A VOGUE TREAT AND RETROSPECTIVE WITH STYLE. Its KATE cover is the icing on the cake!, 06 Nov 2007
if you appreciate VOGUES and their talent at creating great covers, then this allows you to have an extensive look from the very beginning to now, there is a small anecdote for each page to read. The early covers were more like illustrations and art. Then came the models, the real ones. So many different ways of framing a face one might say, and that's when one realises the importance of editors and art directors. It is also great fun to see the evolution of beauty and its standards, the difference in make up, fashion, postures and what is sexy.
I myself got this book as i collect VOGUES (UK) from the mid 1980's to now, as i adore the supermodels of the 1990s era. VOGUE was a major factor for these girls success, so was HARPER'S BAZAAR. HARPER'S should come up with a book like this.
This book has something for everyone, as long as you all appreciate images of women, all symbols of their own era.
there is at least 10 KATE MOSS covers featured here, and plenty of the 1990's supermodels. it will sadly show that VOGUE has begun to lose some of that VOGUE touch, due to their recent tendency to feature too often now, actresses and singers, insead of sticking to cover models who know best.
Still, nicely chunky, glossy and very well laid -out book. great cover of course.

A VOGUE TREAT AND RETROSPECTIVE WITH STYLE. Its KATE cover is the icing on the cake!, 06 Nov 2007
if you appreciate VOGUES and their talent at creating great covers, then this allows you to have an extensive look from the very beginning to now, there is a small anecdote for each page to read. The early covers were more like illustrations and art. Then came the models, the real ones. So many different ways of framing a face one might say, and that's when one realises the importance of editors and art directors. It is also great fun to see the evolution of beauty and its standards, the difference in make up, fashion, postures and what is sexy.
I myself got this book as i collect VOGUES (UK) from the mid 1980's to now, as i adore the supermodels of the 1990s era. VOGUE was a major factor for these girls success, so was HARPER'S BAZAAR. HARPER'S should come up with a book like this.
This book has something for everyone, as long as you all appreciate images of women, all symbols of their own era.
there is at least 10 KATE MOSS covers featured here, and plenty of the 1990's supermodels. it will sadly show that VOGUE has begun to lose some of that VOGUE touch, due to their recent tendency to feature too often now, actresses and singers, insead of sticking to cover models who know best.
Still, nicely chunky, glossy and very well laid -out book. great cover of course.

A cornerstone book for all costume and fashion students., 09 Oct 2001
The Victoria and Albert Museum houses one of the largest costume collections in Europe, stretching from 1603 to the present day, and now you have a chance to see virtually all of the items in their collection (bar their very fragile ones) without the need to travel to London.

Each chapter has clear points of the history of dress, and is divided into easy chapters covering men, women, periods in history with individual photographs of each article of dress including shoes, fans, underwear etc. All the photos are very clear, enabling the reader to get a detailed view of the costume.

Costume researcher or fashion student, this book is an important part of your collection that will be refered to again and again. My original copy is so worn out that I am ordering a new one to cope with the high demand!

A VOGUE TREAT AND RETROSPECTIVE WITH STYLE. Its KATE cover is the icing on the cake!, 06 Nov 2007
if you appreciate VOGUES and their talent at creating great covers, then this allows you to have an extensive look from the very beginning to now, there is a small anecdote for each page to read. The early covers were more like illustrations and art. Then came the models, the real ones. So many different ways of framing a face one might say, and that's when one realises the importance of editors and art directors. It is also great fun to see the evolution of beauty and its standards, the difference in make up, fashion, postures and what is sexy.
I myself got this book as i collect VOGUES (UK) from the mid 1980's to now, as i adore the supermodels of the 1990s era. VOGUE was a major factor for these girls success, so was HARPER'S BAZAAR. HARPER'S should come up with a book like this.
This book has something for everyone, as long as you all appreciate images of women, all symbols of their own era.
there is at least 10 KATE MOSS covers featured here, and plenty of the 1990's supermodels. it will sadly show that VOGUE has begun to lose some of that VOGUE touch, due to their recent tendency to feature too often now, actresses and singers, insead of sticking to cover models who know best.
Still, nicely chunky, glossy and very well laid -out book. great cover of course.

A cornerstone book for all costume and fashion students., 09 Oct 2001
The Victoria and Albert Museum houses one of the largest costume collections in Europe, stretching from 1603 to the present day, and now you have a chance to see virtually all of the items in their collection (bar their very fragile ones) without the need to travel to London.

Each chapter has clear points of the history of dress, and is divided into easy chapters covering men, women, periods in history with individual photographs of each article of dress including shoes, fans, underwear etc. All the photos are very clear, enabling the reader to get a detailed view of the costume.

Costume researcher or fashion student, this book is an important part of your collection that will be refered to again and again. My original copy is so worn out that I am ordering a new one to cope with the high demand!

THE SWEET SMELL OF NEW KICKS, 06 Feb 2006
Cracking little book,well designed with great photography to drool over. Only one small point,not enough type on collectors and collecting.Other than that worth double. CLASSY.

A VOGUE TREAT AND RETROSPECTIVE WITH STYLE. Its KATE cover is the icing on the cake!, 06 Nov 2007
if you appreciate VOGUES and their talent at creating great covers, then this allows you to have an extensive look from the very beginning to now, there is a small anecdote for each page to read. The early covers were more like illustrations and art. Then came the models, the real ones. So many different ways of framing a face one might say, and that's when one realises the importance of editors and art directors. It is also great fun to see the evolution of beauty and its standards, the difference in make up, fashion, postures and what is sexy.
I myself got this book as i collect VOGUES (UK) from the mid 1980's to now, as i adore the supermodels of the 1990s era. VOGUE was a major factor for these girls success, so was HARPER'S BAZAAR. HARPER'S should come up with a book like this.
This book has something for everyone, as long as you all appreciate images of women, all symbols of their own era.
there is at least 10 KATE MOSS covers featured here, and plenty of the 1990's supermodels. it will sadly show that VOGUE has begun to lose some of that VOGUE touch, due to their recent tendency to feature too often now, actresses and singers, insead of sticking to cover models who know best.
Still, nicely chunky, glossy and very well laid -out book. great cover of course.

A cornerstone book for all costume and fashion students., 09 Oct 2001
The Victoria and Albert Museum houses one of the largest costume collections in Europe, stretching from 1603 to the present day, and now you have a chance to see virtually all of the items in their collection (bar their very fragile ones) without the need to travel to London.

Each chapter has clear points of the history of dress, and is divided into easy chapters covering men, women, periods in history with individual photographs of each article of dress including shoes, fans, underwear etc. All the photos are very clear, enabling the reader to get a detailed view of the costume.

Costume researcher or fashion student, this book is an important part of your collection that will be refered to again and again. My original copy is so worn out that I am ordering a new one to cope with the high demand!

THE SWEET SMELL OF NEW KICKS, 06 Feb 2006
Cracking little book,well designed with great photography to drool over. Only one small point,not enough type on collectors and collecting.Other than that worth double. CLASSY.

Not absolutely on the mark for the english reader, 14 Dec 2007
A beautiful book well thought out and illustrated. If you buy the book for it's pictures alone you'll not be disappointed. I would agree with a previous reviewer that it's not 100% on the money for the English reader, a bit too American in focus. Other than that a first rate book and very interesting even if ,like me, you're a bit of a slob!

Dressing the Man - For the British reader, 14 May 2006
The author knows his stuff. It's a good book and very detailed.
However, I found it heavy going, very much like reading a Haines car manual! Not a great deal of pictures, of which a majority are very old black & white shots of years gone by. I also found the wordage difficult to get along with.
It is very American and aimed at the US market. I found myself wondering if what I was reading relevant to me as a man in the UK. The 'how you should dress for work' section was so very 'American man goes to work'. Smart suits aside, nobody in England would dress for work in the ways described. It goes on about Ivy League cues etc. In essence it was classic style as we know it today came out of the US.
In summary I would compare it to 'Gentlemen - A timeless fashion', which I also have. Dressing the man has more historical detail, is hard going and aimed at the US reader/dresser. Gentlemen - A timeless fashion is better for how do I dress myself in a classic English way and why, with tons more pictures which help with a shopping list in your mind, it is also serves a handy easy reference. In my opinion Dressing the man does not offer good value for money compared to the other titles on the market; However that said the author knows his stuff but gets bogged down with history and nitty gritty and never really gets around to the hear and now.

Splendid Guide to Elegant, Timeless Dressing, 20 Aug 2005
Alan Flusser's beautiful book is essential if you have an interest in how to dress elegantly and timelessly. The book covers both business and, to some extent, casual attire. The knowledgeable text is accompanied by a marvellous collection of photographs and illustrations. If you are the type of man that watches Cary Grant and admires his suits as much as his acting, this book will delight you.

The definitive work in this area, 14 Feb 2003
Flusser's magnum opus exceeds Bernhard Roetzel's superb work "Gentleman: A Timeless Classic" as the simply the most comprehensive and authoritatve text on classic male dress. The chapters on proportion, colour and pattern deal with really important issues that Roetzel just misses out completely. The chapter on smart casual addresses an area that is very important to the modern office, but sorely neglected by other authors. The only other work I know of that addressed these fundamentals to anywhere near this level of detail is Spensor's "Style Directions for Men," but her work is hampered by an overly-compartmentalised approach and very poor samples of clothing (the photos have been extracted from a cheap mail order catalogue). I would strongly recommend this book along with "Style and the Man" (then you'll know what and how to wear things AND where to find them). Roetzel's book is definitely worth having as well, but it has been overtaken. A smaller, but highly informative work is Karlen and Sulavik's "Indispensible Guide," but that just doesn't have the kind of colour photos, intricate detail and historical background that "Dressing the Man" does. I recommend this book to any gent who wants to know more about classic style and dress.

A VOGUE TREAT AND RETROSPECTIVE WITH STYLE. Its KATE cover is the icing on the cake!, 06 Nov 2007
if you appreciate VOGUES and their talent at creating great covers, then this allows you to have an extensive look from the very beginning to now, there is a small anecdote for each page to read. The early covers were more like illustrations and art. Then came the models, the real ones. So many different ways of framing a face one might say, and that's when one realises the importance of editors and art directors. It is also great fun to see the evolution of beauty and its standards, the difference in make up, fashion, postures and what is sexy.
I myself got this book as i collect VOGUES (UK) from the mid 1980's to now, as i adore the supermodels of the 1990s era. VOGUE was a major factor for these girls success, so was HARPER'S BAZAAR. HARPER'S should come up with a book like this.
This book has something for everyone, as long as you all appreciate images of women, all symbols of their own era.
there is at least 10 KATE MOSS covers featured here, and plenty of the 1990's supermodels. it will sadly show that VOGUE has begun to lose some of that VOGUE touch, due to their recent tendency to feature too often now, actresses and singers, insead of sticking to cover models who know best.
Still, nicely chunky, glossy and very well laid -out book. great cover of course.

A cornerstone book for all costume and fashion students., 09 Oct 2001
The Victoria and Albert Museum houses one of the largest costume collections in Europe, stretching from 1603 to the present day, and now you have a chance to see virtually all of the items in their collection (bar their very fragile ones) without the need to travel to London.

Each chapter has clear points of the history of dress, and is divided into easy chapters covering men, women, periods in history with individual photographs of each article of dress including shoes, fans, underwear etc. All the photos are very clear, enabling the reader to get a detailed view of the costume.

Costume researcher or fashion student, this book is an important part of your collection that will be refered to again and again. My original copy is so worn out that I am ordering a new one to cope with the high demand!

THE SWEET SMELL OF NEW KICKS, 06 Feb 2006
Cracking little book,well designed with great photography to drool over. Only one small point,not enough type on collectors and collecting.Other than that worth double. CLASSY.

Not absolutely on the mark for the english reader, 14 Dec 2007
A beautiful book well thought out and illustrated. If you buy the book for it's pictures alone you'll not be disappointed. I would agree with a previous reviewer that it's not 100% on the money for the English reader, a bit too American in focus. Other than that a first rate book and very interesting even if ,like me, you're a bit of a slob!

Dressing the Man - For the British reader, 14 May 2006
The author knows his stuff. It's a good book and very detailed.
However, I found it heavy going, very much like reading a Haines car manual! Not a great deal of pictures, of which a majority are very old black & white shots of years gone by. I also found the wordage difficult to get along with.
It is very American and aimed at the US market. I found myself wondering if what I was reading relevant to me as a man in the UK. The 'how you should dress for work' section was so very 'American man goes to work'. Smart suits aside, nobody in England would dress for work in the ways described. It goes on about Ivy League cues etc. In essence it was classic style as we know it today came out of the US.
In summary I would compare it to 'Gentlemen - A timeless fashion', which I also have. Dressing the man has more historical detail, is hard going and aimed at the US reader/dresser. Gentlemen - A timeless fashion is better for how do I dress myself in a classic English way and why, with tons more pictures which help with a shopping list in your mind, it is also serves a handy easy reference. In my opinion Dressing the man does not offer good value for money compared to the other titles on the market; However that said the author knows his stuff but gets bogged down with history and nitty gritty and never really gets around to the hear and now.

Splendid Guide to Elegant, Timeless Dressing, 20 Aug 2005
Alan Flusser's beautiful book is essential if you have an interest in how to dress elegantly and timelessly. The book covers both business and, to some extent, casual attire. The knowledgeable text is accompanied by a marvellous collection of photographs and illustrations. If you are the type of man that watches Cary Grant and admires his suits as much as his acting, this book will delight you.

The definitive work in this area, 14 Feb 2003
Flusser's magnum opus exceeds Bernhard Roetzel's superb work "Gentleman: A Timeless Classic" as the simply the most comprehensive and authoritatve text on classic male dress. The chapters on proportion, colour and pattern deal with really important issues that Roetzel just misses out completely. The chapter on smart casual addresses an area that is very important to the modern office, but sorely neglected by other authors. The only other work I know of that addressed these fundamentals to anywhere near this level of detail is Spensor's "Style Directions for Men," but her work is hampered by an overly-compartmentalised approach and very poor samples of clothing (the photos have been extracted from a cheap mail order catalogue). I would strongly recommend this book along with "Style and the Man" (then you'll know what and how to wear things AND where to find them). Roetzel's book is definitely worth having as well, but it has been overtaken. A smaller, but highly informative work is Karlen and Sulavik's "Indispensible Guide," but that just doesn't have the kind of colour photos, intricate detail and historical background that "Dressing the Man" does. I recommend this book to any gent who wants to know more about classic style and dress.

A bit disappointing, 23 Jan 2007
After eagerly awaiting this book, it was finally delivered last week, and I have to say that I am a little disappointed with it.

Yes, there's lots of information with pictures on the 1940s look, from hairstyles to shoes, and all the bits in between, but I want to know how to achieve those hairstyles, not just see pictures of them. From the title of the book, I thought that it would have step by step instructions on how to achieve the look, but it doesn't really. With the clothes, the reader can see what sort of design to look out for, but with hairstyles, it isn't enough to show a picture, we need to know what to do to get that style.

So, if you are a re-enactor, hoping to have step by step instructions, save your money, but if you just want to see pictures of 1940s styles, then this is okay, if a little pricey.

A Must For The Coffee Table, 23 Nov 2006
This book is fantastic and without doubt will sell many copies. It will delight young and old alike and is filled with lots of interesting information and many facts that would have been forgotten about this period. It is extremely well produced with excellent illustrations and photographs.

This is a book that when you look at it you will find great pleasure flicking through the pages delving in and out of the various styles that were sometimes forced to be worn during these difficult times. Without doubt you will know someone who would love to receive a copy of this book as it will make an ideal Christmas Gift.

10 out of ten for the Author - Mike Brown and 10 out of ten for the publishing Company for producing such a lovely book.

A VOGUE TREAT AND RETROSPECTIVE WITH STYLE. Its KATE cover is the icing on the cake!, 06 Nov 2007
if you appreciate VOGUES and their talent at creating great covers, then this allows you to have an extensive look from the very beginning to now, there is a small anecdote for each page to read. The early covers were more like illustrations and art. Then came the models, the real ones. So many different ways of framing a face one might say, and that's when one realises the importance of editors and art directors. It is also great fun to see the evolution of beauty and its standards, the difference in make up, fashion, postures and what is sexy.
I myself got this book as i collect VOGUES (UK) from the mid 1980's to now, as i adore the supermodels of the 1990s era. VOGUE was a major factor for these girls success, so was HARPER'S BAZAAR. HARPER'S should come up with a book like this.
This book has something for everyone, as long as you all appreciate images of women, all symbols of their own era.
there is at least 10 KATE MOSS covers featured here, and plenty of the 1990's supermodels. it will sadly show that VOGUE has begun to lose some of that VOGUE touch, due to their recent tendency to feature too often now, actresses and singers, insead of sticking to cover models who know best.
Still, nicely chunky, glossy and very well laid -out book. great cover of course.

A cornerstone book for all costume and fashion students., 09 Oct 2001
The Victoria and Albert Museum houses one of the largest costume collections in Europe, stretching from 1603 to the present day, and now you have a chance to see virtually all of the items in their collection (bar their very fragile ones) without the need to travel to London.

Each chapter has clear points of the history of dress, and is divided into easy chapters covering men, women, periods in history with individual photographs of each article of dress including shoes, fans, underwear etc. All the photos are very clear, enabling the reader to get a detailed view of the costume.

Costume researcher or fashion student, this book is an important part of your collection that will be refered to again and again. My original copy is so worn out that I am ordering a new one to cope with the high demand!

THE SWEET SMELL OF NEW KICKS, 06 Feb 2006
Cracking little book,well designed with great photography to drool over. Only one small point,not enough type on collectors and collecting.Other than that worth double. CLASSY.

Not absolutely on the mark for the english reader, 14 Dec 2007
A beautiful book well thought out and illustrated. If you buy the book for it's pictures alone you'll not be disappointed. I would agree with a previous reviewer that it's not 100% on the money for the English reader, a bit too American in focus. Other than that a first rate book and very interesting even if ,like me, you're a bit of a slob!

Dressing the Man - For the British reader, 14 May 2006
The author knows his stuff. It's a good book and very detailed.
However, I found it heavy going, very much like reading a Haines car manual! Not a great deal of pictures, of which a majority are very old black & white shots of years gone by. I also found the wordage difficult to get along with.
It is very American and aimed at the US market. I found myself wondering if what I was reading relevant to me as a man in the UK. The 'how you should dress for work' section was so very 'American man goes to work'. Smart suits aside, nobody in England would dress for work in the ways described. It goes on about Ivy League cues etc. In essence it was classic style as we know it today came out of the US.
In summary I would compare it to 'Gentlemen - A timeless fashion', which I also have. Dressing the man has more historical detail, is hard going and aimed at the US reader/dresser. Gentlemen - A timeless fashion is better for how do I dress myself in a classic English way and why, with tons more pictures which help with a shopping list in your mind, it is also serves a handy easy reference. In my opinion Dressing the man does not offer good value for money compared to the other titles on the market; However that said the author knows his stuff but gets bogged down with history and nitty gritty and never really gets around to the hear and now.

Splendid Guide to Elegant, Timeless Dressing, 20 Aug 2005
Alan Flusser's beautiful book is essential if you have an interest in how to dress elegantly and timelessly. The book covers both business and, to some extent, casual attire. The knowledgeable text is accompanied by a marvellous collection of photographs and illustrations. If you are the type of man that watches Cary Grant and admires his suits as much as his acting, this book will delight you.

The definitive work in this area, 14 Feb 2003
Flusser's magnum opus exceeds Bernhard Roetzel's superb work "Gentleman: A Timeless Classic" as the simply the most comprehensive and authoritatve text on classic male dress. The chapters on proportion, colour and pattern deal with really important issues that Roetzel just misses out completely. The chapter on smart casual addresses an area that is very important to the modern office, but sorely neglected by other authors. The only other work I know of that addressed these fundamentals to anywhere near this level of detail is Spensor's "Style Directions for Men," but her work is hampered by an overly-compartmentalised approach and very poor samples of clothing (the photos have been extracted from a cheap mail order catalogue). I would strongly recommend this book along with "Style and the Man" (then you'll know what and how to wear things AND where to find them). Roetzel's book is definitely worth having as well, but it has been overtaken. A smaller, but highly informative work is Karlen and Sulavik's "Indispensible Guide," but that just doesn't have the kind of colour photos, intricate detail and historical background that "Dressing the Man" does. I recommend this book to any gent who wants to know more about classic style and dress.

A bit disappointing, 23 Jan 2007
After eagerly awaiting this book, it was finally delivered last week, and I have to say that I am a little disappointed with it.

Yes, there's lots of information with pictures on the 1940s look, from hairstyles to shoes, and all the bits in between, but I want to know how to achieve those hairstyles, not just see pictures of them. From the title of the book, I thought that it would have step by step instructions on how to achieve the look, but it doesn't really. With the clothes, the reader can see what sort of design to look out for, but with hairstyles, it isn't enough to show a picture, we need to know what to do to get that style.

So, if you are a re-enactor, hoping to have step by step instructions, save your money, but if you just want to see pictures of 1940s styles, then this is okay, if a little pricey.

A Must For The Coffee Table, 23 Nov 2006
This book is fantastic and without doubt will sell many copies. It will delight young and old alike and is filled with lots of interesting information and many facts that would have been forgotten about this period. It is extremely well produced with excellent illustrations and photographs.

This is a book that when you look at it you will find great pleasure flicking through the pages delving in and out of the various styles that were sometimes forced to be worn during these difficult times. Without doubt you will know someone who would love to receive a copy of this book as it will make an ideal Christmas Gift.

10 out of ten for the Author - Mike Brown and 10 out of ten for the publishing Company for producing such a lovely book.




A must for all shoe lovers and fashion victims alike., 19 Jul 2000
This book is a must for any shoe lover. Taking on a role as the little black book of shoes, this has got to be the most fantastic and information packed shoe book so far! It just gets better and more outrageous with every page!

Fascinating, 16 Jun 2000
This book is for all lovers of shoes. Linda is certainly well heeled in her knowledge of footwear. Wonderful pics and I loved the step by step guide to their making.

A VOGUE TREAT AND RETROSPECTIVE WITH STYLE. Its KATE cover is the icing on the cake!, 06 Nov 2007
if you appreciate VOGUES and their talent at creating great covers, then this allows you to have an extensive look from the very beginning to now, there is a small anecdote for each page to read. The early covers were more like illustrations and art. Then came the models, the real ones. So many different ways of framing a face one might say, and that's when one realises the importance of editors and art directors. It is also great fun to see the evolution of beauty and its standards, the difference in make up, fashion, postures and what is sexy.
I myself got this book as i collect VOGUES (UK) from the mid 1980's to now, as i adore the supermodels of the 1990s era. VOGUE was a major factor for these girls success, so was HARPER'S BAZAAR. HARPER'S should come up with a book like this.
This book has something for everyone, as long as you all appreciate images of women, all symbols of their own era.
there is at least 10 KATE MOSS covers featured here, and plenty of the 1990's supermodels. it will sadly show that VOGUE has begun to lose some of that VOGUE touch, due to their recent tendency to feature too often now, actresses and singers, insead of sticking to cover models who know best.
Still, nicely chunky, glossy and very well laid -out book. great cover of course.

A cornerstone book for all costume and fashion students., 09 Oct 2001
The Victoria and Albert Museum houses one of the largest costume collections in Europe, stretching from 1603 to the present day, and now you have a chance to see virtually all of the items in their collection (bar their very fragile ones) without the need to travel to London.

Each chapter has clear points of the history of dress, and is divided into easy chapters covering men, women, periods in history with individual photographs of each article of dress including shoes, fans, underwear etc. All the photos are very clear, enabling the reader to get a detailed view of the costume.

Costume researcher or fashion student, this book is an important part of your collection that will be refered to again and again. My original copy is so worn out that I am ordering a new one to cope with the high demand!

THE SWEET SMELL OF NEW KICKS, 06 Feb 2006
Cracking little book,well designed with great photography to drool over. Only one small point,not enough type on collectors and collecting.Other than that worth double. CLASSY.

Not absolutely on the mark for the english reader, 14 Dec 2007
A beautiful book well thought out and illustrated. If you buy the book for it's pictures alone you'll not be disappointed. I would agree with a previous reviewer that it's not 100% on the money for the English reader, a bit too American in focus. Other than that a first rate book and very interesting even if ,like me, you're a bit of a slob!

Dressing the Man - For the British reader, 14 May 2006
The author knows his stuff. It's a good book and very detailed.
However, I found it heavy going, very much like reading a Haines car manual! Not a great deal of pictures, of which a majority are very old black & white shots of years gone by. I also found the wordage difficult to get along with.
It is very American and aimed at the US market. I found myself wondering if what I was reading relevant to me as a man in the UK. The 'how you should dress for work' section was so very 'American man goes to work'. Smart suits aside, nobody in England would dress for work in the ways described. It goes on about Ivy League cues etc. In essence it was classic style as we know it today came out of the US.
In summary I would compare it to 'Gentlemen - A timeless fashion', which I also have. Dressing the man has more historical detail, is hard going and aimed at the US reader/dresser. Gentlemen - A timeless fashion is better for how do I dress myself in a classic English way and why, with tons more pictures which help with a shopping list in your mind, it is also serves a handy easy reference. In my opinion Dressing the man does not offer good value for money compared to the other titles on the market; However that said the author knows his stuff but gets bogged down with history and nitty gritty and never really gets around to the hear and now.

Splendid Guide to Elegant, Timeless Dressing, 20 Aug 2005
Alan Flusser's beautiful book is essential if you have an interest in how to dress elegantly and timelessly. The book covers both business and, to some extent, casual attire. The knowledgeable text is accompanied by a marvellous collection of photographs and illustrations. If you are the type of man that watches Cary Grant and admires his suits as much as his acting, this book will delight you.

The definitive work in this area, 14 Feb 2003
Flusser's magnum opus exceeds Bernhard Roetzel's superb work "Gentleman: A Timeless Classic" as the simply the most comprehensive and authoritatve text on classic male dress. The chapters on proportion, colour and pattern deal with really important issues that Roetzel just misses out completely. The chapter on smart casual addresses an area that is very important to the modern office, but sorely neglected by other authors. The only other work I know of that addressed these fundamentals to anywhere near this level of detail is Spensor's "Style Directions for Men," but her work is hampered by an overly-compartmentalised approach and very poor samples of clothing (the photos have been extracted from a cheap mail order catalogue). I would strongly recommend this book along with "Style and the Man" (then you'll know what and how to wear things AND where to find them). Roetzel's book is definitely worth having as well, but it has been overtaken. A smaller, but highly informative work is Karlen and Sulavik's "Indispensible Guide," but that just doesn't have the kind of colour photos, intricate detail and historical background that "Dressing the Man" does. I recommend this book to any gent who wants to know more about classic style and dress.

A bit disappointing, 23 Jan 2007
After eagerly awaiting this book, it was finally delivered last week, and I have to say that I am a little disappointed with it.

Yes, there's lots of information with pictures on the 1940s look, from hairstyles to shoes, and all the bits in between, but I want to know how to achieve those hairstyles, not just see pictures of them. From the title of the book, I thought that it would have step by step instructions on how to achieve the look, but it doesn't really. With the clothes, the reader can see what sort of design to look out for, but with hairstyles, it isn't enough to show a picture, we need to know what to do to get that style.

So, if you are a re-enactor, hoping to have step by step instructions, save your money, but if you just want to see pictures of 1940s styles, then this is okay, if a little pricey.

A Must For The Coffee Table, 23 Nov 2006
This book is fantastic and without doubt will sell many copies. It will delight young and old alike and is filled with lots of interesting information and many facts that would have been forgotten about this period. It is extremely well produced with excellent illustrations and photographs.

This is a book that when you look at it you will find great pleasure flicking through the pages delving in and out of the various styles that were sometimes forced to be worn during these difficult times. Without doubt you will know someone who would love to receive a copy of this book as it will make an ideal Christmas Gift.

10 out of ten for the Author - Mike Brown and 10 out of ten for the publishing Company for producing such a lovely book.




A must for all shoe lovers and fashion victims alike., 19 Jul 2000
This book is a must for any shoe lover. Taking on a role as the little black book of shoes, this has got to be the most fantastic and information packed shoe book so far! It just gets better and more outrageous with every page!

Fascinating, 16 Jun 2000
This book is for all lovers of shoes. Linda is certainly well heeled in her knowledge of footwear. Wonderful pics and I loved the step by step guide to their making.

Charming and informative, 24 Jan 2004
The book gives a concise and fascinating guide to the history and varieties of English dress styles. Moreover, it is able deeply point out the classic nature of traditional dress, which does not fail to resound in the hearts of every traditional (if slightly eccentric in some cases) heart.

Although the book does give very helpful details on consistency and possible faux-pas, it does NOT act as a substitute for style or taste. It merely points out possibilities for the self-selecting wearer. If you are looking for what tee-shirts will suit your jeans and trainers, you will not find it here. Thank Goodness!
This having been said, the book fails to mention cravats, and mentions only scanty details of the Peacock Revolution.

I came across this book whilst looking for some points on waistcoats, and was delighted the whimsical world which I discovered to exist in some peoples' wardrobes. I shall be buying a bowler hat next Monday.
Indispensible!

An indispensible guide for smart chaps., 15 Oct 2001
A nifty little gem of a book that sets us chaps straight on matters of sartorial elegance. The book could be a tad bigger and more detailed, but then it wouldn't be a pocket guide would it! Should you wear a half-brogue or a full brogue? How do I fold my pocket hanky? Cuff-links or buttons? Tweeds or linens? But just remember chaps, a real gent must never unfurl his umbrella. If it's raining, an umbrella serves as the ideal impliment to hail a cab with. Toodle-pip.

Only really useful if you want the history of men's dress, 29 Jul 2001
What I was hoping for was some tips on what to wear with what and perhaps more importantly, what NOT to wear. However, what I got from this book was primarily (as one of the other reviews says) a history of where jackets, ties and so on came from. Very interesting in itself but not what I wanted or thought I was getting. To be fair there are a few tips of the type I sought at the end of each chapter but they are few and limited.

Ideal for real gentlemen., 28 Apr 2001
This book is perfect if you want to know how one should dress exactly. It is perhaps a little old-fashioned, but it is also highly informative. Indispensable.

Exceedingly useful, 04 Jan 1999
If you are attempting to gain knowledge of any aspects of correct British Dress and the history behind it, then look no further. The book is written with a dry wit and attention to detail, as important to have in your wardrobe as the clothes themselves.

A VOGUE TREAT AND RETROSPECTIVE WITH STYLE. Its KATE cover is the icing on the cake!, 06 Nov 2007
if you appreciate VOGUES and their talent at creating great covers, then this allows you to have an extensive look from the very beginning to now, there is a small anecdote for each page to read. The early covers were more like illustrations and art. Then came the models, the real ones. So many different ways of framing a face one might say, and that's when one realises the importance of editors and art directors. It is also great fun to see the evolution of beauty and its standards, the difference in make up, fashion, postures and what is sexy.
I myself got this book as i collect VOGUES (UK) from the mid 1980's to now, as i adore the supermodels of the 1990s era. VOGUE was a major factor for these girls success, so was HARPER'S BAZAAR. HARPER'S should come up with a book like this.
This book has something for everyone, as long as you all appreciate images of women, all symbols of their own era.
there is at least 10 KATE MOSS covers featured here, and plenty of the 1990's supermodels. it will sadly show that VOGUE has begun to lose some of that VOGUE touch, due to their recent tendency to feature too often now, actresses and singers, insead of sticking to cover models who know best.
Still, nicely chunky, glossy and very well laid -out book. great cover of course.

A cornerstone book for all costume and fashion students., 09 Oct 2001
The Victoria and Albert Museum houses one of the largest costume collections in Europe, stretching from 1603 to the present day, and now you have a chance to see virtually all of the items in their collection (bar their very fragile ones) without the need to travel to London.

Each chapter has clear points of the history of dress, and is divided into easy chapters covering men, women, periods in history with individual photographs of each article of dress including shoes, fans, underwear etc. All the photos are very clear, enabling the reader to get a detailed view of the costume.

Costume researcher or fashion student, this book is an important part of your collection that will be refered to again and again. My original copy is so worn out that I am ordering a new one to cope with the high demand!

THE SWEET SMELL OF NEW KICKS, 06 Feb 2006
Cracking little book,well designed with great photography to drool over. Only one small point,not enough type on collectors and collecting.Other than that worth double. CLASSY.

Not absolutely on the mark for the english reader, 14 Dec 2007
A beautiful book well thought out and illustrated. If you buy the book for it's pictures alone you'll not be disappointed. I would agree with a previous reviewer that it's not 100% on the money for the English reader, a bit too American in focus. Other than that a first rate book and very interesting even if ,like me, you're a bit of a slob!

Dressing the Man - For the British reader, 14 May 2006
The author knows his stuff. It's a good book and very detailed.
However, I found it heavy going, very much like reading a Haines car manual! Not a great deal of pictures, of which a majority are very old black & white shots of years gone by. I also found the wordage difficult to get along with.
It is very American and aimed at the US market. I found myself wondering if what I was reading relevant to me as a man in the UK. The 'how you should dress for work' section was so very 'American man goes to work'. Smart suits aside, nobody in England would dress for work in the ways described. It goes on about Ivy League cues etc. In essence it was classic style as we know it today came out of the US.
In summary I would compare it to 'Gentlemen - A timeless fashion', which I also have. Dressing the man has more historical detail, is hard going and aimed at the US reader/dresser. Gentlemen - A timeless fashion is better for how do I dress myself in a classic English way and why, with tons more pictures which help with a shopping list in your mind, it is also serves a handy easy reference. In my opinion Dressing the man does not offer good value for money compared to the other titles on the market; However that said the author knows his stuff but gets bogged down with history and nitty gritty and never really gets around to the hear and now.

Splendid Guide to Elegant, Timeless Dressing, 20 Aug 2005
Alan Flusser's beautiful book is essential if you have an interest in how to dress elegantly and timelessly. The book covers both business and, to some extent, casual attire. The knowledgeable text is accompanied by a marvellous collection of photographs and illustrations. If you are the type of man that watches Cary Grant and admires his suits as much as his acting, this book will delight you.

The definitive work in this area, 14 Feb 2003
Flusser's magnum opus exceeds Bernhard Roetzel's superb work "Gentleman: A Timeless Classic" as the simply the most comprehensive and authoritatve text on classic male dress. The chapters on proportion, colour and pattern deal with really important issues that Roetzel just misses out completely. The chapter on smart casual addresses an area that is very important to the modern office, but sorely neglected by other authors. The only other work I know of that addressed these fundamentals to anywhere near this level of detail is Spensor's "Style Directions for Men," but her work is hampered by an overly-compartmentalised approach and very poor samples of clothing (the photos have been extracted from a cheap mail order catalogue). I would strongly recommend this book along with "Style and the Man" (then you'll know what and how to wear things AND where to find them). Roetzel's book is definitely worth having as well, but it has been overtaken. A smaller, but highly informative work is Karlen and Sulavik's "Indispensible Guide," but that just doesn't have the kind of colour photos, intricate detail and historical background that "Dressing the Man" does. I recommend this book to any gent who wants to know more about classic style and dress.

A bit disappointing, 23 Jan 2007
After eagerly awaiting this book, it was finally delivered last week, and I have to say that I am a little disappointed with it.

Yes, there's lots of information with pictures on the 1940s look, from hairstyles to shoes, and all the bits in between, but I want to know how to achieve those hairstyles, not just see pictures of them. From the title of the book, I thought that it would have step by step instructions on how to achieve the look, but it doesn't really. With the clothes, the reader can see what sort of design to look out for, but with hairstyles, it isn't enough to show a picture, we need to know what to do to get that style.

So, if you are a re-enactor, hoping to have step by step instructions, save your money, but if you just want to see pictures of 1940s styles, then this is okay, if a little pricey.

A Must For The Coffee Table, 23 Nov 2006
This book is fantastic and without doubt will sell many copies. It will delight young and old alike and is filled with lots of interesting information and many facts that would have been forgotten about this period. It is extremely well produced with excellent illustrations and photographs.

This is a book that when you look at it you will find great pleasure flicking through the pages delving in and out of the various styles that were sometimes forced to be worn during these difficult times. Without doubt you will know someone who would love to receive a copy of this book as it will make an ideal Christmas Gift.

10 out of ten for the Author - Mike Brown and 10 out of ten for the publishing Company for producing such a lovely book.




A must for all shoe lovers and fashion victims alike., 19 Jul 2000
This book is a must for any shoe lover. Taking on a role as the little black book of shoes, this has got to be the most fantastic and information packed shoe book so far! It just gets better and more outrageous with every page!

Fascinating, 16 Jun 2000
This book is for all lovers of shoes. Linda is certainly well heeled in her knowledge of footwear. Wonderful pics and I loved the step by step guide to their making.

Charming and informative, 24 Jan 2004
The book gives a concise and fascinating guide to the history and varieties of English dress styles. Moreover, it is able deeply point out the classic nature of traditional dress, which does not fail to resound in the hearts of every traditional (if slightly eccentric in some cases) heart.

Although the book does give very helpful details on consistency and possible faux-pas, it does NOT act as a substitute for style or taste. It merely points out possibilities for the self-selecting wearer. If you are looking for what tee-shirts will suit your jeans and trainers, you will not find it here. Thank Goodness!
This having been said, the book fails to mention cravats, and mentions only scanty details of the Peacock Revolution.

I came across this book whilst looking for some points on waistcoats, and was delighted the whimsical world which I discovered to exist in some peoples' wardrobes. I shall be buying a bowler hat next Monday.
Indispensible!

An indispensible guide for smart chaps., 15 Oct 2001
A nifty little gem of a book that sets us chaps straight on matters of sartorial elegance. The book could be a tad bigger and more detailed, but then it wouldn't be a pocket guide would it! Should you wear a half-brogue or a full brogue? How do I fold my pocket hanky? Cuff-links or buttons? Tweeds or linens? But just remember chaps, a real gent must never unfurl his umbrella. If it's raining, an umbrella serves as the ideal impliment to hail a cab with. Toodle-pip.

Only really useful if you want the history of men's dress, 29 Jul 2001
What I was hoping for was some tips on what to wear with what and perhaps more importantly, what NOT to wear. However, what I got from this book was primarily (as one of the other reviews says) a history of where jackets, ties and so on came from. Very interesting in itself but not what I wanted or thought I was getting. To be fair there are a few tips of the type I sought at the end of each chapter but they are few and limited.

Ideal for real gentlemen., 28 Apr 2001
This book is perfect if you want to know how one should dress exactly. It is perhaps a little old-fashioned, but it is also highly informative. Indispensable.

Exceedingly useful, 04 Jan 1999
If you are attempting to gain knowledge of any aspects of correct British Dress and the history behind it, then look no further. The book is written with a dry wit and attention to detail, as important to have in your wardrobe as the clothes themselves.

A bag addicts delight !, 16 Mar 2005
This is a wonderful little book all about handbags....and it's small enough to slip into your bag! Full of gorgeous photos of all kinds of bags, from the funky, fun type to the serious office bag and from the beaded extravaganza to the funtional tote. It also gives a brief history of bags and some background info on some of the designers. A handbag addict will love this book.

The Power of the Purse!, 30 Nov 2003
This book has everything for the bag lover. it shows a range of designer handbags which are facinating to look at. It inspires you to start a collection of your very own and contains everything from evening bags to novelty bags. I highly recommend this book. It will have you flicking through it for hours and I often find myself refering back to it.

A VOGUE TREAT AND RETROSPECTIVE WITH STYLE. Its KATE cover is the icing on the cake!, 06 Nov 2007
if you appreciate VOGUES and their talent at creating great covers, then this allows you to have an extensive look from the very beginning to now, there is a small anecdote for each page to read. The early covers were more like illustrations and art. Then came the models, the real ones. So many different ways of framing a face one might say, and that's when one realises the importance of editors and art directors. It is also great fun to see the evolution of beauty and its standards, the difference in make up, fashion, postures and what is sexy.
I myself got this book as i collect VOGUES (UK) from the mid 1980's to now, as i adore the supermodels of the 1990s era. VOGUE was a major factor for these girls success, so was HARPER'S BAZAAR. HARPER'S should come up with a book like this.
This book has something for everyone, as long as you all appreciate images of women, all symbols of their own era.
there is at least 10 KATE MOSS covers featured here, and plenty of the 1990's supermodels. it will sadly show that VOGUE has begun to lose some of that VOGUE touch, due to their recent tendency to feature too often now, actresses and singers, insead of sticking to cover models who know best.
Still, nicely chunky, glossy and very well laid -out book. great cover of course.

A cornerstone book for all costume and fashion students., 09 Oct 2001
The Victoria and Albert Museum houses one of the largest costume collections in Europe, stretching from 1603 to the present day, and now you have a chance to see virtually all of the items in their collection (bar their very fragile ones) without the need to travel to London.

Each chapter has clear points of the history of dress, and is divided into easy chapters covering men, women, periods in history with individual photographs of each article of dress including shoes, fans, underwear etc. All the photos are very clear, enabling the reader to get a detailed view of the costume.

Costume researcher or fashion student, this book is an important part of your collection that will be refered to again and again. My original copy is so worn out that I am ordering a new one to cope with the high demand!

THE SWEET SMELL OF NEW KICKS, 06 Feb 2006
Cracking little book,well designed with great photography to drool over. Only one small point,not enough type on collectors and collecting.Other than that worth double. CLASSY.

Not absolutely on the mark for the english reader, 14 Dec 2007
A beautiful book well thought out and illustrated. If you buy the book for it's pictures alone you'll not be disappointed. I would agree with a previous reviewer that it's not 100% on the money for the English reader, a bit too American in focus. Other than that a first rate book and very interesting even if ,like me, you're a bit of a slob!

Dressing the Man - For the British reader, 14 May 2006
The author knows his stuff. It's a good book and very detailed.
However, I found it heavy going, very much like reading a Haines car manual! Not a great deal of pictures, of which a majority are very old black & white shots of years gone by. I also found the wordage difficult to get along with.
It is very American and aimed at the US market. I found myself wondering if what I was reading relevant to me as a man in the UK. The 'how you should dress for work' section was so very 'American man goes to work'. Smart suits aside, nobody in England would dress for work in the ways described. It goes on about Ivy League cues etc. In essence it was classic style as we know it today came out of the US.
In summary I would compare it to 'Gentlemen - A timeless fashion', which I also have. Dressing the man has more historical detail, is hard going and aimed at the US reader/dresser. Gentlemen - A timeless fashion is better for how do I dress myself in a classic English way and why, with tons more pictures which help with a shopping list in your mind, it is also serves a handy easy reference. In my opinion Dressing the man does not offer good value for money compared to the other titles on the market; However that said the author knows his stuff but gets bogged down with history and nitty gritty and never really gets around to the hear and now.

Splendid Guide to Elegant, Timeless Dressing, 20 Aug 2005
Alan Flusser's beautiful book is essential if you have an interest in how to dress elegantly and timelessly. The book covers both business and, to some extent, casual attire. The knowledgeable text is accompanied by a marvellous collection of photographs and illustrations. If you are the type of man that watches Cary Grant and admires his suits as much as his acting, this book will delight you.

The definitive work in this area, 14 Feb 2003
Flusser's magnum opus exceeds Bernhard Roetzel's superb work "Gentleman: A Timeless Classic" as the simply the most comprehensive and authoritatve text on classic male dress. The chapters on proportion, colour and pattern deal with really important issues that Roetzel just misses out completely. The chapter on smart casual addresses an area that is very important to the modern office, but sorely neglected by other authors. The only other work I know of that addressed these fundamentals to anywhere near this level of detail is Spensor's "Style Directions for Men," but her work is hampered by an overly-compartmentalised approach and very poor samples of clothing (the photos have been extracted from a cheap mail order catalogue). I would strongly recommend this book along with "Style and the Man" (then you'll know what and how to wear things AND where to find them). Roetzel's book is definitely worth having as well, but it has been overtaken. A smaller, but highly informative work is Karlen and Sulavik's "Indispensible Guide," but that just doesn't have the kind of colour photos, intricate detail and historical background that "Dressing the Man" does. I recommend this book to any gent who wants to know more about classic style and dress.

A bit disappointing, 23 Jan 2007
After eagerly awaiting this book, it was finally delivered last week, and I have to say that I am a little disappointed with it.

Yes, there's lots of information with pictures on the 1940s look, from hairstyles to shoes, and all the bits in between, but I want to know how to achieve those hairstyles, not just see pictures of them. From the title of the book, I thought that it would have step by step instructions on how to achieve the look, but it doesn't really. With the clothes, the reader can see what sort of design to look out for, but with hairstyles, it isn't enough to show a picture, we need to know what to do to get that style.

So, if you are a re-enactor, hoping to have step by step instructions, save your money, but if you just want to see pictures of 1940s styles, then this is okay, if a little pricey.

A Must For The Coffee Table, 23 Nov 2006
This book is fantastic and without doubt will sell many copies. It will delight young and old alike and is filled with lots of interesting information and many facts that would have been forgotten about this period. It is extremely well produced with excellent illustrations and photographs.

This is a book that when you look at it you will find great pleasure flicking through the pages delving in and out of the various styles that were sometimes forced to be worn during these difficult times. Without doubt you will know someone who would love to receive a copy of this book as it will make an ideal Christmas Gift.

10 out of ten for the Author - Mike Brown and 10 out of ten for the publishing Company for producing such a lovely book.




A must for all shoe lovers and fashion victims alike., 19 Jul 2000
This book is a must for any shoe lover. Taking on a role as the little black book of shoes, this has got to be the most fantastic and information packed shoe book so far! It just gets better and more outrageous with every page!

Fascinating, 16 Jun 2000
This book is for all lovers of shoes. Linda is certainly well heeled in her knowledge of footwear. Wonderful pics and I loved the step by step guide to their making.

Charming and informative, 24 Jan 2004
The book gives a concise and fascinating guide to the history and varieties of English dress styles. Moreover, it is able deeply point out the classic nature of traditional dress, which does not fail to resound in the hearts of every traditional (if slightly eccentric in some cases) heart.

Although the book does give very helpful details on consistency and possible faux-pas, it does NOT act as a substitute for style or taste. It merely points out possibilities for the self-selecting wearer. If you are looking for what tee-shirts will suit your jeans and trainers, you will not find it here. Thank Goodness!
This having been said, the book fails to mention cravats, and mentions only scanty details of the Peacock Revolution.

I came across this book whilst looking for some points on waistcoats, and was delighted the whimsical world which I discovered to exist in some peoples' wardrobes. I shall be buying a bowler hat next Monday.
Indispensible!

An indispensible guide for smart chaps., 15 Oct 2001
A nifty little gem of a book that sets us chaps straight on matters of sartorial elegance. The book could be a tad bigger and more detailed, but then it wouldn't be a pocket guide would it! Should you wear a half-brogue or a full brogue? How do I fold my pocket hanky? Cuff-links or buttons? Tweeds or linens? But just remember chaps, a real gent must never unfurl his umbrella. If it's raining, an umbrella serves as the ideal impliment to hail a cab with. Toodle-pip.

Only really useful if you want the history of men's dress, 29 Jul 2001
What I was hoping for was some tips on what to wear with what and perhaps more importantly, what NOT to wear. However, what I got from this book was primarily (as one of the other reviews says) a history of where jackets, ties and so on came from. Very interesting in itself but not what I wanted or thought I was getting. To be fair there are a few tips of the type I sought at the end of each chapter but they are few and limited.

Ideal for real gentlemen., 28 Apr 2001
This book is perfect if you want to know how one should dress exactly. It is perhaps a little old-fashioned, but it is also highly informative. Indispensable.

Exceedingly useful, 04 Jan 1999
If you are attempting to gain knowledge of any aspects of correct British Dress and the history behind it, then look no further. The book is written with a dry wit and attention to detail, as important to have in your wardrobe as the clothes themselves.

A bag addicts delight !, 16 Mar 2005
This is a wonderful little book all about handbags....and it's small enough to slip into your bag! Full of gorgeous photos of all kinds of bags, from the funky, fun type to the serious office bag and from the beaded extravaganza to the funtional tote. It also gives a brief history of bags and some background info on some of the designers. A handbag addict will love this book.

The Power of the Purse!, 30 Nov 2003
This book has everything for the bag lover. it shows a range of designer handbags which are facinating to look at. It inspires you to start a collection of your very own and contains everything from evening bags to novelty bags. I highly recommend this book. It will have you flicking through it for hours and I often find myself refering back to it.

Can't wait for this book to come out in January!!!, 09 Oct 2007
There has been such a buzz around this book and I am so excited to pick up a copy when it comes out. I have worked with Bridgette Raes and her knowledge and amazing insight about what women should be wearing to flatter their bodies (and their flaws) is truly a gift! This book is going to help millions of women! Highly recommend picking one up...you won't regret it!

A VOGUE TREAT AND RETROSPECTIVE WITH STYLE. Its KATE cover is the icing on the cake!, 06 Nov 2007
if you appreciate VOGUES and their talent at creating great covers, then this allows you to have an extensive look from the very beginning to now, there is a small anecdote for each page to read. The early covers were more like illustrations and art. Then came the models, the real ones. So many different ways of framing a face one might say, and that's when one realises the importance of editors and art directors. It is also great fun to see the evolution of beauty and its standards, the difference in make up, fashion, postures and what is sexy.
I myself got this book as i collect VOGUES (UK) from the mid 1980's to now, as i adore the supermodels of the 1990s era. VOGUE was a major factor for these girls success, so was HARPER'S BAZAAR. HARPER'S should come up with a book like this.
This book has something for everyone, as long as you all appreciate images of women, all symbols of their own era.
there is at least 10 KATE MOSS covers featured here, and plenty of the 1990's supermodels. it will sadly show that VOGUE has begun to lose some of that VOGUE touch, due to their recent tendency to feature too often now, actresses and singers, insead of sticking to cover models who know best.
Still, nicely chunky, glossy and very well laid -out book. great cover of course.

A cornerstone book for all costume and fashion students., 09 Oct 2001
The Victoria and Albert Museum houses one of the largest costume collections in Europe, stretching from 1603 to the present day, and now you have a chance to see virtually all of the items in their collection (bar their very fragile ones) without the need to travel to London.

Each chapter has clear points of the history of dress, and is divided into easy chapters covering men, women, periods in history with individual photographs of each article of dress including shoes, fans, underwear etc. All the photos are very clear, enabling the reader to get a detailed view of the costume.

Costume researcher or fashion student, this book is an important part of your collection that will be refered to again and again. My original copy is so worn out that I am ordering a new one to cope with the high demand!

THE SWEET SMELL OF NEW KICKS, 06 Feb 2006
Cracking little book,well designed with great photography to drool over. Only one small point,not enough type on collectors and collecting.Other than that worth double. CLASSY.

Not absolutely on the mark for the english reader, 14 Dec 2007
A beautiful book well thought out and illustrated. If you buy the book for it's pictures alone you'll not be disappointed. I would agree with a previous reviewer that it's not 100% on the money for the English reader, a bit too American in focus. Other than that a first rate book and very interesting even if ,like me, you're a bit of a slob!

Dressing the Man - For the British reader, 14 May 2006
The author knows his stuff. It's a good book and very detailed.
However, I found it heavy going, very much like reading a Haines car manual! Not a great deal of pictures, of which a majority are very old black & white shots of years gone by. I also found the wordage difficult to get along with.
It is very American and aimed at the US market. I found myself wondering if what I was reading relevant to me as a man in the UK. The 'how you should dress for work' section was so very 'American man goes to work'. Smart suits aside, nobody in England would dress for work in the ways described. It goes on about Ivy League cues etc. In essence it was classic style as we know it today came out of the US.
In summary I would compare it to 'Gentlemen - A timeless fashion', which I also have. Dressing the man has more historical detail, is hard going and aimed at the US reader/dresser. Gentlemen - A timeless fashion is better for how do I dress myself in a classic English way and why, with tons more pictures which help with a shopping list in your mind, it is also serves a handy easy reference. In my opinion Dressing the man does not offer good value for money compared to the other titles on the market; However that said the author knows his stuff but gets bogged down with history and nitty gritty and never really gets around to the hear and now.

Splendid Guide to Elegant, Timeless Dressing, 20 Aug 2005
Alan Flusser's beautiful book is essential if you have an interest in how to dress elegantly and timelessly. The book covers both business and, to some extent, casual attire. The knowledgeable text is accompanied by a marvellous collection of photographs and illustrations. If you are the type of man that watches Cary Grant and admires his suits as much as his acting, this book will delight you.

The definitive work in this area, 14 Feb 2003
Flusser's magnum opus exceeds Bernhard Roetzel's superb work "Gentleman: A Timeless Classic" as the simply the most comprehensive and authoritatve text on classic male dress. The chapters on proportion, colour and pattern deal with really important issues that Roetzel just misses out completely. The chapter on smart casual addresses an area that is very important to the modern office, but sorely neglected by other authors. The only other work I know of that addressed these fundamentals to anywhere near this level of detail is Spensor's "Style Directions for Men," but her work is hampered by an overly-compartmentalised approach and very poor samples of clothing (the photos have been extracted from a cheap mail order catalogue). I would strongly recommend this book along with "Style and the Man" (then you'll know what and how to wear things AND where to find them). Roetzel's book is definitely worth having as well, but it has been overtaken. A smaller, but highly informative work is Karlen and Sulavik's "Indispensible Guide," but that just doesn't have the kind of colour photos, intricate detail and historical background that "Dressing the Man" does. I recommend this book to any gent who wants to know more about classic style and dress.

A bit disappointing, 23 Jan 2007
After eagerly awaiting this book, it was finally delivered last week, and I have to say that I am a little disappointed with it.

Yes, there's lots of information with pictures on the 1940s look, from hairstyles to shoes, and all the bits in between, but I want to know how to achieve those hairstyles, not just see pictures of them. From the title of the book, I thought that it would have step by step instructions on how to achieve the look, but it doesn't really. With the clothes, the reader can see what sort of design to look out for, but with hairstyles, it isn't enough to show a picture, we need to know what to do to get that style.

So, if you are a re-enactor, hoping to have step by step instructions, save your money, but if you just want to see pictures of 1940s styles, then this is okay, if a little pricey.

A Must For The Coffee Table, 23 Nov 2006
This book is fantastic and without doubt will sell many copies. It will delight young and old alike and is filled with lots of interesting information and many facts that would have been forgotten about this period. It is extremely well produced with excellent illustrations and photographs.

This is a book that when you look at it you will find great pleasure flicking through the pages delving in and out of the various styles that were sometimes forced to be worn during these difficult times. Without doubt you will know someone who would love to receive a copy of this book as it will make an ideal Christmas Gift.

10 out of ten for the Author - Mike Brown and 10 out of ten for the publishing Company for producing such a lovely book.




A must for all shoe lovers and fashion victims alike., 19 Jul 2000
This book is a must for any shoe lover. Taking on a role as the little black book of shoes, this has got to be the most fantastic and information packed shoe book so far! It just gets better and more outrageous with every page!

Fascinating, 16 Jun 2000
This book is for all lovers of shoes. Linda is certainly well heeled in her knowledge of footwear. Wonderful pics and I loved the step by step guide to their making.

Charming and informative, 24 Jan 2004
The book gives a concise and fascinating guide to the history and varieties of English dress styles. Moreover, it is able deeply point out the classic nature of traditional dress, which does not fail to resound in the hearts of every traditional (if slightly eccentric in some cases) heart.

Although the book does give very helpful details on consistency and possible faux-pas, it does NOT act as a substitute for style or taste. It merely points out possibilities for the self-selecting wearer. If you are looking for what tee-shirts will suit your jeans and trainers, you will not find it here. Thank Goodness!
This having been said, the book fails to mention cravats, and mentions only scanty details of the Peacock Revolution.

I came across this book whilst looking for some points on waistcoats, and was delighted the whimsical world which I discovered to exist in some peoples' wardrobes. I shall be buying a bowler hat next Monday.
Indispensible!

An indispensible guide for smart chaps., 15 Oct 2001
A nifty little gem of a book that sets us chaps straight on matters of sartorial elegance. The book could be a tad bigger and more detailed, but then it wouldn't be a pocket guide would it! Should you wear a half-brogue or a full brogue? How do I fold my pocket hanky? Cuff-links or buttons? Tweeds or linens? But just remember chaps, a real gent must never unfurl his umbrella. If it's raining, an umbrella serves as the ideal impliment to hail a cab with. Toodle-pip.

Only really useful if you want the history of men's dress, 29 Jul 2001
What I was hoping for was some tips on what to wear with what and perhaps more importantly, what NOT to wear. However, what I got from this book was primarily (as one of the other reviews says) a history of where jackets, ties and so on came from. Very interesting in itself but not what I wanted or thought I was getting. To be fair there are a few tips of the type I sought at the end of each chapter but they are few and limited.

Ideal for real gentlemen., 28 Apr 2001
This book is perfect if you want to know how one should dress exactly. It is perhaps a little old-fashioned, but it is also highly informative. Indispensable.

Exceedingly useful, 04 Jan 1999
If you are attempting to gain knowledge of any aspects of correct British Dress and the history behind it, then look no further. The book is written with a dry wit and attention to detail, as important to have in your wardrobe as the clothes themselves.

A bag addicts delight !, 16 Mar 2005
This is a wonderful little book all about handbags....and it's small enough to slip into your bag! Full of gorgeous photos of all kinds of bags, from the funky, fun type to the serious office bag and from the beaded extravaganza to the funtional tote. It also gives a brief history of bags and some background info on some of the designers. A handbag addict will love this book.

The Power of the Purse!, 30 Nov 2003
This book has everything for the bag lover. it shows a range of designer handbags which are facinating to look at. It inspires you to start a collection of your very own and contains everything from evening bags to novelty bags. I highly recommend this book. It will have you flicking through it for hours and I often find myself refering back to it.

Can't wait for this book to come out in January!!!, 09 Oct 2007
There has been such a buzz around this book and I am so excited to pick up a copy when it comes out. I have worked with Bridgette Raes and her knowledge and amazing insight about what women should be wearing to flatter their bodies (and their flaws) is truly a gift! This book is going to help millions of women! Highly recommend picking one up...you won't regret it!

Want to know the history of corsets to the present day- read this!, 23 Apr 2007
An excellent well written book on the history of corsets up to the present day for both men and women, with illustrations and diagrams. This has proved to be a most useful book for my dissertation on the effects of the corset on the body and in society. The content has been well researched and put together in different sections that are easy to follow and digest. I think this is a great book for anyone interested in corsets whether it be for work / education or just as a hobby. I have many corset books and as far as the history of corsets this has to be one of the best.

A wealth of information., 27 Nov 2005
This book is great for anyone interested in the history of, or modern corsetry. Some great images that i haven't seen elsewhere, but if your looking for any technical information, this book is slightly lacking. A good initial insight into corsetry.

The Corset, 19 Apr 2005
This book is fantastic, it helps portray the history of the corset from the beginning when both men and women were subjected to wearing it and through to fetishism and modern day use. The pictures are brilliant and the diagrams show how the corset affected women's bodies and organs. It definitely helped me out with a number of essays on art and fashion. I absolutely recommend this book even just to read, it's very interesting and gives a thorough anthology of it's history.

A VOGUE TREAT AND RETROSPECTIVE WITH STYLE. Its KATE cover is the icing on the cake!, 06 Nov 2007
if you appreciate VOGUES and their talent at creating great covers, then this allows you to have an extensive look from the very beginning to now, there is a small anecdote for each page to read. The early covers were more like illustrations and art. Then came the models, the real ones. So many different ways of framing a face one might say, and that's when one realises the importance of editors and art directors. It is also great fun to see the evolution of beauty and its standards, the difference in make up, fashion, postures and what is sexy.
I myself got this book as i collect VOGUES (UK) from the mid 1980's to now, as i adore the supermodels of the 1990s era. VOGUE was a major factor for these girls success, so was HARPER'S BAZAAR. HARPER'S should come up with a book like this.
This book has something for everyone, as long as you all appreciate images of women, all symbols of their own era.
there is at least 10 KATE MOSS covers featured here, and plenty of the 1990's supermodels. it will sadly show that VOGUE has begun to lose some of that VOGUE touch, due to their recent tendency to feature too often now, actresses and singers, inse