Here's a bunch of cool books I've found on Amazon.  Clicking on the picture links to Amazon, but I don't think I get anything if you buy from my links or from Amazon.  Go elsewhere if you prefer, I know there are lots of reasons to not buy from them, I just find it a convenient place to get information about books.

This is the exhibit book for the Charles James exhibit at the Met.  It doesn't have a lot of the cool stuff the exhibit does, but it's still full of pretty pictures.

Perhaps it's just my bias, but the 30's seems to be rather overlooked in fashion history.  This looks like a great book to fill that gap, especially since it talks about menswear, too.

This book looks like it highlights past Met fashion exhibits as well as the parties that surround them.  I'm betting it's a great overview of what the Met has offered without needing a shelf full of heavy books.

Fashion in Detail is a great series that focuses on closeups of historical extant garments.  If you don't have the money or space for the whole series this book of highlights is a good choice.

Twenties fashions seem to be huge these last few years, so to go with that here's a huge book of pretty pictures of sparkly beaded dresses.

Stuff Day: From Her Majesty's Jewel Vault

This is my other favorite jewelry blog.  It tracks the tiaras, necklaces, bracelets, brooches, earrings, and other bits and bobs that are owned by the Queen of England.  Not only does it have informative posts about the history of pieces, it also does daily-ish updates about what's being worn in events and out and about in the everyday life of the Queen.  So fun, check it out!

http://queensjewelvault.blogspot.com/

Stuff Day: Tiaras and Trianon Blog

This is one of my two favorite jewelry blogs.  I love the posts on tiaras and their history.  The research on this blog absolutely blows my mind!  If you want a dose of the shiny check it out!!!

http://tiarasandtrianon.com

Stuff Day - Tailoring by the Editors of CPi

I've been doing quite a lot of tailoring these last few weeks.  This is the book that I've been using as my tailoring bible.  It's got great illustrations, and while it seems geared towards women's tailoring in pictures all the techniques are transferring to men's wear nicely.  I do have a tendency to back-up half the information by looking it up online, but mostly the techniques in the book are clearer than what I'm finding online and they don't skip any steps.  Highly recommend if you're going to take on a tailoring project.

Stuff Day - Clover Quick Bias Fusible Bias Tape

I've been using this stuff all over Beatrice's dress, so I thought it would be the topic of today's Stuff Day.

This is Quick Bias tape.  It's 1/4" bias pre-folded with an iron-on backing.  When you want to use it you simply peel off the protective paper and iron it down.  Because it's bias it folds wonderfully around curves and corners.  It does really nice fine detail work like this:

 

I really like it because the bias is pre-folded to a standard width so it's really easy to use, you don't have to waste a lot of time measuring and cutting and ironing, just stick it on.  It comes in gold, silver, and black.  You can get it at larger JoAnn's in the quilting notions section, or you can get it on Amazon here:  http://www.amazon.com/Clover-Quick-Fusible-4-Inch-11-Yard/dp/B000YZ1Q4K

Stuff Day - December Movies

Thursday is Stuff day.  Sometimes I'll review a movie.  Sometimes it'll be a book, or maybe a cool tool.  Sometimes I'll just tell you about something neat I've heard of but haven't had a chance to play with yet.  It's the stuff I'm excited about right now!

The Movies I'm Anticipating for December:

December is always Oscar bait month!  Lots of these will be limited releases, and I'll try and remind you when they go into national release.

The Hobbit

Another great Tolkien movie from Peter Jackson.  More elf costumes in this one, though.  Costume Design is by Bob Buck, Ann Maskrey (John Carter, Alice in Wonderland, and Star Wars Episode I, all as Chief Cutter), and Richard Taylor (Weta Workshop's effects supervisor).  Comes out on the thirteenth.

Saving Mr. Banks

Mary Poppins author meets Walt Disney during production of the movie.  Hopefully it will have great Mary Poppins costumes as well as tons of good period stuff.  Costume Design is by Daniel Orlandi, who co-designed the Da Vinci Code and The Blind Side.  Comes out on the twentieth.

47 Ronin

This remake of a classic Japanese tale looks to be going in quite a different direction.  Costume Design is by Penny Rose, who did Evita, all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, and Prince of Persia.  Comes out on the twenty-fifth.

Stuff Day: Heavy Duty Wonder Under

Thursday is Stuff day.  Sometimes I'll review a movie.  Sometimes it'll be a book, or maybe a cool tool.  Sometimes I'll just tell you about something neat I've heard of but haven't had a chance to play with yet.  It's the stuff I'm excited about right now!

Since I'm still working on appliques for Ai, I thought today's stuff should be the product that makes it all possible.  Heavy Duty Wonder Under really is the key to great appliques.  It holds nicely, doesn't ripple, and fuses all the way to the edge to make a smooth bond that holds tightly.  It's the only kind of fusible I'll buy for appliques.

Stuff Day - Fashion Book

I was so excited about my shoes yesterday I completely forgot it was Stuff Day!  To make up for it, here's Stuff Day a day late.

I recently acquired a copy of this book, and it's great.  It follows a history of fashion through the centuries with primary sources, not redrawn pictures.  The information points out great details in the clothing that you may have missed that can make a costume truly authentic.  It's not as inclusive or detailed as Boucher, but it's also not as expensive.  It's a great book to add to a costume history library!

Stuff Day - November Movies

Thursday is Stuff day.  Sometimes I'll review a movie.  Sometimes it'll be a book, or maybe a cool tool.  Sometimes I'll just tell you about something neat I've heard of but haven't had a chance to play with yet.  It's the stuff I'm excited about right now!

The Movies I'm Anticipating for November:

There are tons of great blockbusters coming out this month.  I'm gonna order these by release date because otherwise I'd face some really hard decisions!

Ender's Game

This is going to be a controversial movie that I'll let you form your own opinion on.  The costuming looks great, though, if a little bog standard for military SF movies.  Costume Design is by Christine Bieselin Clark, who co-designed the new Tron movie and assisted in lots of great stuff like 300, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Watchmen.  Comes out on the first.

Thor: The Dark World

I'm betting that the costumes in this movie are going to be more of the same as the first Thor, but at least Natalie Portman will get some nice new Asgard duds.  Costume Design is by Wendy Partridge, who did Underworld, Hellboy, and Blade II.  Comes out on the 8th.

The Book Thief

This is based on a great book about WWII Germany and a girl who steals books because she loves them.  Costumes look to be nice representations of the 1940's.  Costume Design is by Anna B. Sheppard, who did Captain America, Shanghai Knights, and Band of Brothers.  Comes out on the 15th.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

This is the movie I CAN'T WAIT FOR!!!  I love the Hunger Games books, and even though the movies aren't as commentative about consumer culture as I'd like they're still pretty great.  I'm in love with the costumes already, from Katniss' wedding dress to her black mockingjay formal and the awesome wetsuits.  Costume Design is by Trish Summerville, who did The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo.  Comes out on the 21st.

Frozen

I'm not so sure about this movie.  I've been a fan of the original fairy tale since I was a child, so I have high expectations.  There's also not costume design persay, but still some stuff that you'll be seeing at cons, perhaps even on me :P  Comes out on the 27th.

Stuff Day: Michel Pastoureau's Books

Thursday is Stuff day. Sometimes I'll review a movie. Sometimes it'll be a book, or maybe a cool tool. Sometimes I'll just tell you about something neat I've heard of but haven't had a chance to play with yet. It's the stuff I'm excited about right now!

This week I've been doing a lot of research into both 15th century clothing and 18th century.  In doing this I look at a lot of pictures and illustrations, so you see a lot of the colors people are wearing, but if you're like me you never learn why, which is always important.  I like knowing what people thought about what they wear and why they chose what they did.  These books are great for that.  I love how they tell you great information about what people thought of a color and why you don't see it very often, and why one pattern is more popular than another.  I hope he keeps writing these, I really would like to see a book on red!

Blue: The History of a Color by Michel Pastoureau
Black: The History of a Color by Michel Pastoureau
The Devil's Cloth: A History of Stripes by Michel Pastoureau

(all link to Amazon, where I may be an affiliate (I dunno if it's still active))

Stuff Day: Bias Tape Maker

Thursday is Stuff day. Sometimes I'll review a movie. Sometimes it'll be a book, or maybe a cool tool. Sometimes I'll just tell you about something neat I've heard of but haven't had a chance to play with yet. It's the stuff I'm excited about right now!

Today's Stuff Day entry is a tool: a Bias Tape Maker!  Plus a video showing you how to use it:

Stuff Day - October Movies

I'm going to start something new here.  Thursday is going to be Stuff day.  Sometimes I'll review a movie.  Sometimes it'll be a book, or maybe a cool tool.  Sometimes I'll just tell you about something neat I've heard of but haven't had a chance to play with yet.  It's the stuff I'm excited about right now!

The Movie I'm Anticipating for October:

12 Years a Slave

The story of a free black man in antebellum New York who is kidnapped and sold into slavery.  This movie looks like pure Oscar bait with an amazing cast (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender, and Brad Pitt).  I bet the costumes are going to be great, too.  They're by Patricia Norris (Victor Victoria, Sunset, 2010) who has had an amazing career.  Comes out on the 17th.