Nicky Albrechtsen

Indispensable accessories and sought-after collectors items, scarves were an important innovation in twentieth-century fashion. From Art Deco through 1950s Hollywood, the Swinging Sixties, and beyond, scarves have expressed the constant evolutions in style, representing every major decorative arts movement over the past century and into the present one. This marvelously illustrated compendium showcases the work of a wide range of international designers: Paul Poiret, Elsa Schiaparelli, Balenciaga, Mary Quant, Gucci, Christian Lacroix, Yves Saint Laurent, Zandra Rhodes, Nicole Miller, and many more. Here are more than 250 scarves, beautifully reproduced in color, and many never before seen in print. The book includes concise biographies of more than fifty scarf designers, retailers, and manufacturers, and a useful resource guide provides expert advice on dating and conservation, museum collections, vintage fairs, and specialist dealers.

In recent years, vintage handkerchiefs have been an unsung source of inspiration for many of the world's most exciting brands. This volume written by vintage clothing and textiles expert Nicky Albrechtsen, will appeal to collectors of printed textiles, fashion lovers and designers, and provide a visual feast for anyone with a passion for pattern. Over 200 beautifully designed handkerchiefs have been selected to reflect the magnificent array of printed designs that emerged between the 1920s and 1950s, a particularly innovative period in handkerchief design that produced small squares exploding with colour and pattern. The book comes complete with a short history of the subject, an analysis of the fabrics used, a detailing of the design characteristics of each decade, information on where to find and collect, and advice on conservation, storage and use. Organized for inspiration into 11 sections by colour, this is a fresh and covetable volume targeted at fashion professionals, designers, or a new young generation in search of old chic in new chic forms.

Here is the most ambitious guide to vintage womens fashion ever attempted. It is not just another history of fashion, but a survey of how fashion past continues to inspire fashion present. It presents over 1,000 stand-out examples, together with over 300 contextual illustrations, dating from the 1920s to the 1980s, including many icons of vintage fashion, from Marylin Monroe's bra to the Ossie Clark dress made so famous by David Hockney's painting. Each garment is explored from the viewpoint of the contemporary fashionista looking to build a vintage wardrobe. The book is organized into three main sections. Decades explores the shapes and fabrics that define the look of each period. Elements explores the individual components of a vintage look, everything from hat to shoes. Hallmarks explores fashions perennial themes, from florals to the ever-popular Little Black Dress. The reference section includes invaluable practical advice for fans and collectors of vintage.