Everyday Fashions of the Fifties As Pictured in Sears Catalogs (Dover Fashion and Costumes)

I thouroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was packed from start to finish with pictures. The book gives an excellent overview of what the average woman was wearing in the 1950's, unlike many similar books which focus on important designers.

While it is very light on text I still feel that it is a must for anyone interested in this period.

This is a primary source book that tells the prices and materials, which are very helpful to a costume designer. I also enjoy the book Fifties Forever, which is similar except it's color photos of actual vintage stuff (the color does help, but the Sears catalogue is still great without it).

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Whenever I take this book out, people fight over a peek into its glossy pages. It covers everything in fashion from the fifties, though mostly focusing on women. The pictures depict fashions, from dresses to shoes, hats and gloves to maternity wear; the women's hairstyles, makeup, and overall looks give the reader the most authentic possible view of fashion and the aesthetic ideals of the time. The catalogue also shows the prices and features descriptions that include fabric, color, and price. There are some pictures of teenage, male, and children's fashions. This book is thorough and unbelievably beautiful.

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Where's the chain? Cause this book is off it!! 120 pages full of 50's fashions! Each page is topped with the date that the garments were shown in the catalog. It's about 75% women's; dresses, 4 piece weekender wardrobes, winter wear, professional uniforms, pajamas, swimwear, and accessories. I love the descriptions, such as, but not limited to, "The bra is neat as a pin...". I also love that they refer to old lady fashions as "for the Gracious Lady", hilarious. I make vintage reproduction clothing and this book is the perfect guide for pattern drafting ideas. The descriptions of the clothing are top notch, everything from various colors (which is nice cause the pictures are black and white), hidden pockets, fabric, and built-in panties. Sure, it's not a lot of pages, but this slim lil lady has all the basics. Use it for dating vintage clothing, pattern drafting ideas, or, you know, whatever. I say get it and if there's one thing I'm known for, it's my book buying advice. :)

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This thin but satisfying volume is crammed with black-and-white photographs of 1950s clothing of almost every type (no high fashion -this is department store clothing). There is an obvious effort to represent as many types of clothes as possible and focus on representative fashions of each year, from the 40s-ish fashion of 1950 to the beginnings of mod in 1958. Many of the garments are accompanied by catalog text, which provides a surprising amount of detail on the construction of the garment -great for anyone looking to recreate similar styles. I suppose many of the prospective clients were home seamstresses and knew the vocabulary, and perhaps expected to be told by the store what type of fastening, seaming, or back vent a garment had. There is also a lot of information about fabric, as the catalogs tended to brag about whatever horrible synthetic fabric was considered advanced that year. My favorite item in the book may be the anachronistic "push up bra" from 1957, described as providing "above-the-bra loveliness."

This book can't compete with thicker compilations that provide color photographs, and it may not contain enough of whatever your particular interest is (there aren't many undergarments, for instance). But it's a good source for information and inspiration for retro fans, and well worth the relatively low price.

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Born A Healer: I was born a healer. You were born a healer, too!

Master Chunyi Lin's stated mission is "A Healer in Every Family and a World Without Pain." This book goes a long way toward making that lofty goal a reality. It is very readable, engaging and inspiring. Compared to other Qigong books I have since read, it is more direct, easy to understand and immediately practical. Offering a combination of "how-to" instruction in the practice of Qigong; biographical background; and personal testimonies of those who have experienced profound healing from this simple but powerful practice,Born a Healer is a great manual for anyone who is ready to experience the wonders of Qigong healing for self and others. As one who knew about subtle energies for decades but had yet to actually raise the awareness of them in my own body, I was amazed to find that Master Lin's easily learnable exercises awakened my sensitivity to these energies within a couple of practice sessions.The healing modalities he teaches are accessible to anyone who is willing to practice with them, and the results--for me--have been astounding. You will not want to stop with this book. Master Lin's live trainings and audio-video support materials can take you as far as you want to go, and in his presence you know that he is someone whose motivation is centered in love.

I read "Born a Healer" after attending a week-long retreat with Chunyi Lin. The book was helpful for me in that it gave a background and history of Chunyi's experience which led up to his creation of Spring Forest Qigong. It is uplifting to see another human being forge such beauty and assistance for humanity out of such suffering. All my life as a health care practitioner I have searched for ways to make other human beings more self-sufficient with their health, and to provide them with methods to easily help others in pain. In "Born a Healer" we learn just that. Chunyi has developed a system that is simple, practical, and effective. I use his techniques daily for myself, my family, my patients, friends, and anyone in need. I am so grateful for his gifts.

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If you are open to it, your healing will begin just by reading this book. Chunyi Lin shares his incredible life story filled with terror and pain to show how Spring Forest Qigong was eventually created. This book was written from his heart to share with his readers a way for them to experience and develop their own healing gift. The basic meditation and exercises that he thoroughly explains are easy to grasp and simple to do. The testimonials included instill confidence that anyone can learn and practice Spring Forest Qigong and experience incredible healing! Above all, Chunyi Lin teaches that learning Qigong technique is important but that the most important aspect of healing comes from the energy of love, kindness and forgiveness.

I love this book. It is a treasure not to be missed.

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I have studied "natural healing" since the 70s and this book is a wonderful addition to my library. I cannot overrate it. It is adding so much to my life and I have only begun to use the tools in the book. It is so exciting to be introduced to someone who is so willing to share the wonderful techniques of the Qigong masters. Chunyi Lin has been through the incredibly intense "initiation" and realized that the healing power is available to everyone.

While many Qigong masters say it takes decades to develop the power to heal others, Chunyi Lin says he can teach anyone how to heal others in two minutes!!!

This is one of the most powerful books I have ever read.

I cannot recommend it enough.

Matti

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Qigong (translated anywhere from "breathing exercise" to "energy exploit") can be a potent force in health and healing, as well as in martial arts. Yet, while herbal medicine and acupuncture have gained grudging credence in Western Medicine, qigong has remained a mystery, not only in the West but also in its native land of China. Unlike herbal medicine and acupuncture, which abound in accepted texts, and established clinical, educational and research institutions, Qigong Healing, despite three millennia of history, numerous convincing anecdotes, and considerable scientific research, lacks both. The art is perpetuated nearly entirely from master to student, one on one, to a selected few. There are as many variations of the art as there are practitioners. Thus, while there are other successful Qigong healers now practicing in the West, it is remarkable that Author Chunyi Lin (literally, Spring-Proper Forest) has been able to establish not only a flourishing clinical practice, but a popular educational program, which includes adult educational classes, home-study courses and seminars, with thousands of students, successful graduates and an international following, in, of all places, the suburbs of the Twin Cities. Co-writer, Rebstock, who, as a skeptical investigative TV journalist, thoroughly studied the available scientific data on Qigong before interviewing Lin, eventually became an ardent convert. Respectable academics in Western Medicine have initiated serious research into the efficacies of "Spring Forest Qigong".

Arrestingly narrated in clear, simple English, the Book consists of three parts. Part One recounts Lin's terrifying childhood, and bitter experiences during his formative years that could have rendered him bitter for life but did not; his success in gaining an academic career despite trying circumstances; his life-long interest, and ceaseless devotion to the pursuit of knowledge, skills and insights into Qigong Healing; the turning points in life that culminated in his becoming a Master; and the experiences and convictions that molded his personal philosophy, and led him to develop "Spring Forest Qigong". With clarity and vivid examples, Part Two introduces the principles and techniques of Qigong Healing, discusses the multitude of ramifications of Qi (Energy), and emphasizes Love, Kindness and Forgiveness as the foundation to health and healing. Part Three consists of a collection of 17 compelling anecdotes of successful healing. In his summary, Lin echoes his opening premise of the potential in everyone as healer (and self-healer). The main text is followed by an abstract of a scientific paper, "A Preliminary Study Applying Spring Forest Qigong to Depression as a Alternative and complementary Treatment". Finally, Rebstock ends with a series of interesting notes on his own investigations and experiences with regard to Qigong Healing.

"Born a Healer" is a compilation of personal experiences, knowledge and views. Informative, insightful and lively, it is highly recommended for those particularly interested in Qigong Healing, as well as for those who wish to widen their horizon in mind-body relationships in health and healing, for their patients, friends or themselves. Those inclined to a more academic approach to the subject might be interested in a new chapter co-authored by Lin in "The Textbook of Alternative and Complementary Medicine," 2nd Edition, Publisher: Taylor & Foster.

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Fat Chicks Rule!: How To Survive in a Thin-Centric World

We had a chance to read Lara Frater's "Fat Chicks Rule!" When I asked Liza what she thought, she simply replied, "This is every woman's story..."

Lara talks of her "thin voice" you know the one that promises you friends, romance, success, beauty if you could only lose some weight. The same little voice the drives us back to the roller coaster world of dieting. And then one day, she stepped off the ride, and began to live her life . . .

And she wants the reader to live too! She wants them to reclaim their bodies from the diet industry and from media stereotypes of beauty. The writer takes the reader on a how to journey of Ruling as a Fat Chick!!

Fat Chicks Rule! is a great resource for everything the Fat Chick needs to live her life fully. Need a role model? Check out Fat Chicks in history or famous entertainers. Lara has done her homework; a practical guide covering everything from size-positive movies to shopping tips to dare we say it? Yes folks, SEX!! It's all there and more.

Even witty comebacks for those insensitive remarks. . . My favorite being, "There's a thin person inside you." "That's because thin people are so tasty!"

So, if you need some advice, looking for a place to shop, or need a little boost in the self-esteem department check out "Fat Chicks Rule!"

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Round. Plump. Zaftig. It doesn't matter what word you use, they all mean "fat." And it's beautiful. That's the message from Lara Frater in her new book, "Fat Chicks Rule." LF doesn't apologize for being on the heavy side and neither, she says, should any woman (or man) who's in the same general size category. Fat is fun. It's cool. It's a survival asset in more cultures and at more historical periods than anyone at the New England Journal of Medicine is ever going to admit. LF gives tons of information about the history of fat, the history of women, background on why the medical profession is not necessarily your friend, as well as advice on tips that makes it a little simpler for fat chicks to work, shop, play and travel. Most importantly, she tells her readers that as long as they eat well, exercise, and let common sense dictate their impulses to lose weight (rather than the billion dollar diet industry), they'll probably do just fine. I picked this book up on a tip from a friend at work (we're all on the heavy side) and I was amazed and excited to read a message that finally made sense to me after having heard the same recycled dogma from doctors, the government, and other so-called "professional" health experts who were obviously more interested in selling their own "health products" than my health. This book is a gem!

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I *wanted* to love this book.

I have "Fat?So!" by Marilyn Wann, which I loved and found absolutely life changing, so I bought this one as a companion to that volume. I agree with other reviewers that if you are only going to buy one "Fat" book, buy "Fat?So!", it is, by far, the best.

Mostly this is a good book. It does have some problems though.

1. It was in *dire* need of a good editor. The author is a very good, engaging writer, but whoever her editor was, they should be fired and find work in some other field. This book is *full* of typos, incomplete sentences, in one chapter the last part of the final paragraph of the chapter just wasn't there ... like it got accidentally deleted. While this did not detract from the over all value of the book, it was really, really irritating.

2. I wasn't that impressed with the "fluffy" stuff up front what movies I should be watching as a Fat Chick, what clothes I should be buying, what styles are "cool" and which ones aren't, etc. I found that part annoying as well, and unfortunately, it was unwisely placed at the beginning of the book the first several chapters are "fluff". It would have been more appropriately placed in the back of the book after the "meat" of the book [again an editing problem].

Once you get past those initial chapters you get to the "good stuff", the meaningful stuff, the stuff that will help you improve your life and enjoy it more. That part is great.

3. It felt like the author was pretty angry writing the book. While I definitely understand the anger and where it comes from, I think the book would have been better if anger could have been set aside at least a little. In contrast, Marilyn Wann in "Fat?So!" manages to communicate her anger, sadness, outrage, and frustration with our "skinny culture" without seeming too bitter in fact, she's really funny about it and uses humor as a way to cope, encouraging the reader to do so also. It makes for a better, more constructive read.

All in all, this book is worth buying and the author writes an enjoyable and educational book.

With a little bit of judicious editing, this could have been an outstanding book.

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Fat Chicks Rule is a great book. As our society is so obsessed with women being "skinny" and makes big women feel like losers(which they are not!)this book gives big women a much needed boost.As a man,I dated "skinny women" and was married to a "skinny woman" and let me tell you it was some of my worst relationships experiences I ever had! After my divorce I dated big women and now I'm in a relationship with a big woman and those were the best relationships. My current big g/f is great.Pretty face,nice personality(plus I love the big bust and nice thick thighs!)and great in the you know where!So big ladies, read Fat Chicks Rule! it will really be of help and remember,there are alot of men like me out there who love big women. Don't let society or Hollywood make you feel inferior because you are not.

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I really don't know how I came cross this book . I love anything that as to do with plus size I think curves are beautiful in a women. This is a book I won't let no one hold it's my all time favorite. It also was my first purchase from Amazon and was very happy haven't stop shopping here since. Get this book! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did ;) Remember Confidence is sexy walk in a room like your walking a run way head up high & a beautiful smile.

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How to Start a Home-based Makeup Artist Business (Home-Based Business Series)

I'm generally skeptical of "build your dream career!" type books but I very much enjoyed this one, which was sent to me as a gift. I surprised myself by reading it in a single 4-hour sitting, admittedly skimming some of the kit-building sections (since that ship has already sailed!) I'm a fast reader when I'm engaged with the material. I'm so glad d.d., whose reputation and talent I was already well aware of, got to contribute her expertise toward this series. She's worked in many areas of the industry this book, as per the title, focuses on starting a business to cater to private clientele (everyday women, such as brides if you're also interested in the commercial fashion world, you'll want to pick up Crystal Wright's Career Guide as a companion to this volume).

This is NOT a makeup how-to guide (although there are some great makeup tips included in the text) and it's not extensively illustrated (I giggled a bit at the color wheel which... wasn't printed in color) instead, this is a book for artists who already know or are learning how to do makeup and want to build their own careers. Marketing, branding, networking, advertising you name it. The information in the book is very useful and made me feel good about what I'm doing and have already done to build my business, but I got a few new ideas as well about networking and target marketing. And I particularly enjoyed when her sense of humor peeked through (the remarks about "nice crease color" and "wow, your brow bones are so shimmery..." had me in stitches!) It's a business topic, but presented in a very readable and engaging way.

I receive a lot of inquiries from new/aspiring artists and I will be sure to point them toward d.d.'s book, because what so many of them need is NOT a new crease-contouring technique, but a realistic picture of what marketing entails, how to target the right clients, etc. all that business stuff that artists aren't always great at!

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