5 comments about Dress Like a Million (On Considerably Less): A Trend-Proof Guide to Real Fashion.

1. This book is great for someone trying to understand the basic structure of fashion or in my case, for someone trying to intelligently by clothing gifts for the women in their lives.



2. This book is so helpful... it is advice i am amazed i have lived without. I have a copy of this one and "Does this make me look fat?" Both incredibly valuable. Of course it is for anyone who desires to dress in a classic style. Highly recommended.



3. The book was a bit old ie some of the information related to fashion in the 1980s and 1990s. That said, the advice provided on style versus fashion remains relevant at any moment in time.
   
   I bought this book because I liked "Does this make me look fat?" by the same author.



4. I am a fan of Feldon's books. I love the interesting fashion "types" in the beginning of her books, for example "Bas Couture." Many of these fashion types are still on streets today. However, the illustrations of pleated pants and mini-skirts (a la Calista Flockhart) are as outdated as the era that the book was written in. Ms. Feldon advocates a classic look, which works for many but can be dull if the wearer doesn't inject personality with accessories, textures or creative use of color. Another drawback is that it doesn't cover dressing for your body shape. For that, you will have to purchase her other book, "Does This Make Me Look Fat?" If you overlook these drawbacks, this book is a fun read and a great way to put together a good look on a budget.



5. Feldon's book will help you to organize your wardrobe and make wiser fashion purchases, but much of her advice is predicated on two assumptions: that everyone looks good in black (not true and boring besides!)and that everyone should/wants to dress like Audrey Hepburn.

5 comments about Kimono: Fashioning Culture.

1. This is an essential book, I think, for clothing designers, people who like Japanese style, and fabric makers -- as well as others.
   Dalby's knowledge of Japan and women's kimono fashion is based on personal knowledge in the culture, including a stint as an "American geisha" in Japan and all the kimono wearing that involved. She also did terrific book research.
   One of the intriguing parts of the book is the revelation of the fashion art of woodblock print (ukiyo-e) artists. The book becomes a double pleasure of fashion AND art.
   Her prose explains kimono to you with ease, and it reads like tips from a favorite friend. Even for a man who never expects to wear a yukata again, I enjoyed it tremendously.



2. This book is a classic. It doesn't have many color pictures, but that doesn't seem to matter. The author discusses kimono in terms of how kimono are worn and what tiny differences in the details of wearing mean in social context. That's what I find fascinating. Of course she also covers the history of kimono. She includes many small black-and-white line illustrations that demonstrate her points very well.



3. This is a very good guide to the history of the kimono and its importance in Japanese society. Perhaps its only fault is that it doesn't have a huge amount of pictures and those pictures that it does have are largely in black and white.



4. This book should really not have been published, turists can take better pictures. Having been to Japan at least 50 times,I can say that even the kimonos are pathetic.There are so many places were pictures can be taken in a much better way than the ones in this book.There is no explanation only pictures. CHEAP pictures. I am very sad to put a 1 star,as all my critiques have been good.
   Do not waste your money.There are better books on kimonos than this one.



5. An outstanding book,excellent for reference and research.A very well detailed research on colors and seasons in the Heian Period,
   Designs, colors and symbols all had a particular reason for being used.You just did not use any color for any day of the year.Ms.Dalby did an exquisite job.

No comments about The Trench Book.

No comments about Clothing: A Global History.

5 comments about Andre de Dienes: Marilyn.

1. Fantastic photos!
   Very subjective story of the relationship of Andre and MM. It is hard to tell if he embellished some of the facts of his books.
   I found it an enjoyable coffee book that is well worth it for the photos.
   A must have for MM fans!



2. Andre de Dienes has taken some of the most precious photographs of Marilyn Monroe that there are. If you know that, or are a big Marilyn Monroe fan, know this: they are not all here, not even close. However, it's one of the nicer books for the collector. I am disappointed because they've altered some photos, ie, placed the image of her head in the sky, etc., where I would have preferred to see the original photo instead. I am hoping for a more complete, color photo book of his work at some point, but this is definitely worth getting.



3. I picked this book up today and was intrigued by the direct casual photos of photos that I was not used to of Marilyn Monroe. Most photos that we see of Marilyn are glamorized by Hollywood. This book tells a beautiful memoir between Marilyn and Andre. The photos in this book are high quality and even in include about 5-6 color prints in the middle of the book. Highly recommended.



4. Even for non-Marilynphiles, this is a magic photographic trip of her metamorphosis from Norma Jeane to Marilyn - would have liked to have more of the pictures in 8 x 10 format, and information regarding the obviously enhanced ones with clouds, stars, etc. (why were they done, how were they done, when were they done)
   
   If you have a Marilyn Monroe library, this is a must. If you don't, it's a marvelous Sunday afternoon read and view.



5. This book is simply fantastic. Andre de Dienes captured Marilyn Monroe's beauty when she was still Norma Jeane, and nobody ever captured her in her truer state.
   These photographs (which of course are accompanied by a text of Andre de Dienes' memoirs--or is it the other way around?)-- they are absolutely the most stunning, beautiful images ever taken of the most photogenic GODDESS that the world-at-large has ever known.
   One of the most incredible ones is frustratingly not blown up to regular size, but merely shown from his proof sheets (pages 130 and 206 feature the image(s) I am referring to). The cover shot has long been my favorite Marilyn photo, and I now see that a few others that particuarly intoxicated me for many years are all here! Andre de Dienes was simply the best photographer Marilyn ever had; a photographic genius.
   But he was a lot more than that; a friend, a lover (who, like many of those who fell in love with Marilyn first-hand, never stopped loving her).
   The stories are riveting; incredible at times, even.
   And the aforementioned photographs are simply breathtaking.
   I particuarly love all the shots from Tobey Beach; she's never so radiant with her beauty so lush, warm and comforting. Pages 27 and 43 feature the Norma Jeane I TOO prefer to the more common image(s) of Marilyn Monroe, the "glamorous" Hollywood take on her beauty, which rings less natural in comparison to these wonderful shots. The photo on page 119 is one to die for, her tenderness so entrancing (and that's from the " The End of Everything" session!)
   The bubble bath photos from '52 are also unbelievable.
   The photos perfectly accompany the story, which add to them tremendously; seeing Marilyn eating a sundae -- as simple as that -- is an image that is heartwarming and beautiful in context, an absolute joy.
   
   Thi is neither just a memoir (albeit however fascinating it IS); nor a mere photobook (although when referring to Marilyn Monroe's beauty AND a genius photographer like de Dienes, "mere" doesn't fit either!).
   It's SOMETHING ELSE!
   
   I am very glad that Steve Crist put this together; he did indeed stumble upon treasure.
   And Mr. de Dienes' widow, without whom this could not, would not exist?
   Ms. Shirley T. Ellis de Dienes' acknowledgements in the back of the book were enough to bring me to tears.
   
   This book is an absolute must for any Marilyn Monroe fan.

1 comments about Sex And Suits.

1. Marvelous cultural/intellectual history of fashion and dress, with a provocative and persuasive thesis that men's basic fashion of the last several hundred years - the suit - has actually driven Western clothing aesthetics, including with respect to the general direction of women's clothing. And that for a reason that I, at least, found intriguingly counterintutive but persuasive: the suit is an aesthetically superior form of clothing. Men's dress is the long term driver of Western clothing, not women's dress and even less what Hollander calls women's "Fashion." Anne Hollander is a singular intellectual and a wonderful essayist.

5 comments about The Parisian Woman's Guide to Style.

1. This book was published the same year that I lived in Paris. I like it for sentimental reasons, it gives you a picture of the street fashion that year. One of the outfits in the book is identical to the favorite outfit of one of my french friends at the time. However, this book is now outdated and I agree whith J. Whithford that Elegance by Madame Dariaux is a far better book.



2. As someone who has been to Paris many times and has many Parisian friends I find this book to be stuffy and out of date. Yes, true, there are still many women in Paris who dress in the "old school" way but the average woman on the streets in no way represents what these women are trying to sell. However, they do give some interesting advice that is classic and can be used and adapted for wherever you live or travel.



3. I was very disappointed in this book. Mostly the mother-daughter team, who own a costume jewelry shop, tells you to buy expensive French brands you already knew about. The book is about half photographs of them wearing classic clothes that don't look particularly French---cream, khaki, navy and other neutrals. Very tasteful, and stylish in a quiet way, but nothing specifically French. Maybe that's the point. Entre Nous by Debra Ollivier was vastly more useful in understanding what makes french woemn seem more stylish. She is an American who lived in Paris for a decade married to a Frenchman.



4. I have "French Chic" by Susan Sommers also, and this book book by Veronique & Virginie Morana is more contemporary in my opinion. "The Parisian Woman's Guide To Style" is not written by an American in Paris, like Sommers. It was written in 1999 by two French natives who own a boutique in Paris. Although 6 years old, the pictures still look current in their simplicity. The authors have managed to capture classic French elegance without looking stodgy or outdated. Their basic wardrobe elemants and accessories apply whether your lifestyle is working mom, a college girl seeking to upgrade her image or even a socialite. There are some interesting beauty and style tips. The back of the book lists boutiques to check out when you're visiting France (if they're still there.) There are many great color photos as examples. The drawback is that all the recommended items are expensive and French-made, which isn't realistic for a woman on a budget. However, you can use this a guide to selecting and combining the best wardrobe pieces within your own budget when you visit department stores. You can always find good quality knock-offs.



5. I bought this book, and several others in the whole french chic genre.
   
   I agree Frederik Fekkai's book, A Year of Style, and Genevieve a Darieaux's book are supreme.
   
   So is Things a Woman Should Know about Style by Karen Homer.
   
   Leah Feldon's advice on dressing rich and dressing thin is along these lines and really good value if you are trying to create a core or capsule wardrobe along french chic lines. Which translated simply stands for quietly elegant.
   
   Anne Barones 3 Chic and Slim books are terrific, available on her website, so you needn't pay the inflated prices on the web but they are definitely worth every penny. Google her name and the title, and the site should appear.
   
   Finally Entre Nous was a great book discussing a lot of different aspects of french life including the diet, wardrobe, manners etc.
   
   This book in comparison comes up WAY short. The pictures are outdated already, which wouldn't be such a problem if the text had anything of value to say.
   
   The classic perfume list was interesting, as were the bits on what goes into the basics of a wardrobe
   
   but you can figure that out using Karen Homers tiny but terrific little book Things a Woman Should Know about Style (which is a terrific companion to Genevieve a Dariaux's A Guide to Elegance-- it updates Genevieve quite nicely).
   
   all in all I'd say hang onto your money, and buy:
   
   Anne Barone's 3 Chic and Slim books,
   
   Things a Woman Should Know about Style by Karen Homer and
   
   Genevieve a Dariaux's A Guide to Elegance along with
   
   Frederic Fekkai: a Year of Style (out of print now, but worth getting!) and
   
   Does This Make Me Look Fat?: the Definitive Rules for Dressing Thin for Every Height, Size, and Shape by Leah Feldon
   
   Leah has good advice on shopping for quality, and if you want more, she has an out of print one that dates back 20 years that still has good advice in it.
   
   as well as Entre Nous by Debra Olliver.
   
   That little "bookshelf" will net you a thousand times better advice on learning grace, style and chic than this little photo essay book.

5 comments about Dazzling Disguises and Clever Costumes.

1. I will be using disguises in a summer program at the library. The instuctions for the glasses and beards are very easy to understand and the pictures are fantastic.



2. The book contains great illustrations and instructions to create several costumes, but we were uninspired to create anything from the book or based on the book. I was looking for more inspiration, tips and tricks to create other costumes. This book wasn't what I sought.



3. This is a wonderful book for the creative spirit or crafty mom. Instead of spending your hard earned cash on flimsy costumes that may get only one wear, you can make your own. It includes a multitude of colorful photos and easy to follow, step-by-step instructions to make many exciting and unique costumes. Some of them include: a king, robot, knight in shining armour, magician, cowboy and hula girl. This would be a great book to use for Halloween costumes as well as for dress up and role play. Many of the costumes can be made by kids themselves. It will save you money and the kids will have a great time.



4. I enjoyed this book because most of the items for making the costumes you can find around the house.



5. i love this book it is really cool my name is katie i am six years old with long brown hair and green eyes my friend sarah and i made a horse costume a month ago and we wear it everyday. i also made the insect and the bird costumes. i like putting bags and masks over my head cuz i think its funny LOL. i hope i can be a childrens entertainer one day and play catcherin softball. my mom says shell make the ghost costume for halloween. yay!
   
   luv,
   
   katie

1 comments about Dolce Vita Style.

1. 
   Jean-Pierre Dufreigne's Dolce Vita Style starts out describing my favorite scene from the unforgettable film Fellini's Roma. The scene takes place at one of the city's innumerable cafes, where an anonymous woman asks writer Gore Vidal why he chooses to live in Rome. Mr. Vidal answers as if he had been expecting the question: "Rome is the only place to be," he says, "to wait for the end."
   
   That's pretty much true, at least if you were living in the go-go Dolce Vita years, which were already drawing to a close by the time the film was made in 1972. The over-the-top style of those days were like a candle burning not only on both ends but also at several points in the middle.
   
   But, boy, did they ever look good doing it.
   
   That's the best thing about this book: the photography really captures the feel of Rome during the Dolce Vita years. For anyone who knows the Via Veneto as is is today -- home to the U.S. Embassy and the Hard Rock Cafe -- the photos of the parties in the street there in the 1960s will cause a double take. Ditto for scenes from the Spanish Steps, the Campidoglio, and Piazza Navona. The photo selection is excellent: Mr. Dufreigne, a journalist with France's L'Express, avoids cliche shots like Antia Ekberg in the Trevi Fountain (though there is a less-well-known shot from that series near the end of the book, and a modern remake with model Claudia Schiffer in Ms. Ekberg's place) in favor of unfamiliar images that capture the mood perfectly.
   
   Sadly, beyond that there is little to recommend the book besides that. The text -- for the most part spoken in Italian, transcribed in the book in Mr. Dufreigne's native French, and then translated into English for this edition -- sounds melodramatic and forced. And although it is handsomely bound, the layout can be frustrating: captions for photos are rarely on the same page as the photo, a lack of paragraph indents can make some pages appear to be a single run-on sentence, and the lack of an index and only the vaguest table of contents makes picking and choosing what to read an exercise in frustration.

4 comments about The Book of Fine Linen (Book Of...).

1. Linen was once an elegant showing of a family's wealth. This book is filled with the history of linen. It is throughly documented with detailed indices. Translated from French, the details provided and pictures are glorious. Turning the pages is a true historical lesson in how linen was created, embellished, and used during times past. The use of lace and embroidery is stunning. I marvel at the complexity of the designs and when I sit with my needle and thread under a magnifying glass and high powered lamp I am in awe of the early needleworkers toiling away without the assistance of these tools. The book soothes me and transports me to another time. This is one of my favorite books in my personal library.



2. This seductive book is more than an excellent history of fine linen. It is a sensuous and seductively, elegant book! The author, Francoise de Bonneville give the reader more than a lesson on the history of textiles. She presents us with some of the most extrodinary examples of bed linens, tablecloths and napkins. Apart from the excellent section on the social history and care of fine linen, she presents detailed information about the various types of linens used, fibers, color, and weaves. The must sumptous commissions were the set of bedsheets created for American Heiress Barbara Hutton. These pink sheets were made out of silk and trimmed with point de Paris lace, fouteeen inches wide, Which was made by d'Porthault & Co. Examples of the two major Italian linen firms, Frette and Pratesi are also well represented. I agree with my fellow reviewer. This is an excellent gift for a bride; but don't be surprised to learn that men would be just as likely to buy this book as women. It is worth every Dollar!



3. This book, written with a forward by the Porthaults (who better to comment on fine linens?), is wonderful and I highly recommend it, price notwithstanding. This book is translated from the French and inlcudes: a history of linens, from chintz to damask; a glossary of embroidery stitches and styles with notations of illustrations throughout the book; and photographs of the finest linens in the world (including many made by the Porthaults). This book is very large and would make such a lovely gift for anyone who collects linens or who does fine embroidery.



4. This book, translated from the French, is beautifully beguiling in its phrasing. Relates the history and techniques of the production and embroidery of exquisite linens. Photographs are handsome and even the dust cover is worth framing. Makes a great reference book as well as entertaining reading. One of my all time favorites