Tag: fashion

bob mackie cover

Hollywood Glamour

Celebrity Gossip and Advice Leave a comment

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.

Continue reading
dressing smart

Smart Dressing

Ladies only!, Looking Good 11 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.

Continue reading
Always in Style cover

Always in Style

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…

Continue reading
color wonderful

Color Yourself

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.

Continue reading
classic quilted vests

Fashionable Quilted Vests

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

Continue reading
Sewing Casual Clothes cover

Sewing Casual Clothes

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.

Continue reading
sweatshirts remix

Let sweatshirts be sweatshirts!

Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 12 comments

Sweatshirt Remix: Transform Ordinary Sweatshirts Into Extraordinary Fashions
Quartermain
2009

I know I have griped and whined about sweatshirt fashion. Remember this post? Or how about this one?

Can we be done with trying to make sweatshirts more than just a sweatshirt? The beauty of the sweatshirt is comfort. Sweatshirts are supposed to be warm, comfortable, and what one wears to the gym, to do laundry, or when you are retreating from life. It is not cocktail attire, professional attire, or a “fashion choice”.

Continue reading