Sewing & Collecting Vintage Fashions (Creative Machine Arts Series)

This book -- originally published by Chilton Books -- has been out-of-print for some years. It was one of the first books about creating a stylish, eclectic wardrobe based on vintage and antique clothing.

If you can find a copy of this mid-1980s book, you'll discover styling ideas that still apply today. The resources in this book emphasize elegance and style on a budget. That includes shopping at thrift shops, garage sales, and auctions, and sewing your own clothes and accessories.

Throughout this book, most of the inspiration comes from 19th- and early 20th-century fashions. The author stresses simple options -- embellishments rather than complicated sewing patterns -- and eclectic ways to combine clothes for a unique, timeless fashion statement.