With an emphasis on innovative designs that range from simple to complex, this collection of contemporary knitting projects includes garments and accessories for women. Featuring projects with a sense of style that will appeal to knitters of all ages, it includes designs for socks, hats, sweaters, dresses, and shrugs. A basic primer on knitting lace that is closely linked to the projects in the book includes information on how to knit lace, choosing yarn and needles, types of increases and decreases, reading charts, simple ways to achieve a lacy effect, ways to incorporate lace designs in knitting patterns, and information on blocking. Each pattern has detailed step-by-step instructions, lavish lifestyle photographs, and plenty of detail shots. Experienced knitters looking for inspiration and beginners trying lace knitting for the first time will find everything needed to knit lace with confidence.

'African Lace' denotes brightly coloured, industrially embroidered textiles that define the image of Nigerians worldwide. For over fifty years it has been the fabric of choice for festive and format dress styles. This volume is the first to explore the history and cultural significance of this particular fabric in Nigeria. Industrial embroideries have been produced in Austria and Switzerland since the 19th century. The specific designs manufactured for the West African market go back to the early 1960s when commercial relations with the newly independent state of Nigeria began. Since then African Lace has been extremety popular in Nigeria and the resulting clothes have been adopted as 'traditional dress'. This book presents a fascinating chapter in African fashion history and enhances a contemporary aspect of culture that extends beyond the borders of a single nation, interconnecting people, ideas, and creativity through trade. African Lace highlights fashion, creativity, opulence, and the joy of social gatherings in Nigeria.

"Which one of you bitches is my mother?" Four elegant, successful, and sophisticated women in their forties are called to New York's Pierre Hotel to meet Lili -- a beautiful, young, and notoriously temperamental Hollywood movie star. None of the women knows exactly why she is there; each has a reason to hate Lili and each of them is astonished to see the others. They are old friends who share a guilty secret and who have for years been doing their best to keep that secret quiet. Their lives are changed forever, however, when Lili suddenly confronts them. When the women refuse to answer her, Lili proceeds to travel around the world through the playgrounds of the rich and famous, seeking to answer the question that has obsessed and almost destroyed her. From Paris to London, from the boardroom to the bedroom, Lace takes the reader into the rarified world of five unforgettable women who are as beautiful, as complex and as strong as...lace.

Vol.2: Pattern manual 1580-1640. "This book trains you to be a pattern maker. You will learn the most common drafts for men and women from the years 1580-1640"--Publisher's description.

This guide explains the whats, whys, and hows of styling, whether you're looking to update your wardrobe or curate your closet. Accomplished stylist Somer Flaherty helps readers figure out what their look is (or ought to be), and how to tailor that look to their own particular body type. Learn the skills necessary to style others and even to turn styling into a career. Additionally, the book includes: Color illustrations for all of the looks, body types, and style elements Sidebars about style through the decades and fashion icons Fashion activities to help readers put down the book and get to work Tips for a wide array of fashion emergencies

Taking a global, multicultural, social, and economic perspective, this work explores the diverse and colourful history of human attire. From prehistoric times to the age of globalization, articles cover the evolution of clothing utility, style, production, and commerce, including accessories (shoes, hats, gloves, handbags, and jewellery) for men, women, and children. Dress for different climates, occupations, recreational activities, religious observances, rites of passages, and other human needs and purposes - from hunting and warfare to sports and space exploration - are examined in depth and detail. Fashion and design trends in diverse historical periods, regions and countries, and social and ethnic groups constitute a major area of coverage, as does the evolution of materials (from animal fur to textiles to synthetic fabrics) and production methods (from sewing and weaving to industrial manufacturing and computer-aided design). Dress as a reflection of social status, intellectual and artistic trends, economic conditions, cultural exchange, and modern media marketing are recurring themes. Influential figures and institutions in fashion design, industry and manufacturing, retail sales, production technologies, and related fields are also covered.