design / fashion

"This is the first academic study of sneakers and the subculture that surrounds them. Since the 1980s, members of American sneaker subcultures, popularly known as "sneakerheads" or "sneakerholics", have created a distinctive identity for themselves, while sneaker manufacturers such as Reebok, Puma and Nike have become global fashion brands. How have sneakers come to gain this status and what makes them attractive? In what ways are sneaker subcultures bound up with gender identity and why are sneakerholics mostly men? Based on the author's own ethnographic fieldwork in New York, where sneaker subculture is said to have originated, this unique study traces the transformation of sneakers from sportswear to fashion symbol. Sneakers explores the obsessions and idiosyncrasies surrounding the sneaker phenomenon, from competitive subcultures to sneaker painting and artwork. It is a valuable contribution to the growing study of footwear in fashion studies and will appeal to students of fashion theory, gender studies, sociology and popular culture"--.

Donna Karan was born into the fashion business---her father was a tailor and her mother was a showroom model and Seventh Avenue saleswoman. But Donna dreamed of becoming a dancer like Martha Graham or a singer like Barbra Streisand. But fashion proved to be her destiny. She became an intern at Anne Klein, created Seven Easy Pieces (which forever changed the way working women dressed), and began her own company which soon took off in a meteoric fashion. Donna has channeled her creativity not only into fashion designs but also into philanthropic work. And in a strange twist of fate, she and Barbra Streisand became close friends.

"Pulitzer-Prize winning fashion journalist Robin Givhan offers a lively and meticulously well-researched account of this unique event. 'The Battle of Versailles' is a ... cultural history; this intimate examination of a single moment shows us how the world of fashion as we know it came to be"--amazon.com.

"Little black dresses. Fake pearls. Jersey knit. Blazers. Ballet flats. Today--and for nearly the last hundred years--we all see some version of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel every time we pass a woman on the street. But few among us realize that Chanel's role in the events of the twentieth century was as pervasive as her influence on fashion, or how deeply she absorbed and then brilliantly reimagined the historical currents around her. Here, with unprecedented detail and ambition--and through fascinating, thoroughly researched portraits of Chanel's lovers and friends--Rhonda Garelick shows us the Chanel who conquered the world . . . a woman who thirsted to create others in her image, who ruthlessly and innovatively borrowed from her famous (and infamous) intimates, who understood the idea of branding and image well ahead of her time, who created "wearable personality." This is Chanel at the nexus of history: a woman of daring, passion, and legendary vision, in a wonderful biography that gives her long-awaited due"--.

"Gives step-by-step instructions on drawing figures from many points of view and in varying poses, the author explains the tricks of the trade: how to "dress" your figure; render color, texture, and print; and create accessories, hairstyles, and makeup looks. An overview of tools, materials, and essential skills will help you bring your creative vision to life"--Provided by publisher.