Customer Reviews

Retro Chic: A Guide to Fabulous Vintage and Designer Retail Shopping in North America & Online

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is fabulous. Not only does it explore (and I use the word "explore" because these listings go way beyond mere addresses and phone numbers) about 500 vintage and contemporary designer resale stores all over the U.S., Canada and Online, but with the information offered on each store (what kind of merchandise is carried, price range, return policy, store owner's personal collections, description of the store itself, etc.), I feel much more confident about shopping for my newest passion, vintage clothing (almost like the authors are holding my hand and walking me thru). I also found the section that describes designers from the '20s to the '80s, along with an explanation of what was going on the world during those times, fascinating. The glossary of fashion terms is also helpful, and I loved the listings of vintage expos all over the U.S. The quotes from costume designers, and learning about vintage pieces worn by Hollywood celebrities, is definately a fun bonus. Bravo!

This book is basically just a list of resale stores in some bigger cities. The same information could be obtained in twenty minutes with some basic research.

I LOVED this book, not only was it extremely informative, but it was very practical-the $ labels were the best! I used it on a very important project and it didn't let me down once! This resource was very helpful. It is a book for anyone who has been bitten by the vintage-shopping bug. Happy shopping!

What a fabulous resource for lovers of vintage clothing! I have learned about stores in Toronto that I would never have found otherwise. The detailed store descriptions are wonderful - it's interesting to learn about the history of the stores, as well as about their owners.
And what a helpful book when travelling to other cities in North America! Thank you!

I think the mark of a good guidebook is one that can tell you new things about your hometown. Retro Chic is a *great* guidebookbook. I purchased my copy at home in Seattle, and was pleased to see that my favorite retro sources were included -- as well as several new favorites I hadn't heard about before. The information on online resources is also quite helpful, and introduced me to a whole new way of shopping for unique resale fashions. I took Retro Chic with me on a business trip to Los Angeles last week, and was able to do some wonderfully affordable consignment shopping in a city that's completely foreign to me. What a fantastic resource!

This DOES NOT appear to be a book in which the authors were paid for reviewing particular stores. The information is well organized, up-to-date, and gives plenty of clues about the stores it reviews. Listings are honest and cover a wide variety of topics, ranging from price scales and credit cards accepted to the kind of merchandise available.

This book is a great resource for anyone with a retro fetish, and a no-hassle way for people new to the "scene" to find great resale outlets in their home town, on vacation, or online. I highly recommend Retro Chic and have bought copies as gifts for two friends who recently moved across country.

I recently had the opportunity to read Retro Chic and could not put it down. Very enjoyable reading and in fact, the person sitting next to me asked to take a peek. The history of fashion was most fascinating and has inspired me to shop for vintage clothing. I've always loved the look but had no idea how to go about finding the items. Thank you Gloria and Diana for doing the hard part and making it easy for me.

I've been waiting for this book! I travel a lot, especially between New York and Los Angeles, and finding the best shopping spots in both cities has been difficult. It's hard to find the underground stores where you can get the really good items and bargains. This is exactly what I've been looking for--I love shopping vintage, and all my favorite stores are included, but so are stores that I never would have found without it.

This book is just fabulous. It is a comprehensive, well thought out shopping guide for anyone who loves clothes. It covers everything from vintage to contemporary designer resale. I love the descriptions of the stores and felt like I really got to know the owners. I look forward to exploring the stores in L.A. as well as on the internet from the comfort of home. This is the only book that I have found with such a thorough listing of stores.

Retro Chic is a user-friendly and comprehensive guide to top-notch vintage stores all over the continent. Whether you're a vintage novice looking for something unique to wear to the holiday office party or a professional costumier, Unique Chic has you covered in fine fashion! If your city or a city nearby isn't covered here, check out the chapter on shopping the Net.

How much fun this is to discover the world of fabulous fashion from years gone by! I loved the history lesson to accentuate the appreciation of the value of vintage and designer clothing. I look forward to trips to the cities mentioned in the book and many shopping adventures in my future!