The Fashion Designer's Directory of Shape and Style: Over 500 Mix-And-Match Elements for Creative Clothing Design

It's a great reference source for artist and designers. Straightforward with no problems looking anything up.

The FASHION DESIGNER'S Directory of Shape and Style by Simon Travers-Spencer and Zarida ZamanImagination can design fantastic carriages, such as the BatMobile and the flying car that was a promise of the PostWar World 70 years ago. A real automotive designer needing investors and buyers, however, must develop designs from the repertoire of established styles and elements, such as roadster, coupe, limousine, and running board, visor, automatic shift, and turn signals. Likewise, an architect must develop houses from the established styles, such as bungalow, Cape Cod, gable, and mansard.In this wise, the designer of fashionable wear must know the shapes typifying every era and the various styles of collars, waists, hems, sleeves, pockets, gatherings, and ornaments. Travers-Spencer and Zaman set out to provide this information to wannabee designers, and they do just that with an economical eloquence.500 elements of clothing construction are shown in line drawings, and as many are illustrated by models. An additional 40 pp of the 140 in this colourful, 7.5" x 9.5" paperback tell how many designers develop their creations from writer's block and inspiration to the modelling runway and sales rack. About fifty fabrics are illustrated with a few words explaining how each is used. These steps of the design process are, I believe, essential learning for everybody interested in the rag trade, yet they are hardly mentioned in passing by most of the two-dozen books I have purchased to acquire an understanding of this vast industry covering everybody outside of nudist camps.In my small collection, this is the second title from BARRON that gets top rating from me for design, production, content, practicability, and fitness for purpose. This colophoin bears watching. Kudos to the authors, editors, and marketing office.TP

after reading some of the reviews for this book, I was a bit dubious to buy as I thought it wouldn't be what I was looking for. If your looking for a book that tells you the names of shapes and features in design then this is it. I wouldn't take too much notice to the people that say its dates, cos although the book was released back a few years, you only need to know the names of features and how they are shaped and designs of collars etc are that innovative that there have been new advances. Although I would say that the drawings and sketches could of been a lot simpler for this book to be more beneficial. Some of the drawings don't allow you to really understand the shaping.I bought this book from the supplier as a used book, so was expecting some dog eared pages, but perfect condition. Arrived before the expected date. Would definitely buy from this supplier again.

Ouvrage très utile pour acquérir le vocabulaire du monde de la mode et du vêtement. Acheté d'occasion, ce livre est en parfait état, je dirais quasiment neuf et j'en suis très satisfaite.

This is a great reference for fashion design patterns. A pity it doesn't seem to be in print anymore.