ePub Egyptian Decorative Art by From Dover Publications in Arts-Photography

Review

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. "For the apparel oft proclaims the man."By Amelia GremelspacherThe book starts with a fifty thousand dollar coat. The coat has been made to order from the very rare wool of the vicuntilde;a. This is the world of bespoke. As in the slow cooking movement; this is "slow sewing." While few garments reach the exclusiveness of this overcoat; each piece is tailored exactly to the specifications of the client. Exact measurements are taken; and a consultation teases needs and lacks. A suit requires several fittings. The resulting garment fits perfectly. It is finished to perfection. Indeed; this is a garment that will last a lifetime. Contrasted with the quickly assembled; mass market; cheap fabric; and flitting style; this industry is about few garments done perfectly.For this coat was crafted by John Cutler for Keith Lambert. Keith has had a difficult high profile year enmeshed in the public family drama of his employer. They decide to make the coat the finest of its kind. Arising to the challenge; Cutler decides to make every stitch by hand. The lining will be a silk that the maker rarely allows into other artisans garments. Even the label will be engraved gold.Our author sets off on a voyage to explore the components of a dying industry. Few or none young people wish to learn the craft. Even many luxury brands are made for one season of high fashion. Most of the processes have been highly copied in China; albeit not to the standards of the bespoke eye. The book is fascinating and stands as the exploration of the world of bespoke along with a history of the construction of luxury clothing. I have to say it made me yearn for a closet with only a few perfect pieces bespoke to my body. That isnt going to happen; but I can slip into the dream with this book which I highly recommend.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A gem!By Marjorie MatthewsAs someone who had the pleasure of reading portions of this book as it was being written; I may be considered biased as a reader. However; writers who read and comment on anothers work-in-progress might actually be even more critical than the average reader; for we read closely and look for areas of weakness. Reading Megs work was a pleasure from the beginning thanks to her fine writing and the appealing subject matter. Now that Ive been able to read the book in its entirety; I can only say that it is even better completed than I imagined it would be a couple years ago. Meg is the rare nonfiction writer who can weave information into narrative seamlessly and with prose that sings. That she is a poet may not be immediately evident to most readers--and really shouldnt be obvious in a nonfiction work like this--but that training keeps her prose tight and lyrical. Her grace as a reporter clearly won over her subjects and allowed her access to places; people; and moments others would never witness. I feel as if I took an indepth course on the world of bespoke clothing; except no course I ever took was this engaging and pleasurable. Given the subject matter--a $50;000 coat!--Meg deftly navigates the difficult line of celebrating craftsmanship and beauty while acknowledging the absurd aspects of luxury spending by the super rich. The implications raised by this particular narrative have implications for us all. Individually; we must decide how we spend our money; but should we also consider what those collective choices say of us as a society? As we enjoy the cost benefits of mass produced clothing; we lose a vital aspect of our social fabric and history. Fine craftsmanship and sustainability are replaced by poorly constructed; disposable fashion and we are all the worse for it. This is one of those books I want to give to everyone I know and encourage even those I dont know to read. Its a gem.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating look into the world of bespoke tailoringBy Sugar KowalczykWell-told story of the handcrafted world of high-end mens clothing. As Tim Gunns review says on the back cover; "I couldnt put it down!" Fascinating details of fabrics; buttons; the men that make them; and the clients that wear them. If you are interested in fibers; textiles; sewing; and/or personal style; this book is highly recommended. What surprised me was how readily people like Stefano Ricci; John Cutler; Peter Grove; and Frederic Dormeuil welcomed the author into their professional (and personal) worlds. Riccis family especially seemed very warm and welcoming (though she also alludes to months of correspondence to set up the meeting). One question has me hanging; though -- how on earth did she manage it -- considering the stipulation by Ricci that Cutler was never to tell anyone about the purchase? I wish the author had explained this.My only other niggles are minor:- The author claims that female silk moth pheromone is released from the antennae; which is incorrect- A typo in the engraving chapter ("a famed copperplate engraver specializing in high-end *stationary* and naval charts") borders on sacrilege!Well-worth the read.