Know It All Fashion

June 1, 2018

In this quick study of key fashion moments, designers, and modes, seven sections cover "Designers," "Themes & Inspirations," "The Media," and more. Chapters are preceded by a glossary, with snappy graphics and succinct write-ups on subjects such as Anna Wintour, China's impact on the market, the power of fragrance, and designer profiles. VERDICT Sort of a Cliff's Notes for fashion fans, this is great fun for younger readers all the way up to grandparents needing a refresher course.--LF

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2018
Each book in Quarto Press's Know-It-All series presents enough information, in a charmingly digestible format, to make anyone a small-talk aficionado. The volumes share a common format: 50 terms, names, or concepts explained over seven chapters. Each chapter begins with a two-page glossary of terms found in that chapter and a profile of a big name in the field. Each entry runs for two pages each: one page of information, one page of illustration. The information is divided into a thematically named three-second overview, three-minute at-a-glance information, three-second biographies, and cross references. Each book ends with a bibliography of books and websites, contributor biographies, and an index. Although brief, the contents are not elementary; instead, the Know-It-All books are sophisticated fun. Arnold's look at fashion covers several major designers, with an emphasis on British couture, but its real strength lies in discussion of womenswear themes and inspiration and the way high fashion reaches us in department stores.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)