Book Description

As good as gold, this book satisfies the tastes of anyone with a curiosity for old white metal and rhinestone jewelry.

The award-winning producer of the Hidden Treasures: Antique and Costume Jewelry video series brings you this beautiful book, featuring more than 1,000 pieces of jewelry. Filled with 400 color photographs that bring these glittering baubles to life, the book details white metal and rhinestone jewelry of the 1920s-1940s. Readers will learn the history of rhinestones, the different types of metal and rhinestones used during this era, and the fashion trends that influenced the designs. An extensive pricing and identification guide covers signed and unsigned foreign and American pieces.

Leigh Leshner has been collecting vintage jewelry since she was 11 and has been a dealer for more than 12 years. She participates in antiques shows, provides appraisal services, and is considered one of the foremost experts on vintage jewelry.

• Features more than 1,000 pieces of jewelry

• Extensive pricing and identification guide

• Showcases both signed and unsigned pieces, as well as foreign and domestic ... Read more

Reviews (7)

white metal pictures
The author has wisely given us 400 beautiful pictures of
old white metal costume jewelry. Since so much is unsigned
the pictures will make it easier to evaluate pot metal pieces.
This is the first book devoted entirely to white metal and is
in a class all of its own. The illustrations make this a
"coffee table" book. The author establishes all the variables
taken in when pricing. All the jewelry in the book is mint
condition. In few words she also explains that the book is

devoted to the beauty and value of the jewelry, minimizing the
importance of signed pieces. Thank you Miss Leshner.

A sparkling gallery of treasures
"Vintage Jewelry: A Price and Identification Guide, 1920-1940s," by Leigh Leshner, is a visually stunning reference work. The back cover notes that the book features more than 1,000 pieces. The emphasis is on pieces made with white metal and rhinestones. Included in the book are some special sections on the following topics: the history of rhinestones, cuts and shapes of rhinestones, settings used to hold rhinestones, types of metal used in jewelry, and suggestions for collecting jewelry. The bulk of the book is a price and identification guide: a huge gallery of full-color photos with descriptive text.

Overall, this is a beautiful and informative book, but I felt that at certain points the text needed tighter editing. Pictured are many different types of jewelry: fur clips, brooches, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc. The pieces shown employ many different styles and motifs: birds, floral designs, Art Deco designs, filigree work, butterflies, whimsical human figures, patriotic motifs, etc. Rhinestones of different shapes, sizes, and colors are shown. And for aspiring collectors on limited budgets, the book helpfully shows a healthy number of pieces valued at less than $50. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys looking at beautiful photographs of dazzling vintage jewelry.

Where was the editor?
Sorry to disagree with everyone, but I am greatly displeased with this book. The pictures are beautiful! But there are only eleven pages of text, in very large type, and with a lot of pictures there too. Which means there is very, very, very little information. And in that small amount of information, I found several inaccuracies, therefore I can't TRUST any of the information I DON'T recognize as being inaccurate. There are very few mentions of famous designers, but two of their names are misspelled. An oval rhinestone is the same shape as a marquise rhinestone, it says. There are TWO pictures which each contain three similar-but-different items, where the captions in both cases say that the picture shows three IDENTICAL items. And the price listings are SO MUCH higher than what I see on even the highest priced web sites or jewelry shows in the New York area. Umm, pretty pictures though.

Excellent Photos Specializing in Vintage Rhinestone Jewelry
Amazing photos of a terrific selection of Vintage Rhinestone Jewelry! However I was hoping for more variety, not only rhinestone. Maybe the title should be more specific. Over all and excellent guide that is very colorful and fun to look at.

Vintage Jewelry: A Price and Identification Guide, 1920-40s
If you can only add one book on vintage costume jewelry to your library this year, this is the one! It is chock full of invaluable, well researched information, gorgeous photos, and an accurate, realistic price guide - not to mention a collection of beautiful jewelry I would love to have in my collection! This is a winner, hope more by this author will follow. ... Read more

Book Description

The only comprehensive guide to shopping for vintage and designer resale, including * specific stores in all the major U.S. & Canadian cities * favorite haunts of celebs and stylists * Internet thrift shopping * vintange expos across the continent Whether you're on a budget or ready to splurge on mint-condition Givenchy, this is your roadmap to the timeless cool of vintage HCing. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Excellent resource!
What a fabulous resource for lovers of vintage clothing! I have learned about stores in Toronto that I would never have found otherwise. The detailed store descriptions are wonderful - it's interesting to learn about the history of the stores, as well as about their owners.
And what a helpful book when travelling to other cities in North America! Thank you!

Best shopping guide yet!
This book is fabulous. Not only does it explore (and I use the word "explore" because these listings go way beyond mere addresses and phone numbers) about 500 vintage and contemporary designer resale stores all over the U.S., Canada and Online, but with the information offered on each store (what kind of merchandise is carried, price range, return policy, store owner's personal collections, description of the store itself, etc.), I feel much more confident about shopping for my newest passion, vintage clothing (almost like the authors are holding my hand and walking me thru). I also found the section that describes designers from the '20s to the '80s, along with an explanation of what was going on the world during those times, fascinating. The glossary of fashion terms is also helpful, and I loved the listings of vintage expos all over the U.S. The quotes from costume designers, and learning about vintage pieces worn by Hollywood celebrities, is definately a fun bonus. Bravo!

This book is not worth the money
This book is basically just a list of resale stores in some bigger cities. The same information could be obtained in twenty minutes with some basic research.

Costume Design Apprentice says: Best Book Out There!
I LOVED this book, not only was it extremely informative, but it was very practical-the $ labels were the best! I used it on a very important project and it didn't let me down once! This resource was very helpful. It is a book for anyone who has been bitten by the vintage-shopping bug. Happy shopping!

I've Found Some New Favorites!
I think the mark of a good guidebook is one that can tell you new things about your hometown. Retro Chic is a *great* guidebookbook. I purchased my copy at home in Seattle, and was pleased to see that my favorite retro sources were included -- as well as several new favorites I hadn't heard about before. The information on online resources is also quite helpful, and introduced me to a whole new way of shopping for unique resale fashions. I took Retro Chic with me on a business trip to Los Angeles last week, and was able to do some wonderfully affordable consignment shopping in a city that's completely foreign to me. What a fantastic resource!

This DOES NOT appear to be a book in which the authors were paid for reviewing particular stores. The information is well organized, up-to-date, and gives plenty of clues about the stores it reviews. Listings are honest and cover a wide variety of topics, ranging from price scales and credit cards accepted to the kind of merchandise available.

This book is a great resource for anyone with a retro fetish, and a no-hassle way for people new to the "scene" to find great resale outlets in their home town, on vacation, or online. I highly recommend Retro Chic and have bought copies as gifts for two friends who recently moved across country. ... Read more

Book Description

Published just last spring to follow the runaway success of Couples and Men, teNeues introduced a third collection of beautifully composed, highly erotic images from acclaimed photographer Stefan May. Now the stunning black and white photographs that revealed the beauty, sensuality, and grace of women’s bodies are available in an exquisitely produced, slip-cased collector’s edition. This volume is sure to become a treasured gift for fans of erotic photography everywhere. ... Read more

Book Description

This book covers some of the technological changes that have emerged in the fashion world. It provides a way of integrating this technology with the process of designing clothes. This book focuses on the representational and graphic aspects of fashion design. It gives the history of computer-aided design followed by a description of the types of systems presently utilized in the industry and the role each plays in the design process. It also breaks down the design process and describes the CAD- related experiences that a designer might encounter while on the job. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

this book is not very helpful - and it was written in 97
Especially with that title, you would expect alot of info on CAD for fashion right? Maybe see things like; how you would create patterns, even 3-D representations, or create prints and colors for fabrics, where I might look for resources on manufacturers and software providers, etc. Well, there are countless mentions in the book of people who use CAD for tons of various things, but almost no mention of HOW any of those people go about it. In some instances the writer is like: yeah, this internet thing is great for selling clothing, web sellers can actually superimpose different colors onto the same garments! yipee. You get the picture, OLD, and not really hands-on at all, more like an informationless overview.

Fashion Designers must have this book...
Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is used in every field of Fashion. Fashion Designers who work with different types of Design programmes, must read this book in the beginning. This book is so easy to read and understand for beginners.It also has a 3.5'' floppy disk containing of apparel images. It's worth to buy...

SIDIKA BILGEN
It is an excellent book for my jo ... Read more

Book Description

For any woman who ever wondered how to wear vintage clothing with panache, at last there is Vintage Style, the book that takes the mystery out of buying, wearing, and caring for vintage clothes. This is not about Victorian whites, poodle skirts, or boogie-woogie-bugle-boy outfits with peplums, seamed stockings, and snoods. It's about vintage clothes as a mainstream choice, and this fully illustrated book shows just how easily the fashions of yesteryear can be incorporated into a modern wardrobe.

Vintage Style tells you--and shows you--exactly how to get into vintage. It features more than one hundred specially commissioned photographs of thirty-six women (and one man) from all walks of life modeling classic vintage pieces as part of three different outfits--casual, workday, and evening. It is on these pages that one can truly see the extraordinary versatility of vintage clothing and also appreciate how to achieve that "edge" that only one-of-a-kind fashion can create. The "classics" section, shopping tips, and care suggestions that are included are full of helpful information for creating and maintaining a uniquely personal look.

All in all, Vintage Style is nothing short of a money-saving source guide and an inspirational blueprint for understanding how to wear vintage clothes with style.

Reviews (16)

Finally, a stylish vintage clothing book!
This is the vintage clothing book I've been waiting for. So many of them are mere catalogs in B&W showing dowdy clothes on dowdy models -- useful for figuring out prices and the age of the garment, but not much else. But with great photography and art direction and attractive real people, this book contains great ideas on how to actually incorporate vintage clothing in your wardrobe. One vintage article of clothing is shown being worn several different ways for each person, sometimes with other vintage items, sometimes with newer items. Hopefully this book will encourage others to appreciate what I've come to love about vintage clothing -- its versatility, its quality, its stylishness and its timelessness.

Misses the Mark
As an introduction, I am not a "fashion expert", or knowledgeable about vintage fashion to any depth. That said, I believe I have a good sense of style, and wanted to learn more. Almost every page of this book left me wishing for more; as I turned the pages I went from excitement [at seeing something new] to boredom [at another impracticable idea] to interested [there are many historical gems in this book] to unbelieving [at another picture/idea that looked completely wrong to me] to contented [sometimes short sections of the book just came together because the author has a very nice writing style].

Most of the book is a list of 37 clothing styles (36 for women, one for men, with examples of business, casual and evening variations for each) and most of these did not live up to their potential. Each style usually takes 5 pages to explain, with lots of pictures. For a non-expert like me, there was not enough explanation on what made each style different and appealing. Most of the pictures, rather than explaining and amplifying the style, were "fashion shoots" showing the owners in their clothes, posing in various stylish ways - the emphasis was on the person, not the garment. I would have appreciated more controlled pictures of the clothing, and close-ups showing its advantages. Many times the author says It's about "The linings, the detailing, the tailoring. It's about workmanship. It's about the way it fits and the way it moves." However, there is not one picture or one paragraph explaining any of these things for any of the 37 clothing styles!

For some odd reason, the author is stuck on the decades also. As other reviewers noted, most of the book is 1950's and later. Many times you will read: "In what decade was it made? What difference does it make?...", yet attached to each picture is a decade. More frustrating, there is very little explanation why one picture is "50's" and the one next to it is "70's". Some of her ideas just seem crazy or outlandish, like wearing shorts & pajamas in a conservative work environment. (You won't stand out as long as you wear your Chinese pajamas under a sport coat and match the colors in the Pucci shorts with your blouse!)

I appreciated that real people are wearing these clothes, and not the latest supermodel. For me, the best part of the book was the end with little vignettes on classic styles, vintage finds, & shopping. Again, most of the shopping section should be extra for anyone who reads the paper, shops at the mall, and has an idea of what garage sales and flea markets are all about (but for beginners there are a few additional bits of information in there).

After reading 37 examples of how everything can be acceptable anywhere, as long as you are stylish, you should feel encouraged to go out, buy something different and try it on. To critique this book, there should be much better books out there, for both beginners and vintage experts; however, this is one of my first books so I just don't know which ones they are.

Best book on the topic i've seen
tiffany dubin really knows her stuff and doesn't get too lofty for the average person who just wants to see what all this hype about vintage is about. she shows fun ways to mix and match your existing wardrobe with cool finds. this book is a perfect guidebook, fun to look at and has some amazing rescources as well as a fun group of what must be friends showing the clothing off. A+

Blurry Photos and Fuzzy Guidance
This was an ambitious project, by all means: over two hundred four-color pages and a jacket blurb that proclaims the book "nothing short of a money-saving source guide and an inspirational blueprint for understanding how to wear vintage clothing with style". Alas, Vintage Style fails on both counts. While some of the photographs display lovely vintage pieces--a terrific off-white Dior ensemble from the 50's, for example--the majority of these vintage-ensembles-as-mainstream-choices would draw unwanted stares at best, and embarrassing comments, at worst.

As for being a source guide, money-saving or otherwise, the book merely lists (on the final few pages) a handful of vintage dealers in each of the general regional areas of the United States, with the majority being in the New York and New England areas (surprise, surprise). The disclaimer states "A complete list would be impossible to compile". Apparently so: if you're a resident of The South, we're informed, there are only two vintage sellers of which the authors are aware: one in Miami and one in Atlanta. Well, that's news to us Southern girls! Furthermore, no price points are mentioned (these would help steer the vintage shopper to boutiques whose merchandise she could afford) and no information on the stores' areas of specialization (i.e. designers and eras represented) is given either.

Although there are plenty of color photographs, the majority are strangely styled and badly out-of-focus. A puzzling eight-part treatise on hacking up a (seemingly) perfectly good black lace dress with a pair of scissors concludes with the wearer looking less Comme des Garcons than extremely silly. And there is a disappointing shortage of accessory shots: don't those New Yorkers like vintage jewelry and handbbags as much as the rest of the nation?

Yes, you'll see some designer outfits shown on non-models in Vintage Style. But for about $37 less, you can flip through the society pages of W magazine and have a similar experience.

very disappointing
This book is really aimed at vintage fashion neophytes. For any one with more than a passing knowledge of vintage fashion save your money. As an aesthitic experience the book is great, lots of pretty pictures. However, there is nothing really of interest in the book. As a test if you know who courreges is do not buy this book, there is nothing here you don't already know. ... Read more

Book Description

This major new monograph stands as an important rediscovery of a small but central body of work in the career of one of the world's best known and beloved photographers. The Richard Avedonimages presented here, many for the first time, were made in Paris for "Harper's Bazaar" during the 1950s. What is particularly special about this presentation is that the images are being reproduced to the exact scale of the engraver's prints made for Avedon by the master printer Andre Gremola, and are uncropped, on their original mounts, with all of the artist's notations on both front and back. Thus, they provide a remarkable portrait of the working methods of one of the most influential fashion photographers in history. This oversized book, measuring 12 x15 inches,is being printed without compromise with tritone plates throughout, and will be a stunning object in its own right. With this body of work, which includes the photographer's iconographic "Dovima with Elephants, Cirque d'Hiver, 1955", Avedon broke radical new ground in the history of photography. He documented the moment in which postwar France was striving through fashion to reclaim its cultural eminence. Judith Thurman, fashion writer for "The New Yorker" contributes the book's introduction.Edition of 100.

"And if a day goes by without my doing something related to photography, it's as though I've neglected something essential to my existence, as though I had forgotten to wake up. I know that the accident of my being a photographer has made my life possible."-Richard Avedon

"(Avedon) is a passionate artist, always trying to climb inside his image. He gets there, too. It's a self-portrait in the eye of the beholder who is also, and so strenuously, beheld." -Thomas Hess

"Here, for instance, is all that I read in an Avedon photograph, the seven gifts it gives me: first of all, truth, the sensation of truth, the exclamation of truth; then character (pensivity, melancholy, severity, satisfaction, gaiety, etc.); then type (the politician, the writer, the executive); then Eros, a commitment, whether seductive or repulsive, to affect; then death, the corpse's vocation; then too the past, what has been caught, taken, can never come back again, can no longer be touched; lastly. . .lastly the seventh meaning, which is just the one which resists all the rest, the inexpressible supplement, the evidence that, within the image, there is always something else: the inexhaustible, the intractable element of Photography (desire?)." -Roland Barthes

Essay by Judith Thurman.

40 quadratone.

12 x 14.75 in. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is great stuff and freshly presented
Who gives a ding-dong if Avedon is mining his archives for book material. This stuff is great and I like the way it has been put together. It's a fun, loose design balanced by elegantly composed and seen photographs. Most of his books have been very clean from start to finish. That wouldn't be good for this project.
This work is wet and playful without losing all the good stuff. It's a fresh jelly donut with the perfect ratio of jelly to donut. At no point during the experience does it fall apart and there is goodness in every page. (...) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

BARBIE-FASHION ICON
Having met the author in Paris in the early nineties I can sincerely say that Billy Boy knows his subject well.He is an expert not only on Barbie but on Bleuette and various other fashion dolls.This book gives a fascinating account of Barbie's itineraries as fashion icon and pop phenomenon.It contains some very interesting photos of Barbie's best outfits from the late 50ies to the late 80ies as well as a great gallery of Barbie portraits dressed by every well known designer.Also,lots of information on Barbie family members.A must.

The book that launched a million Barbie collections.
Although more than a decade old, this book continues to fascinate me. Mattel owes a debt of gratitute to Billy Boy*, whose landmark coffee-table book inspired many, including myself, to start their own Barbie collections. I own three copies of this book, whose narrative is as fascinating as its photos (Twiggy and Malibu Christie are two of my favorite Barbie friends, and are given prominence in this book). The photography also captures the "fun" of Barbie, and are not merely dolls posed in a wire stand. "Great" says it all ...

Billy Boy puts down facts and visuals, all very good!
This book about one of the world's greatest doll really emphisises the fasion of Barbie. The photos are absolutly stunning; with shots of the original doll to the French, Italian, Brittish, and American designers to Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Chanel, etc! He covers all the fasions of the time periods, which starts from when she was first debuted to middle 80s, and especially mentions the Haute Couture. The history of Barbie is very good; I think out of all the books I read about her history, this one has the most, and also the most facts about things that you never really knew. It shows alot of things that weren't coresponded to Barbie and her fasions mainly; It has the Bild Lilli and Twiggy dolls (a brief page or two), old comics or books on her, and on a lot of pages, you will see someone who was famous back then, who he thinks the doll had some connection to (i.e., Brigette Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor, Kim Novak, Marilyn Monroe, Bettina, etc.). It covers the Barbies and accsessories, like Flirting Miss Barbie, the twist and turn era, Color Magic Barbie, Talking Barbie, and many of Barbie's pets. A very good book if you are intrested in knowing what actually made barbie famous and knowing her history and fasions.

A tribute from one of Barbie's most ardent admirers.
Most fans know Billy Boy as one of the "original" fashion designers who lent their skills to Barbie couture. Billy Boy was perhaps the most ardent admirer of the 11-1/2" fashion doll, and while his association with Mattel lasted for only two doll releases (1985's Le Nouveau Theatre de la Mode and her followup Feelin' Groovy), his tribute to the Fashion Queen Extraordinaire lives on in this book. If you are looking for a guide to identifying dolls or viewing a complete history of the most popular toy in the world, you'll be disappointed, but if you want a true tribute from one of her biggest fans loaded with pictures of one-of-a-kind dolls from the world's most well-known designers, then this is the book for you. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Fantastic Book !
If you want to know how to make shoes or just want to know how shoes are made this is the best book that you can buy. Every page has beautiful closeup color photographs. Just by looking at the photographs alone shows you how it is done and there are many, many, photographs showing you every stage in the process of hand making a pair of men's shoes.

Finally, a decent book on shoemaking
Information on shoemaking is getting difficult to find. I bought this book hoping I could learn how nice shoes are made. I was very pleased with what I learned from this book. One step further into the details, however, would have made this book the last word on the subject.

If you have a little imagination, however, it is not too hard to fill in the details. Actually, since the author is a very respected Hungarian shoemaker, I can imagine it being a difficult decision on where to draw the line between "details" and "wordiness." Do you have to talk about glue viscosity (he does) or glue recipes (he doesn't, "shop secrets"). Plenty of information is included and hundreds of excellent photos make it easy to imagine yourself right alongside a master craftsman.

Topics include:

* taking measurements
* anatomy
* shoe sizes
* history and making of lasts
* characteristics of different styles of men's dress shoes
* design of the pattern (the gist of it, anyway)
* leather tanning processes
* characteristics of different leathers
* clicking, brogueing, stitching and reinforcing of uppers
* lasting the shoe (stretching the upper around the last)
* lots of detail on tacking and stitching during the lasting process
* welting
* soling (including the shank and cork filler)
* building the heel
* ornamentation and finishing
* proper shoe care
* short bios on the greatest workshops in Europe and America

Needless to say, I learned alot. I had no idea top-end shoes use wooden pegs to hold the heels on or that broken glass and bones are common tools in the trade. This is a very nice addition to my library.

superb features on the world's most famous workshops
This book is about bespoke handmade shoes for men - but not about any of the major ready-made brands. The book presents a great introduction to the more than 200 steps from measuring your feet to the finished shoe. Chapters include taking size, making lasts, the different shoe styles, the different parts of the shoes and how to care for your custom-made shoes. The book also includes superb features on the world's most famous workshops including Lobb, Berluti and Vogel. The author Laszlo Vass is the owner of the well-known Vass shoe workshop in the center of Budapest, Hungary. If you are a shoe connaisseur or affictionado and also think that "elegance begins with shoes" then this book is the right choice for you.

Pretty good book
A 20th century "how to" in the manner of old-time works by Rees, Leno, Devlin , and so forth. This work examines first the history and basic technology of handmade shoemaking, with gorgeous photographs, and fairly clear text (particularly considering that it's a translation). It then takes a quick trot through the crème of the big-name shoemaking firms still in operation today, and concludes with a heartfelt tribute to shoemaking as an art form. As an overview of the trade, this work is more than adequate, although for someone not engrossed in the topic, the jumping back and forth between topics can be a little distracting. The author's knowledge of shoemaking history is fairly standard, with many of the traditional old shoemaking chestnuts reappearing here. The author's discussion of techniques is a trifle problematical, in that he does not indicate the universality of the techniques and tools (for example, not all handmade shoemakers use needles or wax made by the recipe shown) - but this is a common failing in shoemaking texts,and certainly nothing to count against the text. Having gotten down this far, you are likely wondering why I gave the book this high a marking if I was this critical of it - it's the pictures. The text could be gibberish and the pictures would make it worth the price. The text is pretty good, which makes it more than worth the price.

Solid information on handmade men's shoes
This is an excellent primer. I would fault it only for too little on styles and their place in the well dressed man's wardrobe and for leaving out Roman Vaingauz at Vincent and Edgar in New York City, very probably the premier shoemaker of our time. Professional jealousy? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Any master stylist who encourages women to do less rather than more, tosimplify their wardrobes, to carry only a few essential cosmetics, and to takecatnaps in the summer has mastered the feminine psyche. FrédéricFekkai, a native of Aix-en-Provence, is stylist to some of the world's mostbeautiful women (Liv Tyler, Brooke Shields, et al.), as well as the founder ofeponymous salons in New York City and Beverly Hills and creator of a line ofhair- and skin-care products, fragrances, and accessories. He understands thatmany American women are frustrated by unpretty trendiness and conflicting adviceabout glamour, that they want a simpler, more timeless approach to finding theirown elegance. "Style," Fekkai writes, "is not about age, or height, orweight--it's about a sense of ease, a sense of dignity, and a sense ofindividuality shining through."

Drawing largely on the effortless allure of the women of Aix, Fekkai'sfoundation for A Year of Style is a month-by-month guide to simplebeauty, with themes like "Energize" in February and "Romance" in June. Fekkaidabs in seasonal snippets: how to wear "sexy accessories" in May, how to choosetoenail polish in July, how to relax while getting dressed for a holiday gala inDecember. His touches of beauty advice cover all the basics: the differencesamong hair spray, gel, and mousse; the best way to apply concealer; the perfecthome blow-dry for a finished salon look. Daily sidebars add a whimsicaltone--send vintage postcards, buy brightly colored toothbrushes, rent a sportyred convertible for the weekend--as well as beauty and style tips.

A Year of Style is both cool (you'll learn how to sip a citronpresse) and refreshingly down-to-earth ("I have seen women subjectthemselves to too-often-repeated peels. Their skin becomes so shiny, they lookshrink-wrapped.") Needless to say, this is a flawlessly designed book, from thetypography and layout to the hundreds of photographs--chic, natural, andelegant--that perfectly showcase Fekkai's style. It's a book that's hard to putdown, because it's as much about personal style and sophistication as it isabout clothes and hair. Perhaps more than that, it's spirited, accessible, andjust plain fun. --Rebecca Taylor ... Read more

Reviews (33)

fabuleux!
Combining simple and natural ideas with stunning photography, Frederic Fekkai has captured the essence of French Stylings.

With ideas for each month and season, and more "specific" daily ideas, A Year in Style truly offers a year of ideas on how to become chic, stylish and live simply.

There are a lot of make-up and hair suggestions without mentioning products, which I find useful. I don't like a book to sound like one big advertisement and this doesn't - despite the fact Frederic Fekkai owns two salons and sells a hair care line.

His suggestions are more about living in style than obessing with style. It encourages one to relax about beauty and embrace their own inner style. I love that about this book; it's not about conforming which is why this book could only be written by a Frenchman.

A cheerful way to incorporate style
While some of Fekkai's suggestions for incorporating style, i.e.,(jetting off to the Riviera) are out of reach for most American women, many other tips are perfectly accesible. I enjoyed this book immensely, it offers delightful suggestions for making one's life more stylish and pleasurable. Some people may feel this book is geared only for the ultra rich, but I disagree. What is so out of reach about making hot chocolate the French way (without instant powder),wearing a sun hat, or not being a slave to the fashion magazines each season? If anything, Fekkai encourages women to be confident and to shed a lot of unncessary and expensive trappings that only serve to make them look cheap (excessive gold jewelry, overbleached hair, Lee Press-On Nails, etc.) This book is an excellent tool for any woman wanting to look more effortlessly chic. It can even be inspirational to women who are mothers, after all, millions of French mothers who are not heiresses manage to leave their homes each day looking polished and chic. With this book, you simply have to be selective and incorporate style in accordance with your pocketbook and time. So what if you can't visit a European spa for a facial. Make your own facial with chamomile leaves and steaming water! The book addresses the needs of both elite and working class women. It is a wonderful read and I know I will keep referring to it. This book would make an excellent gift to yourself or a loved one.

A calming voice
It's clear why Frederic Fekkai is successful: he has a well defined point of view of what he likes, and why he likes it. For instance, daytime watches do not work for evening wear, people who talk incessantly on phones are not very sexy, that before the age of five, children should not be subjected to the barber or hairdresser, and that too much skin or cleavage shown on your wedding day is simply wrong.

Before you think of him as just a tyrant, think again.... how many people in this time have completely forgotten their manners, or that simplicity works best, and instead waste hours chasing an elusive and ephemeral ideal? Frederic Fekkai, in fact challenges the whole 'race to be beautiful' in a manner that is calming, wise, and friendly.

This is a lavish book. Thick pages, beautifully photographed, and there IS something nice about being reminded to clip flowers for the house, to take time to give yourself a pedicure, and to take time for your children. Once you finish this book, you'll think of him as a cross between Audrey Hepburn, Erma Bombeck and Letitia Baldridge...... and a wise friend.

The best $25 I ever spent!
Don't be fooled by the simplicity of the suggestions! When I first read this book, I thought it was nothing more than a coffee table book full of musings. But then I tried some of the suggestions, and the results were amazing. For example, the french olive oil soap he suggested cleared up a skin problem I've had my entire life (I couldn't even get rid of it with antibiotics), and made my skin very soft.

Also, his method of blow drying hair works much better than mine. I do it all the time now, with great results.

I've tried the makeup and fashion ideas, and received a lot of compliments.

The ideas in this book might be obvious to people who already look great, but for clueless people like me, it's perfect!

La Dolce Vita
A fun book, full of colour, beauty-made-simple and the good life. I wish I had time and money to live in-between the pages. Fekkai's lust for life springs from every page. The photos are beautiful, some delicious easy-to-prepare recipes and something to share with your girl-friends.
Just do it! ... Read more

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Terrific
Great book for anybody interested in Penn's wor ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (37)

The Bible for Natural Haircare
If you are trying to decide what natural style to wear? Should you loc? How much maintenance natural haircare will be, or just plain confused about natural haircare, this is the book to have. Tulani's African-American Womens Guide To Natural Hair Care is a wonderful tool.

In this book I learnt what is the best PH balance for our hair, why my hair might be dry or flaky. Tulani explains how you can make herbal and fruit conditioners from your own kitchen.

Sisterlocks, Flat Twist, two-strand twist, palm roll twist, Comb Coiling, and just about every thing on braid extension and hair wrappings can be found in "No Lye". And those of you looking for the "Root of it all" that's chapter 1, understanding our hair and the composition of it.

Tulani mentions in the book and I quote" Eventually your status as an "educated consumer" will have an impact upon the product manufacturer's research and development process. You will move aeway from products that are popular or familiar, toward products that you know will satisfy your hair's biochemical needs"

I only have one more thing to say this is not a book to be without.

Great Pics and Good Infomation
Tulani has done an excellent job of putting together the much needed info for caring for natural, chemical free, hair. Why there are so few books on the subject is a mystery to me given the health ramifications involved with continuously using caustic chemicals on ones scalp. But, the need to "fit in" is greater than the need for a healthy life. Well I am finally brave enough and secure in my own heart to know that whatever God gave me is what I have and if it sticks straight up then it sticks straight up. I use this book as a reference guide along with Pamela Ferrell and Lonnice Bonner's books. It helps to re-read some of the sections when you are staring in the mirror with a head full of nappy hair and thinking why oh why don't I just get a perm. Whenever I feel the urge to take that road I read one of my reference guides. Not only for the how to info but the moral support as well. My hair is now 6 to 7 inches and growing like crazy. In other words it quit breaking off and I think that the longer it gets the easier it will be to manage. I look forward to the day I can easily wear buns and do single braids. This isn't far off but until this time I will deal with the twisting and braiding while I wait for a few more inches to grow.

very good, ten stars rather than five stars.
I LIKE THIS BOOK VERY MUCH.
However,there is one scientific error in this book,at the beginning to do with the chemical make up of hair....I am not at home and I can't quote it from memory.
This book could still be more informative....
This book is like having group therapy or interviewing other women,but it is not all black women's views.
I am reviewng it because I think it is worth a read.

As you may or may not know African coily hair is quite unique in vision, texture, behaviour and probably in chemical make up too. Coily haired women around the world, go to the most extremes in terms of spending.
(Spending time, spending pain and the spending price to have African coily hair styled)
A hairstyle that we believe looks good or will help us to become socially and economically advanced.
Or maybe for our own self-esteem and maybe to attract the charms of a love interest.
Either way, psychologically and philosophically I believe that your hair is a reflection of the state of your consciousness, your internal beliefs and your relationship with the world.
What about exploring physics through african hair?
For example how much pressure, gravity and tension and tearing do we put our hair through by combing it?
let alone excessive harsh combing.
Mathematically speaking how many of you readers can tell me how many curls/coils per inch your hair has, and does it vary in coil and moisture?
Next question:When does the nature of the hair change and why?
(i know it does!)
It seems to me all these books on afro hair are good and I welcome it, but we still need to be more informed and they all seem to need better editing, just like Black American beauty magazines.I must campaign for better grammar and less air brushed photos!!!
It is as if we like to see ourselves falsely rather than the reality of what we are...
Black women need to demand more scientific reasoning from our books and be less competitive over black men which only fuels their egos and as a result probably creates more baby-mothers!!!
Sorry but I had to vent out my opinions.

I maintain that this book is still worth reading,more than any carcinogenic chemical so called hair treatment that you pay for.

Anyway what do I know I am a black african british woman!!!!
Most of you Americans think we in Britain have no trains or any kind of progressive development!!!
Anyway if I wrote my book answering my questions that I recently put to you, how many of you would buy it?

Excellent Book
I have several copies of this book! I give it as gifts and everything -- it's absolutely excellent, and here's the reason: The author explains in easy-to-understand, layperson's terms not only how to care for and style natural hair, but how to care for and style hair while it's IN TRANSITION from being treated with chemicals to being chemical free! It also gives a list of the lifestyle and dietary changes that complement healthy hair, whether it's natural, permed, straightened/pressed, etc. It has so much information and is so easy to read that I've given it as a gift to sisters who refuse to go natural, just to give them some tips on how to eat, care for their hair, etc. Again, it's an EXCELLENT BOOK.

Excellent
This book has greatly helped me to get started on the right foot on my journey to healthy, natural hair. The book's strength is Ms. Kinard's thorough review of hair structure and honesty about the products we incorrectly use. Its minor weakness is its limited number of natural style photos that one can wear to the corporate office. Buy this book to keep in your personal library as reference. I wish every natural hair care professional would seek out her expertise. ... Read more

Book Description

The most important, comprehensive, and sumptuously illustrated addition to the literature of quilting since Quilts in America. Most of the book's 250 stunning full-color quilts have never before been published. With them as a reference, Kiracofe shows us how to read a vocabulary of fabrics, dyes, patterns, and other clues to put quilts in their social and cultural context. Full-color photographs. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

For quilt enthusiasts and collectors--a valuable volume
The quilt, as a craft, is a well-explored area for authors. Quilting, you needn't be told, is enjoying a huge popularity with television shows, websites and shops for fabrics in almost every town. Even a friend of mine in a small village in the Black Forest of Germany quilts enthusiastically and wanted to visit American quilt shops on her first trip to the USA.

If you are a quilt lover, you can profit by reading author Kiracofe's examination of quilts, from a study of fabrics and dyes, to the change in pattern popularity over time. For example, postage-stamp quilts, or quilts made of the tiniest squares, were in vogue as a sort of stunt or show of skill.

African American quilts are an important part of quilt history and have unique and very characteristic design as well as marking the course of history from slavery to freedom. The Baltimore area, near where I live, is known for a style of applique quilt that bears the name of the city. I myself own a quilt from Kentucky that I now believe dates to the 1930's; I was able to research more about the type of print used in the fabric by reading this book.

This book is beautifully photographed and rich in historical detail. If you know a quilter or if you are a quilt enthusiast yourself, this volume will not only delight but prove useful in research and education.

Splendid, exquisite, the best quilt book....
This book was given to me as a gift.How fortunate that I had such a friend!The most beautiful quilt book, the best selection of quilts, the best range, the best details, the best photography, the best printing, and comprehensive scholarship text to boot (I just can't get past the pictures).Includes some familiar quilts, but also many, many, many wonderful ones not seen elsewhere.I have a wall of 25 years of well-loved quilt books and I rate this at the top.Splendid.Exquisite.Be so fortunate.

Worth the price!
If I could own only one book on the quilting history of United States this would be it. Yes, it costs more, but it is worth every penny.The quintissential source of American quilt history. Ask for this one for Christmas.

An informative book of importance
This is a book that completes a well planned study and demonstration of the impact regarding quiltsin our American heritage.The overviews in each chapter are written in an easy to read yet highly intelligent fashion, with a fabulous array of photographs to document each junture of North America's quilting heritage. There are many fascinating paths of interest that take one off of the beaten path, and into other domains of history, spanning 200 years of society, tradition and data concerning work, love, and the pure romance of this subject. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the first book to focus exclusively on the work of fashion designer Ossie Clark (1942-1996), a key figure in the style and fashion worlds of London in the swinging '60s. Clark created jumpsuits for Mick Jagger, silk dresses for Bianca Jagger, and snakeskin out?ts for Eartha Kitt, and is the subject of a famous portrait by David Hockney. The fusion of his brilliant cutting with the extraordinary prints created by his wife, textile designer Celia Birtwell, resulted in designs that paid witty homage to Art Deco and Hollywood glamour.

Author Judith Watt has interviewed models, friends, and colleagues from the 1960s-and has unearthed exclusive audio archives featuring Ossie Clark himself-to create this unprecedented portrait of a major figure in modern fashion. The illustrations include Vogue fashion shoots (including images by such famous photographers as David Bailey), portraits, documentary photographs, wonderful unpublished sketches owned by Birtwell, and stunning new photographs of iconic outfits.

Published to accompany a major retrospective exhibition, this book will bring new admirers to the work of a man whose continuing influence can be seen in the work of John Galliano, Gucci, Prada, and other major designers. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

this book is a must-have for any designer
beautiful patterns/ clothes/ sketches. great book. buy it, it's one of my fav's this year. ... Read more

Book Description

The leather motorcycle jacket is so much more than a coat; it's a mentality. Beginning in the early twentieth century, airplanes, automobiles, and motorcycles redefined freedom, idealized speed, and captured the hearts of men and women alike. The leather jackets developed to protect pilots, racers, and motorists from the elements came to symbolize a romantic sense of rugged adventure. In particular, motorcycle jackets maintained this ideal for decades to come. The first of its kind, this beautiful book traces the evolution of the motorcycle jacket over the past century. Hundreds of jackets and accessories from dozens of leather companies past and present are featured in over 1,000 rich color photos--with careful attention to details, original catalog pages, and full pricing information. Surrounding the jackets is a fascinating array of historical photos that capture the motorcycle culture and will make any enthusiast swoon. ... Read more

Book Description

Knitting has made a thoroughly modern comeback, and Hollywood designer Suss Cousins is leading the way. Suss has invented a new vocabulary of an old art, and in the process developed a passionate following of young, hip knitters, including some of Hollywood's hottest stars: Rose McGowan, Julia Sweeney, Laurence Fishburne, and Bill Cosby among them.

Bringing her ideas to a book for the first time, Suss invites knitters new and accomplished to make offbeat and colorful projects that are both elegant and wearable. Thirty projects with complete step-by-step instructions and illustrations are featured in Hollywood Knits, happily modeled by icons of Hollywood chic, such as Julianne Moore and Chanel model Kirsty Hume. Hollywood Knits closes with a resource guide that lists where you can buy quality yarns and Suss designs nationwide. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

great eye for design
I loved this book the moment i saw it at the store. I'm new to knitting and I dont think the designs are too easy, in fact I love how everything is a variation on simple shapes. It suits the type of knitter I am: someone who has little time and patience for complicated patterns but still wants something that looks elegant and chic. I love the fact that none of the patterns contain cables or fair isle designs as they complicated and look too "busy". If I would never buy something why spend time and money to make it. I care about the end result just as much as the process. I love how suss uses the yarn as inspiration to create something because that is what attracts me to knitting: the yarns. my favorite designs are the ones for baby stuff and the hand bags as well as the ski cap and nubby scarf and hat. I dont necessarily agree that knitting them in the round is better but that is just me, in fact all of her designs use only a range of 4 needle sizes so you dont need to go buy a million different types of needles such as circular and double pointed

ok some nitpicks now: even though I would never use her instructions on learning to knit, i found it odd that she didnt include instructions to cast off. The gorgeous blanket doesn't specify how to keep 125 cast on stitches on a standared size needle. (perhaps a suggestion on how long the needle should be?). and of course the sizing of the sweaters.

otherwise a great book for inspiration on designing your own stuff. also great coffee table book because of the celebs and pictures and good source of funky boutique style patterns

Plenty of inspiration, lack of instructions
I really really wanted to love this book. I thought it would be the only book I needed because of all its great patterns. It was my first knitting book and (oh joy) I wanted to make each and every project! However, I quickly learned it would be difficult to seam using these instructions. If I followed her seaming directions, I would never achieve the same professional look and quality of the items in the pictures.

In summary...

Pros: Suss Cousins is such a talented designer. Her knitting designs are beautiful and unique. The photographs really inspire you to create. It also makes a great coffee table book with all the pictures and stories of celebrities who knit.

Cons: The author does not go into enough detail regarding finishing and other techniques that would drastically improve the quality of the finished project. Also, the glossary is not very helpful.

Good with the Bad
I fell in love with the pictures in this book, as I love simple, bold designs. It's a great inspiration for me. That said, it can also be highly annoying to read and work with. The name-dropping is intrusive after the first page or so. Also, the sizes are INCREDIBLY small. Suss' "large" is listed in the X-Small category of standard women's sizes! Unless the reader is willing to do all the math to alter what are, essentially, good designs, I wouldn't recommend this book for beginners.

Dreadful Disapointment
The projects are wonderful to look at, but unless you are a "hot" knitter who can adjust your patterns on the fly steer clear. If you must knit one of her patterns KNIT A GUAGE and then KNIT IT AGAIN. If you are looking for a wonderful intermediate pattern book try Weekend Knits or the Stich n' Bitch book, if you want a nice coffee table knitting book by all means spend go for it.

pretty pictures, lousy book
i picked up this book because of the good photos of the projects. after i started reading it, i found that the sizing on every project is TINY. movie stars and teenage girls may be 36"-busts or smaller, but real women have curves and need larger sizes on sweaters. took the book back to borders and got a refund. thanks to other reviewers here for also pointing out the many errors in the instructions. nothing like spending 80 bucks on yarn only to find that the steps are flawed. ... Read more

Book Description

While the Star Wars saga is famous for its elaborate sets and for revolutionary visual effects, it also features some of the most unique and ornate costumes in modern film. In this exquisite volume, the intricate and beautiful fashions that have appeared in all six Star Wars films are on display-from military gear to royal gowns and the iconic garbs of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. Every costume is brilliantly displayed in intimate detail, from preproduction sketches to the final creations. Actors, including Natalie Portman and Samuel L. Jackson, provide commentary on their experiences during principal photography, while writer-director George Lucas and producer Rick McCallum contribute their thoughts on this exploration of Star Wars costume design. Accompanied by an exhibition at the The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) Museum & Galleries at FIDM in Los Angeles, this unique visual treat is a must-have for any Star Wars fan. An additional limited-edition run of this book will be released with lavish gatefolds, fabric swatches, and a cast replica of a Wookiee belt-buckle, sure to be the ultimate Star Wars collectible. ... Read more

Book Description

Complete republication of rare 1942 catalog showcases goods of premier manufacturer: finely tooled saddles, Stetson hats, silver spurs, cowhide chaps, boots, leather riding suits, much more. Complete data on price, color, size, etc. 650 illustrations. Superb resource for collectors, western buffs, artists looking for Western graphic art. New Introduction.
... Read more