The aforementioned book, and a cool postcard that was also tucked inside the package
The book, authored by Jemi Armstrong, a well-known fashion illustrator, and Linda Arroz, a lifestyle writer, speaker and consultant, should appeal to anyone who has an interest in collecting and wearing vintage fashion. The word "Couture" in the title made me think that it was going to only focus on high end designer wear, but the information in the book can also be applied to purchasing less valuable vintage.
Practical advice on how to identify whether a piece is truly quality
vintage, how to care for the treasures you find, and how to find the
style and size that will fit you, is presented in a clear, no-frills
writing style that makes it quick and easy to read.
The inclusion of Jemi Armstrong's stylish and sassy illustrations, in addition to the photos of couture design pieces, are welcome eye candy to accompany the text.
My favourite part of the book was the chapter that featured interviews with a number of collectors of Couture vintage. It's fun to read about the fabulous finds of other vintage devotees, and how they incorporate their high end designer purchases with the basic pieces in their wardrobe. The book concludes with a guide to the best places to shop for quality vintage clothing in LA, New York, Paris, Berlin, Milan, London and Tokyo. It also acknowledges that you don't have to travel to these major cities to find some squee-worthy scores. One of the collectors tells about finding an Hermes scarf priced at $1 in a charity shop near Austin, TX, and another found a Schiaparelli hat for $3 at a garage sale.
A Guide to Buying and Collecting Affordable Couture, by Jemi Armstrong and Linda Arroz, 208 pages, is published by Vivays Publishing, 2012 and is available at Amazon
A Guide to Buying and Collecting Affordable Couture, by Jemi Armstrong and Linda Arroz, 208 pages, is published by Vivays Publishing, 2012 and is available at Amazon
This looks like an amazing book. So glad you were the recipient of such a splendid drawing. I'm always on the lookout for an extraordinary find. I might have to check out this book!!
ReplyDeleteYAY!! It seems to be a fabularse book, I'll be looking for my own copy!
ReplyDeleteWell done for winning that draw, you gammy wench!
XXX
o,"gammy" means lucky!!
ReplyDeleteX
Great book! Vix is divine for hosting this giveaway and I'm glad you won!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous book and I am so glad you won! Big hugs! Sarah xxx
ReplyDeleteThe book looks great, what a good win, Shelley! xxx
ReplyDeleteWhat a fab review! It was a fascinating book and a great addition to any clothes whore's collection! xxx
ReplyDeleteGreat book, I enjoyed reading your post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool gift. A great coffee table book.
ReplyDeleteFantastic book!
ReplyDeleteA bible
Chiara
EFFENSHION
FASHIONCHANNEL
BLOGLOVIN
That is a neat book and yes you can find pretty amazing things in thrift shop
ReplyDeleteI found lately a Diane Von Furstenberg and Vera Wang dress
And Vix has really embraced this with vintage clothing!
ReplyDeleteYou were the perfect recipient of this gorgeous book. I'm in awe of the portion that you display on this post, and I'm sure that it will provide many hours of passionate focus. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteHi Shelley!
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question about. The brand of the jeans, you will not believe it but i picked them up last year at Ardene 2 pairs for $20