The Beautiful Paris Sketchbook by Jason Brooks

The book that I want to share with you this month is the beautiful Paris Sketchbook by Jason Brooks. His stylish work is instantly recognisable and his clients have included Revlon, Veuve Clicquot, Vogue and Elle to name just a few.

My review from My Creative Diva magazine is below and if you want to check out more of Jason's work visit www.jason-brooks.com.

Jason Brooks is one of my favourite fashion illustrators, so needless to say I am smitten with this book, which is essentially his love letter to one of the greatest cities in the world. Paris is synonymous with glamour and nostalgia, and both are perfectly captured through Jason’s eyes.

He brings the city’s architectural icons to life in his unique style; the Gothic grandeur of Notre Dame, the proud Arc de Triomphe, the enormity of the Louvre and of course the greatest icon of them all, the Eiffel Tower. Smaller but no less important Parisian icons are here too, from the Art Nouveau style of the Metro stations to the patisserie windows piled high with cakes and macaroons.

This is a beautifully presented book featuring detailed linear sketches, stylish silhouettes, vintage postcards and famous quotes. Further chapters are devoted to travel, shopping – fitting for the birthplace of so many iconic fashion houses – and the many cafes from which he would sit and sketch the world as it went by.

Jason’s style flits from whimsical storybook to high-octane glamour at the turn of a page and although I haven’t been to Paris in many years, this is exactly how I remember it – beautiful, charming and forever calling out to you to return.

Paris Sketchbook by Jason Brooks, £17.95

Published by Laurence King

ISBN 9781780671055

Images © Jason Brooks, Laurence King Publishing Ltd.

Cult Perfumes

A lot of fashion books land on my desk each month, but this is the first one about perfume, so I wanted to share something a bit different. My review of it for My Creative Diva magazine is below and I can safely say this would make a great gift for any lady. After all, who doesn't love a good perfume?!

There is no denying the significance of perfume in a woman’s life; the indulgent luxury, the instant connections to the people we love, and the memories that can be evoked in a split second by a fragrance that instantly takes you back to days gone by. Scent is as important as any sight or sound to a memory – it’s personal and powerful.

Cult Perfumes is an acknowledgement of the role that perfume plays in our lives. It is filled with beautiful pictures, from the ornate bottles and glossy ad campaigns, to the opulent stores in which they are sold. The introduction transports us back in time to some of the earliest known uses of fragrance and key figures in its history such as Marie Antoinette and Catherine de Medici.

This is followed by a rundown of the industry’s biggest names, delving into brands’ histories and discussing their significance in today’s market. Cast aside all thoughts of fleeting celebrity efforts, these are the genuine stars of the perfume world, from modern day favourites to brands with incredible heritages.

Creed is a real standout for me, evolved by seven generations of the Creed family. An emphasis on quality and tradition has garnered them an impressive following that has included Queen Victoria, John F. Kennedy and Winston Churchill!

Cult Perfumes by Tessa Williams, £29.95

Published by Merrell

ISBN 978-1-8589-4577-4

The Biba Experience

The Biba Experience is one of the books I have reviewed for this month's My Creative Diva magazine. I felt it was well worth sharing as Biba was such an iconic part of London's fashion and music scene in the 60s and 70s, and this book really brings it to life.

If I could invent a sartorial time machine, my first destination would probably be Biba – a mecca for the young and fashionable in the late 60s and early 70s and a favourite with the likes of Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithful. It was so much more than just a clothes store, with its iconic black and gold logo, and looked like the coolest place to be.

The first store opened in 1964 and ten years later its third incarnation was the first department store to open in London since WWII. Once described as 'the most beautiful store in the world' by The Sunday Times, it sold not only clothes but food, decor, furniture and so much more.

In the weeks leading up to the store's closure in 1975 even the furniture was ransacked (apparently shop lifting had always been part of the Biba experience), a heart breaking sight for founder Barbara Hulanicki who had been forcibly divorced by her board of directors months earlier. She was the life and soul of Biba, and it was destined for destruction without her.

Biba 'fulfilled the rock & roll promise to live fast, die young and leave a beutiful corpse', and this fabulous book tells Barbara and Biba's story, with beautiful photos that capture the glamour, personality, clothes and culture of this relatively short lived but much loved establishment.

The Biba Experience by Alwyn W Turner, £22
Published by Antique Collectors Club
ISBN 9871851495412

The Biba brand is alive today at House of Fraser, who are putting that classic logo to good use. Many items are currently on sale so if you fancy a little piece of a cult brand head over to www.houseoffraser.co.uk.

Biba Jet Rock Collar, currently £36 (was £45)

Biba Feather Clutch Bag, currently £53.63 (was £149)

Vivienne Westwood by Terry Jones

As you know, Jen reviews a selection of books for each issue of My Creative Diva magazine, and this month I’ve decided to share her review of Vivienne Westwood by Terry Jones. Aside from the fact the book looks amazing, it was her 72nd birthday on the 8th of April. So happy belated birthday Vivienne and for all her fans – this is a book well worth checking out! ­– Sarah x

It’s no secret that I love Vivienne Westwood, so it stands to reason that I love this beautiful, indulgent, giant of a book. To call it a ‘coffee table book’ doesn’t do it justice; the production values are superb, and the size means that a double page spread is over 1/2 metre across.

Introduced by i-D founder Terry Jones, it incorporates extracts of interviews from various issues of i-D across the decades, offering insight into an intriguing character who, along with Malcolm McLaren, helped shape the landscape of punk, out of their tiny King’s Road boutique.

Bold, political and controversial, Westwood was, and still is, a force to be reckoned with, and at 72 years old, her designs still hold the same appeal for younger generations that they did when she first burst onto the scene in the 1970s. The stunning photos in this book span her career, taking a peek at catwalks, backstage scenes, magazine spreads, and of course, the grand dame herself.

Very few movements have created waves like punk did, and very few designers have made an impact like Vivienne Westwood. This is a beautiful tribute to one of the world’s best-loved fashion designers and would make a fantastic gift for any fan. To conclude in the words of Terry Jones, “Her undying passion, originality, and dogged perseverance proves that a true punk spirit never dies.”

Vivienne Westwood by Terry Jones, £24.99

Published by Taschen

ISBN 978-3-8365-3887-9

A Front Row Seat by Kirstin Sinclair

A Front Row Seat is one of the best books that I’ve reviewed for My Creative Diva magazine recently. It’s filled with beautiful photography that really does give you a front row seat to the world of high fashion, and we even have a copy up for grabs for MCD readers. There are only a few days left to enter though, so head over to www.my-creativediva.co.uk and turn to p24 of the current issue to be in with a chance!

Photographer Kirstin Sinclair spent seven years documenting countless collections at the fashion weeks in London, New York, Paris and Milan. The resultant book, A Front Row Seat, features images of shows, exhibitions and after parties, plus the British Fashion Awards and London College of Fashion’s MA shows.

Her own commentary and quotes from other industry insiders put the pictures into context and the chapters are neatly divided into sections: the front row, the editors, the catwalk, the designers, the buyers, backstage, street style and model style.

This is an enchanting and absorbing book that captures many facets of the fashion industry. It paints a bigger picture than we usually see, taking a look at not just the shows themselves but those who attend and the designers responsible for putting them together.

The stunning photos are testament not just to Kristin’s technical ability but also the rapport that she clearly builds with all of her subjects. My favourite pictures include Gwen Stefani on the catwalk at the Autumn Winter 2010 L.A.M.B. womenswear presentation, and Freja Beha Erichsen in the Autumn/Winter 2010 Chanel womenswear show with that giant iceburg! Pure glamour.

A Front Row Seat by Kirstin Sinclair, £29.95

Published by ACC Editions

ISBN 978-1-85149-661-7

www.antiquecollectorsclub.com

Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail 1700-1915

Fashioning Fashion is one of the books that I've reviewed for the latest issue of My Creative Diva magazine. I’m a sucker for glossy fashion books but this made a nice change as it looks at the history of fashion and the way it has influenced some of today’s biggest designers. For more of my reviews and lots of interviews with some creative and inspiring women head over to www.my-creativediva.co.uk.

We live in a world of fast fashion, where trends come and go in the blink of an eye and affordable high street clothing means that we can clear out our wardrobes each season. Eighteenth and nineteenth century fashion was much slower and therefore greater attention was paid to detail, resulting in some fabulously intricate clothing that would have been treasured by their owners.

Fashioning Fashion highlights a major collection of European dress acquired by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from two of the foremost dealers in the field, Martin Kamer and Wolfgang Ruf. It is a celebration of the beauty of fashion from years gone by that takes you through the evolution of European fashion, including significant pieces such as an embroidered man’s vest emblazoned with powerful messages relevant to the French Revolution. The text provides historical context to show how political events and technological innovations have influenced style, whilst the beautiful large images combine paintings from the time with photographs from today’s catwalks.

It is wonderful to see how these beautiful items from the past have inspired contemporary designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood and Christopher Bailey, and to admire the silhouettes from centuries ago that remain just as stylish and desirable today.

Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700-1915, £36.00

Published by Prestel

ISBN 987-3-7913-5062-2

A cup of tea and a good book..

So things have been a little quiet on the blog front for the last week, mostly because I have been plagued by a never ending ‘to do’ list but partly because I seem to spend half my life on the train at the moment. You know those bastards that shove you in the back to get onto a tube that is clearly at capacity? Yep, I hate them too. And now I’ve become one.

When I do manage to spend some time at my desk however, I’ve been working my way through a stack of very good reading material to review for My Creative Diva magazine, and frankly you can’t beat a good book and a cup of tea on a cold, rainy afternoon. So I thought I’d share three of my fashion favourites from the first three issues – all well worth a read.  If you haven’t checked it out yet, you can find more of my reviews plus loads of features and interviews over at www.mycreativediva.co.uk.

Alexander McQueen: Genius of a Generation by Kristin Knox

Published by A&C Black, £19.99

The late Alexander McQueen has long been one of my favourite fashion designers and consequently this was one book that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on. I remember attending London Fashion Week shortly after his sad death in 2010, and being moved by a wall of tributes covered in messages and memories. McQueen was a designer whose genius truly touched the lives of many.

Kristin Knox is a journalist and fashion blogger at theclotheswhisperer.co.uk. Through Alexander McQueen: A Genius of a Generation, she has successfully created a beautiful keepsake filled with images of McQueen’s most memorable designs and show stopping catwalk shows.

The comprehensive introduction charts the designer’s rise to fame, from his humble beginnings as the youngest of six siblings in Stepney East London, through his early career as a tailor at Anderson & Sheppard and later discovery by Isabella Blow, to the many (often controversial) collections that made him one of fashions brightest stars.

McQueen was appointed CBE, named International Fashion Designer of the Year at the Council of Fashion Designers Awards and named British Designer of the year four times. His name brings to mind, for many, images of his iconic skull print scarves and knuckle-duster clutches but there was so much more to this multifaceted talent. This book will serve as a lasting reminder of the fabulous couture that captured the minds and hearts of women the world over.

The Fashion Design Directory by Marnie Fogg

Published by Thames & Hudson, £18.95

For anybody with an interest in fashion, this little guide is nothing short of essential, featuring 125 internationally known designers. It begins with a brief history of fashion throughout the ages, which charts the history of couture from its beginnings in Paris through each decade and highlights the designers and models that have defined each era.

The main body of the book is devoted to profiling the 125 featured designers; including information about their individual styles and beautiful photographs that capture their seminal looks. Browse through this sartorial A to Z, from Acne to Yves Saint Laurent, and you will be inspired by the proliferation of talent on display and the iconic looks that have punctuated modern day fashion’s colourful history.

Standout moments for me include Vivienne Westwood’s 1981 ‘Pirate’ collection, Christian Dior’s ubiquitous New Look collection in 1947 and the late, great Alexander McQueen’s futuristic 2010 collection, with those shoes that will never be forgotten! There is even a swatch directory at the back of the book, which showcases the memorable patterns and textures of fashion designers such as Basso And Brooke and Diane Von Furstenburg. This is a fabulous reference.

Isabella Blow by Martina Rink

Published by Thames & Hudson, £29.95

This month’s inspirational diva comes in the shape of the late Isabella Blow. She is a character that has fascinated me for a long time; a true fashion icon, instantly recognisable with her bold Philip Treacy headwear and trademark red lips.

Blow is widely recognised for discovering and nurturing up and coming talents such as Treacy, Alexander McQueen and models Sophie Dahl and Stella Tennant. But this 192-page book reveals so much more, in a selection of touching letters from friends, colleagues and former acquaintances. Contributions come from Mario Testino, Manolo Blahnik, Victoria Beckham and Boy George to name but a few.

Isabella lived her life in her own uniquely glamourous way. My favourite recollection in the book is probably that of US Vogue Editor, Anna Wintour, who revealed that Blow cleaned her desk each night with a bottle of Perrier water and Chanel No. 5.

This is a fantastic insight into a much loved and talented women with a mischievous sense of humour, whose achievements were not always recognised when she was alive. I can safely say that once I picked the book up I barely put it down until I had finished!