Vintage Style

By Dubin and Berman

I am not content merely to wax opinionated on topics related to needles and thread.  I can be opinionated about books that deal with questions of style too.  Vintage Style is another of my library finds, and to be quick in the review, I like it.  

Here is why.  It is written for grownups who aren’t stuffy, and it seems to be a reasonable resource for identifying the shapes and fabrics that are associated with a decade, as well as for ideas on how to mix and match in a way that suits your personality.  Finally, not such a bad place to start when you are looking for ideas that you wish to copy.  

On the down side, there are some items that I’d like to see off the body, just for an idea of how they are constructed.  The Bodysuit, for instance.  And a newly-discovered pet-peeve: no page numbers.  Who’s dumb idea was that?  Oh, wait.  They’ve stuck them in the inner binding at the top.  Still, not helpful.  The bodysuit is on page 24, and is a good example of what wrapping can do for a body (perfect for breasts of all sizes and shapes, makes the waist look small).  

And while we are on the topic of demonstrating what clothing can and can’t do for a body, check out how boxy the slender girl in the yellow miniskirt looks on page 30.  It points out something that I’ll harp on later: girls need clothes that demonstrate a waist.  Even skinny girls.  

There are ideas here for items that are relatively easily made - the princess skirt, for example (p 32) and what to wear them with for different occasions. More good things: they identify details that make the clothes stand out and name the silhouettes, all very helpful for someone wishing to become well-versed in the language of clothing.  

Basically, I’d buy it.  Though I would have liked it better if they had shown the vintage items just as they are in detail so the reader could get a better sense of the essence of each item - the shape, the construction, and how it hangs in the closet.