101 THINGS I LEARNED IN FASHION SCHOOL: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
101 THINGS I LEARNED
IN FASHION SCHOOL
BY ALFREDO CABRERA
WITH MATTHEW FREDERICK

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The world of the fashionista is brought to vivid life with 101 introductory lessons on such topics as how a designer anticipates cultural trends and "sees" the fashion consumer, the workings of the fashion calendar, the ways a designer collection is conceived, the manufacture of fabric, fashion illustration, and more. Illustrated in the distinctly unique packaged style of the bestselling101 THINGS I LEARNED IN ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL, this new book on fashion design will be a perfect book for any fashion school wannabe, a recent graduate, or even a seasoned professional.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Matthew Frederick is an architect, urban designer, and the author of the bestselling 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School (MIT Press, 2007). He has been project architect and consultant for project types from single-family houses to urban master plans, and has been internationally recognized for his work. He began his writing career as the architecture critic for The Harrisburg Patriot-News, the daily newspaper of Pennsylvania's capital city. He has taught at a number of other colleges and has served as a design critic at the University of Utah, Illinois Institute of Technology, Drexel University, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science, Temple University, and Wentworth Institute of Technology. He completed co-authorship of four books in the 101 Things I Learned book series, which includes titles in Business, Culinary Arts, Fashion and Film.

Alfredo Cabrera, who is based in New York City, is an award-winning fashion designer and illustrator. His clients have included Henri Bendel, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Jeans, Xpress, The Limited, Girbaud Jones New York, Nautica, FUBU, Izod and Liz Claiborne.

MY REVIEW:

In another addition to the "101 Series" from Matthew Frederick, 101 THINGS I LEARNED IN FASHION SCHOOL, he worked with Alfredo Cabrera who is an amazingly talented and experienced designer. Their purpose for this book was to help people learn about what it takes to study to be a designer and learn the technical parts to it as most have the creativity already. Creativity problems can be solved in a realistic manner but they still need the tools to do it with and that is much of what this book is about. In learning about fashion design, much is discussed for situations the designers may encounter when really they need more of the hands-on experience. They also need to know what kind of person they are designing for in order to create the outfit that literally and figuratively fits them.

Cabrera also includes some history of design to give the students background to work with. There are so many interesting one to two page "things" discussed that it gives the lay person an inside look at how clothing come to be. I think the section called "If you don't know how the garment you've designed will be made, you haven't designed anything" is so important and somewhat of a revelation. Of course, I watch "Project Runway" so have come to understand how true this is. I once thought that designers just drew pictures for someone to make but I have learned and this book supports it, that you must know how to make the garment in order to understand how it will come together and move with the person and fit. All this is so important as the design industry is very competitive and you must really know what you are doing or you will not make it. As Heidi Klum, hostess of Project Runway tells the aspiring designers, "One day you in, and the next day you are out!". Don't be "out" with fashion design sense when you can read this book and pick up much of what you need.

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO ANNA AND THE GOOD FOLKS
AT THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP,
I HAVE THREE COPIES OF THIS
FASHIONABLE BOOK TO GIVE AWAY!

THE RULES:

--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE
SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT
AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY


HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT THIS BOOK FROM THE REVIEW AND INFORMATION THAT IS WRITTEN ABOVE.

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE OTHER CURRENT GIVEAWAY OF MINE THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED. ONLY TELL ABOUT ONE THIS TIME, PLEASE

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, JUNE 5!

GOOD LUCK!