion that this helps keep the book focused, yet detailed.
   The photography included in the book is exquisite and sharp. Especially true of the mid-century photography, it far exceeds the quality of that available in vintage fashion magazines.
   Whether you are a novice/hobbyist or an established member of the industry, this is a delightful, insightful and thorough look at the subject. Even if its true title should be "American Fashion Designers: An Illustrated History."



3. This is a beautiful book, with stunning pictures and the text no doubt forms an authoritative picture of the evolution of American fashion from the 30's to the present. I was disappointed, however, that there weren't more "nostalgia" pictures, for lack of a better term. Everything was so artistic that there weren't the pictures of, say, Cybill Shepard in classic 60's mod taken from Glamour, that I would have liked to see and that would have made things more accessible. This is more a book for fashion professionals or students than the casual reader which still makes it an excellent buy and great book, but just not for me.



4. What a lush, lovely, can't help-looking-at volume! If you like fashion, you'll find something to oooh and ahhh over on all 318 pages of this coffee table gem, an opulent history of fashion in America.
   
   We begin with 1930s Hollywood and New York at a time when there was much to celebrate - the end of Prohibition. Nylon stockings were first introduced, and Eleanor Roosevelt, who supported the fashions of the times, was First Lady.
   
   Moving ahead to the 1940s our country is at war, and Rosie the Riveter is the iconic image of American womanhood, while 1946 Paris saw the first modern style bikini. The 1950s were a showcase of opposite modes from Audrey Hepburn with her model figure and dancer's grace to the eye-popping Marilyn Monroe, both influenced what women wore.
   
   TV's Charlie's Angels set the standard for glamour in 1976, and Diane Keaton gave us Annie Hall complete with trousers, tie, and vest. Donna Karan introduced her first women's collection in 1985; about the same time that one more bombshell made a sometimes outrageous fashion statement of her own - Madonna, of course.
   
   Enriched with some 250 illustrations American Fashion reminds us of the truly glamorous and the unparalleled debonair - a young Katharine Hepburn in a black Hawes gown posed for Harper's Bazaar, the unforgettable Marlene Dietrich smolders in a black velvet coat embroidered with white. And, of course, even now Fred Astaire remains the epitome of the well-dressed American man.
   
   This volume celebrates the work of over 100 American designers with photographs and illustrations by the finest artists of our century. Our country is a proud melange of colors and ideas as is our fashion.
   
   Enjoy!
   
   - Gail Cooke

5 comments about Creative Fashion Design with Illustrator.

1. This book is very nicely made. Easy to read...but the content is aimed for beginners only - and fashioners only. It deals with geometrical shirts, pants, skirts etc... no complex design. It's not a general book on Illustrator. It wont fit for all design learning purpose.
   
   - the pros:
   It's Okay for fashion design students (beginners).
   It teaches the basics in a very clear way. If thick books and too much details and explanations frighten you, then this book will fit you. It's a step-by-step easy learning book.
   
   - the cons:
   Definitively not for graphic designers who work with higher drawing skills.
   If you already have read other learning books on illustrator (or you already have learned some basics), you wont learn much from this one.



2. This book is Fabulous!
   This book is a much better guide than the recommended one for a class that I am currently taking at Cornell U. that has an Illustrator component to it. Although I have just received it and therefore haven't used it much yet, the only missing info so far seems to be for drawing a zipper, a necessary tool for fashion design!
   This book is set up in an easy, tutorial manner and seems to cover a lot of tools for illustrating fashion technical flats.
   Minor Beware: the author is a MAC snob. All the patterning software that I have used(Lectra,Gerber,Optitex) is PC platform and I would have thought that he should recognize that the Fashion Industry is mostly PC based and put in MAC commands after the primarily used PC ones.



3. Although I don't have the patience to actually sit down for the whole book....I did about half and feel that was a better education than what The Fashion Institute of Technology could have given me. Very well written... step by step is explained thoroughly....the ONLY book you need to learn this program.



4. I thought this book was very useful, i haven't had a chance to read the whole book. But on the section I did love which was the trims it was very helpful to have pictures and step by step directions



5. I have been searching for a book that teaches Illustrator from this perspective. It is a great teaching tool that teaches Illustrator for the specific use I needed. Great for anyone in the fashion industry needing to learn Illustrator. I have already recommended it to a few friends who have been as thrilled with it as I was!

2 comments about Sweet Needle Felts: 25 Projects to Wear, Give & Hug.

1. I read the review for this book and for some reason, after looking at a number of needle felting books, I chose to purchase it anyway. Since it's really not worth it to send it back, with shipping so high these days, I will probably give it to my daughter, for my granddaughter, who is only five.
   The most amazing thing about this book is how it manages to be both very simple and elementary, and yet still be written as if Ms. Docherty assumes you are an experienced felter.
   I agree with the original review: the designs appear rather simple, tacky and poorly made. I've seen some awesome felting, and none of it is in this book. The projects are so very basic, and that's the "beginner" or "elementary" part.
   However, here is an example of how the writer assumes you know what you are doing already:
   From page 94: "Add Beak. Needle felt a small tuft of light turquoise wool roving to the head; shape the tuft into a beak."
   Now, I realize you should, by this point in the book, have a basic understanding of needle felting. But there just seems to be something missing here! I burst out laughing when I read that.
   All in all, I'd have to say that, if the book had been more expensive by even a little bit, it would be back on Amazon's shelves in a heartbeat.



2. I saw this book and thought,"Oh Boy!" I ordered and read it and thought "Oh No!" The really cute stuff in this book is the stuff on the cover, the rest of the projects are not very cute and sort of tacky and badly made. I would not recomend this book to anyone, not even a new needlefelter. Just boring, get one of Ayala talpai's books instead.

5 comments about Fabulosity: What It Is and How to Get It.

1. Bought it as a present, and decided to read it first to get an idea of what Baby Phat brand is like. After reading the first chapter, it made me want to throw it out the window! This lady is very full of herself, and it's a bad read! DON'T BUY IT!!!



2. Really impressed with the thoroughness of this book. A little redundant in parts but well written and informative. I don't know how some of the reviewers didn't get something from this book! I felt inspired to just be me, whatever that may be and tough cookies to those who don't like it. I have plans to use what I've learned to start my own company (small and from home) and found great information on how to do that. More power to Kimora!



3. Well, first off, I had always been captivated by Kimora, and figured if anyone knows about being fabulous and could teach us a thing or two, it would be her. But right off after a couple chapters through the book, I felt vibes that it was more about her trying to clearly promote a certain image of herself, one apart from Russell, that she wants us all to have...carefully monitoring her words and repeatedly pounding an image of having "already made it big" in her teenage years way before her marriage to him. She spent so much time ranting and referring back to this great and extensive "50k-a year European modeling career" she supposedly had through high school, where she learned how to keep financial records conduct business, handle grown up problems,etc...Not too believable really, epecially when the age she repeatedly refers to is 13. Then looking at the provided photos in the book, I found it very curious that there was only 1 of her(pre-Russell Simmons) modeling years, a United Colors of Benneton ad, where she looks like an average pug-nosed teenager. So I Googled about 50 pages of Images for her and still found NOTHING of any modeling photos of her in that supposed successful modeling decade before-Russell that she continually touts. It became clearer and clearer that her REAL OBJECTIVE for writing the book was to convince everyone that she had "made it" way before her husband came into her life. (which I dont think anyone really cares about). I'm sure she was beautiful and fabby when they met, and Russell married her and elevated her into his monied life...so what? Now, I am interested and intrigued in the opulence of the rich & famous like anyone else, and I love to hear the anecdotes of the successsful, but Kimora just doesnt appear to really have any real depth from life's lessons, in that she went from being basically a teenager to marrying Russell, and at the writing of this book, where she is in her mid 30's, she still seems rather immature and self absorbed. Its easier to be beautiful and fabby with lots of money, and obviously any of her hardships were always easily overcome with their money. She doesnt portray that there was any real blood sweat and tears involved in anything she presented about her life, thus there was really nothing to teach or inspire us. Russell would probably have given us something with much more redeeming value if HE wrote the book!
   With the Baby Phat business, I'm sure she certainly must have gone through the guts of up-starting a business, but once again, the obstacles hurdled and the resolutions she implemented took MONEY to get through, (which she had, and which she did successfully), and so I dont think inspires in that regard either. I would have been more satisfied with the time I spent reading the book hearing about how money can solve alot of problems and how fun it is for a girl. There ARE some profound, inspiring quotes that she includes from OTHER celebrities, like: "The thing women have yet to learn is no one gives you power, you just take it"(Roseanne Barr). These made me want to read books by THOSE people.
   I think this book is best suited for early 20-somethings, who need to get a glimpse of how to present a certain image, and possibly maximize their potential opportunities in the business world, or if you just want to become more intrigued by Kimora's self-promotion. Not really for a more matured (not talking 'old' here)audience that is already comfortable in their own skin, but are just looking for inspiration for an "image makeover" out of the soccer-mom lifestyle.
   Overall, I came away feeling that Kimora was highly calculative and probably thinks most of her readers were easy to manipulate and that she either didnt care about giving us much, or that she is rather shallow, having lacked experience and maturity to offer us much.



4. Real life is the best classroom of all. Fabulosity is fabulous! Madonna was the real deal girl power (forget the Spice Girls) and now Kimora Lee Simmons is showing a whole new generation of women how to play the cards life dealt you with finesse and attitude. This is an autobiographical how to with no apologies about how Kimora created her life. Diva she is but brainy and beautiful too!



5. This book is an all around guide for women. Kimora Simmons offers excellent adivce in a plethora of areas.