This lavishly illustrated chronicle of American women’s fashions examines relationships between the mass-market ready-to-wear industry, fashion journalism, and fashion advertising. Throughout the twentieth century, these industries fueled one another’s successes by identifying an ever-widening consumer class and fanning the desire to be fashionable. Daniel Hill employs a wealth of primary source material to document not only this... more...

Two hot trends combine in one classic collection: the popular poncho and the hip craft of crochet. And these 33 designs take the versatile wardrobe staple to new heights of sophistication: they feature a range of neckline and hem variations, and come in a variety of yarns, including novelty types like ribbon, faux suede, and fur. Some are long, others short; some are dressy, others just made for a fancy night on the town. And the majority are one size... more...

Some people have the ability to start a conversation and immediately draw people in, while others -- perhaps even those with more valuable things to say -- get pushed to the side, seemingly ignored. Unfortunately for those who don't have "It," this undeniable "It" factor is more than just an attractive quality, it's also a hallmark of success.A practical and entertaining guide that will help anyone supercharge their communication skills and... more...

This profusely illustrated primer in pattern making is great for creating fashionable clothing as well as pretty necklines, pockets, and sleeves. Nationally acclaimed sewing expert Adele Margolis provides simple, step-by-step directions and more than 1,000 illustrations for making clothes for work, home, and play — everything from stylish skirts, dresses, and jackets to children's clothing.

Classic styles that men love to wearThe book presents twenty original knitting projects for men's sweaters and accessories. Included will be a variety of sweaters and vests and a few accessories, like hats, mittens, scarves and slippers.It will include classic masculine styles (Nordic, cables, ribs, stripes) made modern through color and yarn selection. The designs will be contemporary - sweaters and accessories that men will want to wear. The yarns... more...

A Modern Guide to Vintage   Vintage clothing offers couture quality at a fraction of the price. But how can you spot a Dior original in a rack stuffed with Little Black Dresses? Vintage-clothing dealer Melody Fortier demystifies the entire process so you’ll know just what to look for, what to avoid, and what to pay. The Little Guide to Vintage Shopping shares insider tips for evaluating quality, selecting problem-free pieces, ensuring the... more...

Coinciding with the "Sailor Chic" exhibition at the National Maritime Museum (NMM), this book explores naval identity, contemporary fashion, and masculinity in three essays and features newly commissioned art that fully illustrates the NMM’s uniform collection. Personal papers, diaries, fiction and other period artifacts combine with the images to demonstrate the significance of male fashion and uniform in forging a national, hierarchical, gendered... more...

"Luxury is a necessity that begins where necessity ends." These words, spoken by Gabrielle Coco Chanel in the early twentieth century, remain as true as ever in our current society. Luxury fashion has seeped into every sphere of our consumer society. It has become the norm to aspire towards attaining the delectable goods of brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Dior. This desire is further heightened by the fact that... more...

A superb reference book and an ideal instructional textbook for classroom use, this beautifully illustrated guide is organized into units that reflect required courses at leading design colleges. Twenty step-by-step exercises cover methods of finding inspiration, developing observation techniques, and creating fashion drawings in both color and black-and-white media. Separate sections are devoted to getting started and understanding figure proportions,... more...

Professional Sewing Techniques for Designers is a modern, colorful, and up-to-date sewing guide that teaches fashion design students the construction skills they'll need to execute their original designs in a professional environment. Each chapter covers a particular theme such as seams, collars, and zippers and reflects the order of assembly of any garment, offering many insights into techniques appropriate to varying levels of proficiency. Based on... more...