fashion Archives - Awful Library Books

Timeless Fashion

August 19, 2020 Mary Kelly Be Pretty 7 comments

Woman Style
Your Personal Guide to Timeless Fashion
Feldon
1979

Have some Womanstyle, circa 1979. It’s timeless assuming time stops in 1985. The book itself is a basic fashion planning guide. It has all the info on fabrics, style, wardrobe planning, etc. The photography is something else. Soft focus seems to be the photographer’s favorite look for some pictures. Also, since it is about fashion, some of the pictures are not good at showing off the actual clothes.

I was in college at the time of this book and the basic wardrobe was jeans and a t-shirt. Cowl neck sweaters were a thing, but I think that is as far as my friends and I ventured for fashion in the late 1970s. I would have been all over the final picture of the boots and skirt. As you peruse the choices, I better warn you of the picture of the highly decorated reddish/pink room. (ALB is not responsible for any trauma related to looking at this picture.)

Career Style!

April 30, 2020 Mary Kelly Be Pretty 14 comments

Looks That Work Wallach 1986 Time for a working wardrobe circa mid 1980s. This book has a few themes for that gal on the go. First, we have role models: Nancy Reagan, Elizabeth Dole, and a few more. It’s all

Hollywood Glamour

April 8, 2020 Mary Kelly Celebrity Gossip and Advice 7 comments

Dressing for Glamour
Mackie
1979

Bob Mackie was THE designer for Hollywood glamour back in the 1960s and 70s. His roster of clients was just about everyone in Hollywood, notably: Carol Burnett, Cher, Liza Minelli, and Diana Ross. If the event or show required fashionable bling, Mackie was the guy. I was a HUGE fan of The Carol Burnett show, even into my cynical teen years, and I believe Bob Mackie was the first designer name I actually recognized.

This book was in pretty decent shape for as old as it was. Even with its age, I think it does have a place in a deep fashion/costuming/performing arts collection. This is one of those books that might work in some public libraries and not in others. If you are a student of fashion or costume designer, Mackie is the king.

Smart Dressing

March 30, 2020 Mary Kelly Ladies only!, Looking Good 13 comments

The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Style
Dressing Smart
Satron
1990

For all those ladies that are now liberated, you need to dress the part of the powerful woman executive. This book has got your back. Filled with career profiles and style advice, you can now look the successful woman you want to be. Shoulder pads are optional.

Aside from the dated fashion, I will give this book props for trying for a more realistic set up when it comes to style. They do feature actual career/professional women wearing their particular style. The featured executives are all sporting fashion that is appropriate for the profession. Maybe this is sort of a “dress for the job you want” type of book. This book features only executive level positions. Those in the middle or at the bottom rungs won’t find much help here.

Always in Style

March 16, 2020 Holly Be Pretty 6 comments

Always in Style with Color Me Beautiful
Pooser
1985

Submitter: Not sure which is more awful … that this book is still available at a library in our system or that one of my patrons requested it.

Holly: I think the “always” in the title is stretching it a bit! This book – this 1985 edition – is available at NINE libraries in Michigan. Whyyyyy?

The lady on the cover doesn’t actually look too bad, but I wonder what horrors await inside this thing? Anyone want to share some internal pics? (We’ll update the post if you do!) Also, I’m generally a fashion “don’t,” so don’t take my word for it that she doesn’t look bad…

Color Yourself

March 5, 2020 Mary Kelly Be Pretty 11 comments

Color Wonderful
Nicholson and Lewis-Crum
1986

This book is your basic 1980s flashback. Note the big hair and the blue eye shadow. One of the chapters is about “gentle” coloring, I am going to go out on a limb and say this doesn’t look too gentle. This particular book was sent to the bindery in the early 1990s. Obviously, we need to preserve those excellent hair and make-up examples from the 1980s.

Having one’s colors done by a “pro” was quite the trend. I never did figure out what season I was. We have posted some examples in the past. We will just add this to the pile.

Fashionable Quilted Vests

January 16, 2020 Mary Kelly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 11 comments

Classic Quilted Vests
Fons and Porter
1982

I am a fan of quilting and although I lack real skills, I can appreciate the skills and would love to make a quilt with any of these patterns. However, I just don’t want to WEAR a blanket as a fashion statement. In terms a fashion, these quilts are just a step above the sweatshirt makeovers we have featured all the time on this site. In fact, how about the combo of sweatshirts AND and quilting?

I am impressed with the skills. I just wish they had used their quilting skills for good rather than evil.

Mary

Sewing Casual Clothes

December 12, 2019 Holly Looking Good 11 comments

Better Homes and Gardens: Sewing Casual Clothes
1966

Submitter: My library holds an annual new book drive where we work with a local group who feed k-12 kids in food-insecure situations to provide a (hopefully) brand-new book to each kid over the winter break along with enough food to last them until school starts again. Unfortunately, sometimes we get donations that are weeded from other libraries, including this gem. I can’t imagine any current teenagers wearing any of this. For that matter, no one of my generation would have worn any of this either, and I’m getting old.

Holly: A book drive is not an opportunity to clean out your basement, people. Have a heart.