3 comments about Guy Bourdin: A Message For You.

1. This book is an amazing addition to my collection of fotography books. Guy Bourdin is one of my favorite photographers of the last centry. From the layout to the impeccable print technique, I do enjoy the book!



2. This book (or books, since it is 2 volumes together) consists mainly of Bourdin's photos of Nicolle Meyer, taken between 1977 and 1980.
   
   Volume I has 75 color photos, and each one has its own page. Each photo is only about half the size of the page, but having said that, none of them seem too small. They all seem about the right size and fit well with the feel of the book. Almost every photo contains Nicolle in one form or another, which is definitely not a bad thing, because she is a beautiful woman and a great subject.
   
   Volume II has 133 pages. Most of them are photos, but some of them are text. The text tells about Bourdin, Nicolle Meyer, and the process that went into the photographs, among other things. The size of the photos varies more in Volume II than in Volume I. Some photos are the full size of the page, and sometimes there are multiple small images on one page. There aren't quite as many photos of Nicolle in this volume, but she is still the primary model.
   
   I am not very familiar with Bourdin's other books, but in my opinion, this is a must-have for any fan of Bourdin. Both volumes are beautifully packaged and contain a box to keep them together. I can't say for sure, but I would assume that there are a lot of photographs in this album that are difficult to find anywhere else. One of my favorite photography books.



3. Wooooooowwwwwwww !! Incredible printing, gorgeous images, a time to RE-discover this hudge artist .

1 comments about Toiles de Jouy.

1. I purchased this book for my mother, who is a textile fanatic and bonafide lover of toiles de jouy. This book offers 50 plates of French toile fabric and wallpaper designs. I love toile as well, so I, quite naturally, flipped through the book before giving it to my mom. It was wonderful to look at the historical patterns. I would have been a little happier if more information would have been provided about each pattern. For instance, I would have liked to have known more about who created each pattern, any famous personage who purchased the pattern featured, where I might find more historic samples of toile.
   
   It's a lovely gift and well worth the money, though. I recommend it with four stars.

2 comments about Nazi 'Chic'?: Fashioning Women in the Third Reich (Dress, Body, Culture).

1. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the period and/or in fashion. Loved the anecdotes! Fascinating from front to back. The pictures made the book even more enjoyable.
   
   Can't wait to see what else Ms. Guenther writes!



2. For an unusual and insightful look into the Third Reich, I highly recommend this book. The title is a bit of a pun, as the subject material covers the Nazis' unfashionable attempts to maniplate control over female fashions and women's roles through the use of propaganda and manipulation of the fashion industry. The book is well researched, well written, and discloses new findings exposing the purging of Jews from the German fashion industry. The book also details information on the little known German Fashion Institute and the very fashion-conscious Nazi officials' wives and their hypocritical husbands. The book accurately portrays the parody of Nazi political folly, as well as the realism of the devastated German home front through the lives of German women during WWII and the millions of women in the concentration camps throughout Europe. Be forewarned - this is one of those books that once you pick it up, you won't want to put it down until you reach the last page.

3 comments about Ancient Egyptian Fashions (History of Fashion).

1. I know when I see the name Tom Tierney on a book of fashion paperdolls and costumes that it will be accurate, historic, and colorful. His work never ceases to delight me. The paperdolls and costumes were (are)wonderful!



2. ancient egyptian fashions by tom tierney is a great book. in this book you will see what old kingdom pharaoh's and their wifes dressed in, as well as princess's, scribes, painter's, egyptian couples of rank, dancer's, and women. you will also see middle kingdom pharaoh's and queen's, men and women, maidservant's from the court, dancer's and slaves. you will also see new kingdom pharaoh's including hatshepsut the female pharaoh, you will see queen's, noble couples, priest's, soldier's, court musicians, musicians, and a princess and a slave. you will also see gods like osiris, thoth,anubis, and amun. you will see the hair styles of ancient egypt as well. this is a great book on ancient egyptian fashions.



3. This is a coloring book, whose illustrations are based on representations of the Ancient Egyptian people as seen on various temples, paintings and artifacts. Images presented herein show the fashions of Old, Middle and New Kingdoms. An entertaining booklet for children of all ages.

3 comments about Customizing Cool Clothes: From Dull to Divine in 30 Projects.

1. i am so glad i got this book from the library instead of wasting money. the ideas in this book are all pretty mundane and have been done to death in recent years. projects like adding faux fur to a cardigan are a yawn, and the projects are pretty girly and precious. if you're more of a rocker with tastes that require more of an edge, buy subversive seamster. their ideas are fresh and cool and almost every single one is something i haven't seen or thought of before. this book might be good for a sweet teenager who likes conservative clothes.



2. This is a great book full of many terrific ideas. Color photos, easy to follow instructions.



3. Just a delightful book and so helpful.
   
   I am glad I ordered it ..Already making nice thinks for me and mine..
   
   
   Fotini Tsementzis
   Athens-Greece

1 comments about Fabric Painting and Dyeing for the Theatre.

1. The name turned me away at first, as I am not dyeing for the theater. That was a mistake. While I don't need the chapters on how to set up a dye shop for a theatre, other information provided in this book is hard to come by elsewhere. Covers fiber reactive dyes, acid dyes, 1:2 metal complex dyes, direct dyes, basic dyes for acrylics, disperse dyes, metallics, textile paints, screen printing, 4 different discharge dyeing pastes, batik, blue printing and brown printing on fabric (or whole garments) using light, marbling, airbrush. Much more thorough treatment of potential hazards than any other dyeing book I've seen. Lists of carcinogenic dyes to avoid. Actual test results of fabric feel and fastness of many different textile paints, each on six different fibers. Good index.

No comments about Metropolitan Fashions of the 1880s: From the 1885 Butterick Catalog.

5 comments about Hip Handbags: Creating & Embellishing 40 Great-Looking Bags.

1. I've been making handbags for myself for a couple of years now, and this is one of my go-to books for instruction and inspiration. There are seven basic bag instructions (Messenger, Clutch, Tote, Tuck, Flirt, Vessel, and Travel), each with between three and five variations. There are decent instructions for the basic bag, and the variations tell you what's different, but it does not provide detailed, step-by-step instructions for each project. That's fine - I don't want to make the exact bag they show. I use this book for inspiration and basic construction methods.
   
   The first section of the book talks about the basics - designing, embellishing, and sewing. It talks about material choices, how to make linings and pockets, use interfacing, install zippers, add straps and flaps, and close the bag. It explains decorative techniques like piping, grommets, handles, feet, frames, and fabric panels. There is a brief section of embellishing with beads, buttons, trims, jewelry, flowers, applique, embroidery, ruffles, and topstitching. The next section shows the effect that embellishments can have on a plain bag. They show several different before and after photos of purchased bags with embellishments. This is a great section for inspiration. There's a sewing section that explains the tools you'll need, basic sewing terms, and pattern making. The patterns are very simple line drawings on a grid. That makes perfect sense - you can make your bag as large or as small as you'd like or change the shape. Many of the pattern pieces are composed of straight lines, and it's easier to cut them with a rotary cutter anyway.
   
   The last section of the book is pure inspiration. It's called the Gallery of Totally Hip Handbags, and it's full of "art" bags. It's interesting to see the color, material, and shapes, although I can't imagine I'd ever carry a ceramic bag. I tend to make my bags freestyle - no pattern, just an idea that I play with until it turns into a bag. This book helps with both the construction techniques and the inspiration for new ideas.
   
   If you're looking for a detailed pattern book so you can make exactly what they show in the photo, this may not be the book for you. If you prefer to work a little less structured, and are comfortable making some things up as you go along, this is a great place to start.



2. This book is really good because instead of giving exact patterns, it gives patterns for about eight different styles of bags. Then it shows variations on those eight styles. The instructions are good but I would not recommend this book unless you have at least a small knowledge of sewing. It also tell about many different materials for purse making. Overall, a book with endless possibilities and good instructions to accomplish a variety of ideas.



3. The purses in this book are all variations on a set of basic patterns. The color pictures are great and show a lot of great ideas. The text is written in an entertaining and humorous style that is fun to read. Where this book starts to fall apart is when you go to actually make one of these purses. Vague instructions and errors abound. One one page, the instructions list the size of one pattern piece as different than what the pattern piece is drawn for. The author glosses over how to insert anything but a fabric handle. There are no instructions on how to put in a magnetic clasp or bag feet. And the measly section on how to put in a zippered pocket was so vague that I had to rip out the pocket three times. I finally went to another source to get clear instructions. The book also doesn't give guidance on when to add the extras. Should trim go on before sewing the lining together? Handsewn on afterwards? If the author knows, she's not tellling.



4. I first got this book out of my local library and was very impressed with the majority of the patterns (not all but then that's to be expected!), good instructions and the range of alterations to the basic patterns they explored in more detail. Impressed to the extent that I had to buy it. I'm in the middle of making one of the bags and the instructions have been good and to the point. The only downside is that the patterns aren't as exact as I would like and there's a bit of figuring out to do before you can cut into your fabric.



5. I start sewing a year ago and I started with bags. So this book really appeal to me. Let me say that I was really disappointed when it arrives from amazon. Actually I didn't even bother to keep it and return it a couple of days later. They're better books on the subject (Make Your Own Handbags)
   
   There's seven different patterns in this book and a few variations on each pattern and embellished bags. For my taste, the bags didn't look great and some of the were overdone (too embellished)
   You can have a look at some of them if you google the book on google books.

5 comments about What Not To Wear for Every Occasion.

1. Pros:
   
   * Very practical tips for most shapes of women
   * Great illustrations to highlight points
   * Left me wanting more information on good styles for
   my body shape
   
   Cons:
   
   * Too general - I'd prefer to buy a book on only my body shape
   * The directory at the back is mainly London centred. It would be
   preferrable to have local shops inserted for countries of purchase.



2. What medication were they on when they compiled this book? I love their show, and have enjoyed some of their other books, but this one is over the top silly. If you're looking for "What to Wear to Clown School", this is the book! Swarms of butterflies swirling over your head for a wedding? You must be kidding. If you're curious, I'd hit the local library, there's a reason these books are selling for a penny here. I never give bad reviews and I adore these two women, but there is little of practical value for most women in this book.



3. I thought that this book was sort of useful in some sections, but others did not fit my lifestyle at all and some of the good ideas seemed to reveal too much to me (wearing a suit jacket with no shirt.) That sort of exposure is considered inappropriate in the circles I run in.



4. I've enjoyed Trinny and Susannah's other books and picked up quite a few tips from those, but this book has me shaking my head. Worst is the career-dressing advice: it might be fine if you've got an entry-level position, but if you're at a managerial or professional level, forget it!
   For one thing, Trinny and Susannah seem to have a strong allergy to suits or, for that matter, any clothes that are conservative or classic. Well, trendy doesn't work for everybody, and it doesn't work all the time. Some of their "don'ts" work as well as, or even better, than their "do's". And some sections are overlong; do we really need numerous versions of skiwear and after-ski wear?



5. Perhaps it is because the show is UK based but I was taken aback by some of the after pictures. Alot of dresses over pants and very outlandish hats are shown as do's.
   
   Some of the befores don't look too bad other than the dated 80's look which I think we all know not to wear. I would have preferred more tips on handling body types rather than the obvious no's. They put in some really sloppy don'ts which aren't much help unless people in London are really walking around like that. We need more realistic don'ts as opposed to the obvious.

No comments about A Cultural History of Fashion in the Twentieth Century: From the Catwalk to the Sidewalk.