A fine tradition was revived this year when three fashion history books were found under the tree. A second tradition was also revived - that of my nose buried in a book on Christmas Day. All three texts are speedy reading but great fun, and photo heavy.
Let's take a look.
Style Book: Fashionable Inspirations , Elizabeth Walker.
All photos. All the time. But a treasure trove of inspiring photos from 1865 to the present, grouped by theme rather than year. Checks, Stripes, Fur, Denim, Flower Power - they all have a section. The subjects range form royalty to Hollywood to the street. There are some inaccuracies and oddities in the captions, but these are few and far between. Most glaring is a photo of Katherine Hepburn in the famous white crepe beaded and sequined evening dress designed by Adrian for The Philadelphia Story (1940) is dated 1935 and called a "peasant shirt...."for more: Past Perfect Vintage
