VINTAGE STYLE ART OF DRESSING UP

Covering 50 years of fashion history, Dressing Up Vintage examines times past and what women wore in response to them. Starting with the '40s and the somber mannish suits worn during WWII, Dressing Up Vintage takes us through the beaded cardigans of the '50s, the mod explosion of the '60s, the '70s disco and wrap-dress rage, the broad-shouldered power suits of the '80s, and ends up with an understandably short chapter on the '90s and the popularity of the grunge look and retromania. Spying and collecting vintage wear takes the same skill and competitive edge as does collecting fine art or antiques. Author Tracy Tolkien, owner of a very successful vintage shop in London, has been honing her hunting skills for many years and shares them with us in this thoroughly researched, entertaining book. She explains why certain fashions came into being and why they are now collectible. Did you know corsets came back into style because of Dior's wasp-waisted dresses? Tolkien also gives hints on where to find the best vintage wear (there's a long list of shops in the back of the book, both American and British) and what to look for (labels, tears, staining). "One of the best, often overlooked, sources though is probably out there in your own backyard," she says, "tucked away in the darkest corners of your friends' and relatives' wardrobes." Each section is filled with examples of vintage fashions, including hats, gloves, shoes, and costume jewelry.

An interesting journey into our fashion past--great finds and faux pas all--Dressing Up Vintage could be helpful to the beginning collector and just plain fun for those who like to browse, shop, and heed the words of mini-making mogul Mary "Fashion allows you to be what you want. You can dress the part and--my God, it happens!" --Dana Van Nest