- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: Pocket Books; Original edition (July 1 1999)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0671027131
- ISBN-13: 978-0671027131
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 19.2 x 1.9 cm
- Shipping Weight: 635 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #214,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
In recent years, increasing numbers of people have become aware of something that impecunious but savvy folks have known for a long time: You don't have to be rich to wear high-quality, high-fashion clothing. You just need to know how and where to shop for it at incredible, bargain prices--secondhand, vintage, consignment, and thrift stores.
Christa Weil goes the whole nine yards here, explaining how to spot quality, understand labels (and fakes!), and find your size when labels are missing. She knows which flaws are easily fixed, how to organize your wardrobe, how to look "done" without looking "overdone," how to care for your clothing and accessory treasures, and even how to make money on your unwanted clothes.
For anyone who likes to dress well and get an incredible bargain in the process (and who doesn't?), this is an indispensable guide. Weil's light, conversational writing style and her numerous hilarious asides (like "Why Socks Disappear in the Wash") make this an entertaining and lively book to read or browse. --Mark A. Hetts
From Library Journal
What woman wouldn't want to find a designer original at a fraction of its original cost or some long-gone artifact from another fashion era? With that goal in mind, Weil packs her guide to the secondhand clothing market (consignment, vintage, and thrift) with so much detail and coursework that one should have a Ph.D. by book's end. Weil insists that a good secondhand shopper needs to study fabrics (hard to do on paper), design qualities, and designers to make the most of the shopping experience. She recommends field trips to high-end department stores and boutiques to evaluate specific designers, with note-taking essential. Part 2 covers proper fit, and Part 3 discusses garment care. Weil tends toward the cutesy in her headers and superfluous sidebars. And would a woman really carry a kit containing a pocket flashlight, pocket mirror, and white travel soap in order to detect permanent stains? It all seems a bit cloak-and-dagger (oh, is that cloak Armani Couture?). At this price public libraries could certainly consider a copy or two of this tutorial, but most shoppers probably won't want to delve this deeply into their wardrobes.ABette-Lee Fox, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
It seems you can't open a magazine or turn on the TV lately without getting word about the rise of secondhand clothes. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
It seems you can't open a magazine or turn on the TV lately without getting word about the rise of secondhand clothes. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
practical guide to the details,
By Carol Black (sitting at the nearest speakeasy) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Secondhand Chic: Finding Fabulous Fashion at Consignment, Vintage, and Thrift Shops (Paperback)
This is the most useful single book I own concerning the details of quality construction and fit, a great help in negotiating the whims of vintage and consignment shopping. It includes an abundance of information to help narrow down your choices before you ever hit the changing room, which is particularly helpful given the settings of most vintage store changing rooms. Weil offers numerous tips for identifying well-made garments quickly and pinning down the true value of an item. This book does not offer much information on dating vintage clothing, although it has some general guidelines on the major trends of each decade. Nor does it have much in the way of information on the wearability of vintage clothing - the reader is pretty much left to her own sense of style and willingness to experiment. The emphasis is on quality and fit, which are probably the most difficult areas to negotiate in a poorly-lit store or over the internet, and in this regard this book excels.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent and useful book,
By
This review is from: Secondhand Chic: Finding Fabulous Fashion at Consignment, Vintage, and Thrift Shops (Paperback)
This is oneof the best books to read if you're interested in, or if you collect and wear, vintage clothing. From how to read the quality of materials and workmanship in a garments, to how to take care of cleaning them, the information is presented in a witty, informative, useful way. Weil has not only great information, but a way with words and the turn of a phrase, which made the book that much more enjoyable to read. While I personally would love to have seen more illustrations than the many that are already in the book (e.g. of the different button holes styles, zippers, etc.) and pictures of some outfits having the design elements discussed, as I'm greedy for more vintage info all the time, not having these included doesn't detract from this book in the least. One can only hope that Weil continues to write about this subject, as she's thorough, knowledgeable, and writes well. Her book is a pleasure for the senses in all ways. If you buy one book about vintage clothing, buy this one. You won't be disappointed.
5.0 out of 5 stars
I absolutely adore this book!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Secondhand Chic: Finding Fabulous Fashion at Consignment, Vintage, and Thrift Shops (Paperback)
Everytime I pick up this book, I get a serious urge to shop! It is an absolutely superb resource! I love it, I love it, I love it! My coffee table book!
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