 A neat little guide book... |
| Review Date: November 12, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Judy Smith, jamestown, ky United States |
The cover on this book is so neat, it reminds you of bygone times which fits right in with the subject matter. The author tells you how to tell what's vintage and what's pure trash (like polyester outfits). She goes into the quality of clothes of the past and tells how they were made to fit each individual versus small, medium and large now. A lot of old pictures of clothes and lots of tips where to shop...such as junk shops, vintage clothing stores in malls as well as online, flea markets, etc.
She even tells the reasons why older clothes were better made than today, like the thread quality, etc. She also covers how to remove like rust stains and ink from clothes so if you do find a great outfit but it needs work, then this book may help you revive that outfit! If you are into vintage clothing...wearing or selling, you will find this an invaluable guide and it's small enough to fit in your purse.
If you think you know the value of vintage clothes then google vintage clothing shops. There are a staggering number of them. This book prepares you with information on what to look for, how much to pay, and what to check for, the different designer names, etc. |
cute little guide to the world of vintage clothing
|
| Review Date: November 11, 2009 |
| Reviewer: bOoKwOrM, usa |
First of all, the design of the book is adorable! The cover looks and feels like fabric, and the lettering on it looks like stitching. ;)
It was pretty cool to learn that the author is a vintage shop owner, so she knows what she's talking about in this guide. This book helps you to understand exactly what 'vintage' means, and I appreciated that the book devoted whole sections to things like figuring out how vintage clothing sizes differ from modern ones. Yeah, and there's even a section on how to clean your vintage purchases. Yay. Also,for someone unfamiliar with fashion terminology, Fortier devotes some time to talking about the differences between things like "haute couture" and "budget designer" clothing pieces. Pages 182-185 are a listing of some sources of vintage clothes. It's not an exhaustive list, but a good start to your 'hunt'. These were my favorite sections of Fortier's book.
If there is one drawback to "The Little Guide to Vintage Shopping", then it would probably be the simplicity and brevity. As a vintage newbie, I appreciated the brevity of the book's scope and clearness of Fortier's writing, but more seasoned vintage shoppers might find that this book is not enough for them.
|
Full of information
|
| Review Date: November 18, 2009 |
| Reviewer: T. Casto, Kaiserslautern Germany |
| I have been fascinated by vintage fashions from the 1930s since my early teens. I used to visit little shops around town and just admire the craftsmanship and cuts of all the dresses. Unless it was labeled or the silhouette was distinctive, I sometimes had a hard time knowing what era the clothes I was looking at were from. This book is a true gem. I can't wait to go to some more shops and browse again with all the new knowledge I have of popular fabrics and prints from each decade. I loved the index of good stores in the back for all over the US and the world. It will definitely come in handy as I travel quite a bit. I appreciate the estimated prices ranges vintage items will go for that they included. Sometimes it's hard to know if you're overpaying or if the price is right on. Great book. Thanks! |
Cute, comprehensive vintage guide for newbies
|
| Review Date: December 22, 2009 |
| Reviewer: M. Mills, East Coast, USA |
Vintage dealer Melody Fortier has written a handy little reference guide to finding, buying, and storing vintage clothing. The book itself is adorable -- about 5" x 7" with 190 pages -- and has a textured jacket. Despite its small size, it's a practical, comprehensive resource on all things vintage, from sizing to pricing, from materials to care and storage. This book would make a charming gift for fashionistas wanting to learn more about the vintage trade.
Fortier begins with quick but thorough review of commonly used terms of the trade and describes the main categories of vintage clothing (haute couture vs. better designer vs. tailor made). She deftly tackles sizing and craftsmanship issues, which at first seem daunting to newbies but is easily decoded. The sizing chapter describes how to take your own measurements; it also explains the cut and fit of each decade's most popular styles. The pricing chapter discusses quality, labels, and designers, and actually includes a price-comparison table with actual prices ranges. All of these tools will help you find the vintage pieces that most flatter you -- and get them at a price that's fair.
I most loved the chapter on Styles of the Times, which details the clothing and accessories from the early 1900s through the 1990s and includes a visual timeline of fashion silhouettes -- so fascinating! It's like a mini history lesson on fashion, complete with pictures, as told by your best girlfriend. I also enjoyed the chapter on date approximation (cleverly titled "Dating Games") because of its practical advice: Fortier tells you exactly what to look for -- tags, buttons, zippers, seams, linings, fabrics -- so that you can accurately date a piece, thus giving you more purchasing power.
Once you've purchased your vintage item, you need to know how to care for it. Fortier describes how to clean, press, and store your treasured vintage items. The book closes with a chapter on alterations and repurposing -- when (and how) to alter a garment yourself, when to have a tailor do it, and when not to do it at all.
The photos, which adorn nearly every page, are fantastic -- so rich, so detailed, you feel like you could reach through the page and touch the fabric. The book also includes a comprehensive topical index, a cursory listing of brick-and-mortar vintage shops (listed by state), and a brief discussion of online vintage shops. Highly recommended for the vintage newcomer and those interested in fashion history! |
A delightful little book with something for everybody!
|
| Review Date: November 5, 2009 |
| Reviewer: A. M. Cook, |
This book is a fun & easy read, primarily a basic guide for the beginning vintage shopper, but with tips and hints that everyone can find useful! It is NOT meant to be an in-depth reference book for experienced collectors, but serves as a perfect jumping-off point for those who wish to expand their knowledge of vintage fashion--or simply to use as a guide to take with you to auctions and estate sales, antique malls, thrift shops, or even just local yard sales. The explanations of labels and pricing are very useful, as are the overviews of styles of the eras, construction & fit, cleaning, and sizing. I have been collecting and wearing vintage apparel for more than 20 years, and found some very useful tips, particularly on hat restoration (a small section, but full of great information). As to those who find fault with the number of shops and online sites, it would simply be impossible to keep a little guide little if the author were to include the myriad of brick & mortar stores and online shops out there today. One could write a book strictly on that, and it would exceed the number of pages in this book....
Both those new to vintage and old hands at shopping for and wearing it will find useful information in this great little guide! |
|
No details are available for this product
No video reviews found for this product.
Tags: 
