The story of tweed is tied to a series of social, economic and cultural shifts that have molded its development. This book considers the historical factors that helped to shape the design characteristics and social meanings of the group of fabrics that we call tweed, from their emergence in the 1820s to the present day. Including significant new research on tweeds, from Harris Tweed to the type used by Chanel, this book follows the history of these fabrics from the raw fiber to the finished garment in men's and women's fashion. Exploring rural and urban contexts, this book reveals the important physical and conceptual relationships of tweed with landscape. Anderson shows that, contrary to their strong popular associations with tradition, tweeds emerged in the Romantic era as a response to the dramatic changes associated with industrialization and urbanization. Progressive changes in gender relations are also explored as a major factor in tweed's evolution, from associations with particular ideals of masculinity into what is now a truly adaptable fashion textile worn by both sexes. This is the first book of its kind to recognize the importance of tweed to fashion innovation today.

In the shops of London's Oxford Street, girls wear patterned scarves over their hair as they cluster around makeup counters. Alongside them, hip twenty-somethings style their head-wraps in high black topknots to match their black boot-cut trousers. Participating in the world of popular mainstream fashion-often thought to be the domain of the West-these young Muslim women are part of an emergent cross-faith transnational youth subculture of modest fashion. In treating hijab and other forms of modest clothing as fashion, Reina Lewis counters the overuse of images of veiled women as "evidence" in the prevalent suggestion that Muslims and Islam are incompatible with Western modernity. Muslim Fashion contextualizes modest wardrobe styling within Islamic and global consumer cultures, interviewing key players including designers, bloggers, shoppers, store clerks, and shop owners. Focusing on Britain, North America, and Turkey, Lewis provides insights into the ways young Muslim women use multiple fashion systems to negotiate religion, identity, and ethnicity.

In the first ever book devoted to a critical investigation of the personal style blogosphere, Minh-Ha T. Pham examines the phenomenal rise of elite Asian bloggers who have made a career of posting photographs of themselves wearing clothes on the Internet. Pham understands their online activities as "taste work" practices that generate myriad forms of capital for superbloggers and the brands they feature. A multifaceted and detailed analysis, Asians Wear Clothes on the Internet addresses questions concerning the status and meaning of "Asian taste" in the early twenty-first century, the kinds of cultural and economic work Asian tastes do, and the fashion public and industry's appetite for certain kinds of racialized eliteness. Situating blogging within the historical context of gendered and racialized fashion work while being attentive to the broader cultural, technological, and economic shifts in global consumer capitalism, Asians Wear Clothes on the Internet has profound implications for understanding the changing and enduring dynamics of race, gender, and class in shaping some of the most popular work practices and spaces of the digital fashion media economy.

In the first ever book devoted to a critical investigation of the personal style blogosphere, Minh-Ha T. Pham examines the phenomenal rise of elite Asian bloggers who have made a career of posting photographs of themselves wearing clothes on the Internet. Pham understands their online activities as "taste work" practices that generate myriad forms of capital for superbloggers and the brands they feature. A multifaceted and detailed analysis, Asians Wear Clothes on the Internet addresses questions concerning the status and meaning of "Asian taste" in the early twenty-first century, the kinds of cultural and economic work Asian tastes do, and the fashion public and industry's appetite for certain kinds of racialized eliteness. Situating blogging within the historical context of gendered and racialized fashion work while being attentive to the broader cultural, technological, and economic shifts in global consumer capitalism, Asians Wear Clothes on the Internet has profound implications for understanding the changing and enduring dynamics of race, gender, and class in shaping some of the most popular work practices and spaces of the digital fashion media economy.

Australian Architect and Senior Lecturer at Melbourne University Derham Groves just published a book of his students' design of new shoes for the Chinese-American actress Anna May Wong with Culicidae Press. Groves writes in the design brief to his students: "At its best, fashion-like architecture-can be biographical. In 1939 the beautiful and intriguing Chinese-American actress Anna May Wong performed at the Tivoli Theatres in Melbourne and Sydney. ...] Wong was a fashionista of her day. It appears that she was particularly fond of shoes: while in Melbourne she was photographed buying shoes at Foy's department store and in Sydney she revealed to a reporter that a Chinese-style shoe she wore as a child and kept in her dressing-room was her lucky charm. Design and make a pair of shoes for Anna May Wong by 'altering' (i.e. adding to, cutting, painting, etc.) a second-hand pair of shoes purchased from an op shop. ...] Hand in the shoes, along with a 200-word explanation of how they relate to Anna May Wong, on the 12th of October 2010]. Also upload an image of the shoes on the subject's Wiki page."

A new method is described in this booklet that assists a person in choosing the most effective dress colors based on bits of information such as their date of birth and name. With help of easy to read tables included in this booklet, any person can determine such colors in minutes despite the fact that a choice is made from thousands of colors and personality types. The method is equally applicable to males and females. Color is individual and influential. Those who have discovered their personal colors look more interesting, more confident and more attractive. There is undoubtedly much that still remains beyond reach of scientific understanding. For example, in the area of clothing colors, many have realized that during work hours professional executives appear and behave far more efficiently in a white shirt and navy blue jacket rather than in a dark shirt or brown jacket and ladies in scarlet are far more vibrant than others in dull gray. In the present system named as CAANS, fundamental knowledge of influence of color on human behavior has been combined with basic aspects of empirical knowledge from areas of astrology and numerology. It has been the experience of this author that certain numbers repeatedly play a fortunate or unfortunate role in life as has been the experience of very many other humans and that in some way these numbers appear to be connected with one's date of birth. Starting with such elementary aspects of numerology and astrology and knowledge of colors, the CAANS system was gradually built up, initially as just an exercise for fun rather than anything more serious. However, as results emerged that appeared to be highly effective, the author has shared the method in a systematic and easily understood manner through this brief booklet. As illustrations, the booklet includes an application of the method for dress colors of a few famous personalities that include Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie and Queen Elizabeth. On a lighter note the method has been applied to even deduce what is the sexiest color of underwear for President Obama. The result is fascinating.

The World of Silk is the third in the Secrets of Silk series on the history of silk. It explores both the similarities and differences between each country and highlights the people and the fascinating stories that make it all come alive. Each chapter focuses on a particular country and its history, unique culture and priorities, problems and solutions. The first chapters are on silk in Japan, Korea and India. Silk was well suited to both tropical and subtropical regions, so the next chapters are on Thailand, South-East Asia, Turkey and the post-Soviet states. The dream of establishing sericulture in both England and the United States met with mixed results and that led to their move from sericulture to manufacturing. 'Old World, New World' includes Central and South America and South Africa and looks again at the changes in Europe. China has come full circle and once more it is the world's leader and this chapter looks at some of its most recent developments, and the effect of its policies on its lands and people, and worldwide. Finally, The World of Silk brings together some of the exciting scientific developments, including fluorescent silkworms and exotic food products. It concludes with a review of the future for silk and a practical section on sewing with silk. It is richly illustrated, with an extensive bibliography and index.

"Sewing for Superheroes" is the fifth title in Marie Porter's "Spandex Simplified" series, and is all about designing and creating flattering, comfortable, and show-stopping spandex cosplay. (BAM POW ) This sewing manual is written from the experience of not only a spandex designer, but a former "performance" athlete. Written in layman terms, "Sewing for Superheroes" features carefully explained, step-by-step instructions and more than 250 full colour photos and diagrams. Requiring only basic sewing knowledge to get started, beginner and advanced seamstresses alike can enjoy using this book... and produce spectacular results from it. Learn how to design costumes, and how to alter patterns for shape, size, and style. Learn the tips, tricks, and techniques to make many of the design elements that can be used to design and create almost any style of spandex costume imaginable

A graphic and photographic representation of the Seasonal Color Harmony theory as it relates to the fashion industry and is being taught by color consultants around the world. This book is an essential reference for designers, buyers, sales associates, as well as consumers who wish to expand their knowledge and refine their style with or without having had their colors painted or draped. For the designer: If the style, fabric and color are in harmony with a seasonal type, the item will be more successful at retail, as well as more successful for the consumer. For the retail buyer: the book shows you how you can improve your buying and reduce markdowns by using the guidelines. The book resulted from the experiences of the author in her women's clothing stores, Tarika, in Davis, Ca. and Sacramento. An awareness of what at the time many thought was just a fad improved her buying, increased sales, and reduced markdowns and customer returns. For the sales associate: The Color Connection shows you how to be thought of as more than "just a clerk." For the consumer: The guidelines illustrated in The Color Connection show you how to reduce "closet mistakes," by using your best colors, planning your wardrobe, and developing a personal outer style consistent and in harmony with your inner style. Whether you have already a color fan in your possession or are just beginning to think about having your colors painted or draped, this book will help you refine your style. Much of the book is a composite of theories asthat I have learned through reading, seminars and from having my colors done eight times, including by Suzanne Caygill, author of Color, The Essence of You. Hundreds of illustrations and photographs, as well as text, translate what I have learned and believe to be more fact than fad or fiction - a theory whose time has come. The book is designed as a workbook with plenty of white space for you to add your notes, your sketches, your photos. Make it your own