Decorative Arts

We all get dressed. But how often do we pause to think about the place of clothes in our world? What unconscious thoughts do we express when we dress every day? Can a philosophy of living be wrapped up in a winter coat? Can we see a handbag not just as an object, but as an idea? Dressed is the thinking person’s book about clothes. Ranging freely from suits to shoes, from Marx’s coat to Madame X’s gown, philosopher Shahidha Bari unveils the hidden power of what we wear, addressing the deepest questions of who we are and how we choose to face the world.

As a young woman, Kate Betts nursed a dream of striking out on her own in a faraway place and becoming a glamorous foreign correspondent. After college—and not without trepidation—she took off for Paris, renting a room in the apartment of a young BCBG (bon chic, bon genre) family and throwing herself into the local culture. She was determined to master French slang, style, and savoir faire, and to find a job that would give her a reason to stay.

From the depths of financial despair to the glittering celebrity world of the rich and famous, Theo Fennell's journey has been anything but predictable. With humour, candour and self-depreciation, Fennell charts the highs and lows of his remarkable career, from dealing with hardened criminals to designing for Elton John, Lady Gaga and Madonna.

For fashion journalist Lauren (“LoLo”) Scruggs, a short flight to look at Christmas lights turned into a nightmare when she was struck by the plane’s spinning propeller blades. As Lauren was rushed to the hospital, fighting for her life, the world watched in shock and horror. Several major surgeries and thousands of prayers later, Lauren was still alive. But she had suffered brain trauma and lost her left hand and left eye. Some thought that this would be the end of everything for her, a beautiful young woman working in an industry focused completely on appearance. They were wrong.

Designer, activist, and educator Cheryl D. Holmes-Miller is legendary for her decades of scholarship and advocacy, and as a touchstone and conscience for the design profession. In HERE: Where the Black Designers Are, Holmes-Miller documents the history of—and answers to—the question she has been asking for decades: “Where are the Black designers?” Holmes-Miller explores this essential question through the lens of her own development as a designer and leader, beginning with her own family and its rich multiethnic history.

In 1838, a young woman was given a diary on her wedding day. Collecting snippets of fabric from a range of garments she carefully annotated each one, creating a unique record of her life and times. Her name was Mrs Anne Sykes. Nearly two hundred years later, the diary fell into the hands of Kate Strasdin, a fashion historian and museum curator. Strasdin spent the next six years unravelling the secrets contained within the album's pages. Piece by piece, she charts Anne's journey from the mills of Lancashire to the port of Singapore before tracing her return to England in later years.

Do work you love. Sounds simple, doesn't it? But the reality can be quite different. Whether you're just starting out or simply ready to head in a new direction, you're going to need some help turning your natural skills into success-seeking missiles of radness. On hand is Gavin Strange, a creative working by night under the name of JamFactory and by day at Aardman Animations - the Academy Award-winning studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep.

You’ve always wanted to take your art to the next level. Now you can!

In UI/UX Design Essentials 2025–2026, you’ll learn step-by-step how to master Figma, the industry’s leading tool for designing professional apps, websites, and digital products. Whether you're a complete beginner, an aspiring tech professional, or a designer looking to sharpen your skills, this audiobook walks you through exactly what you need to know to succeed.

¿Te gustaría saber cómo la ropa que llevas puede cambiar tu vida? ¿Quieres aprender a usar la moda como una herramienta para mejorar tu imagen, tu autoestima, tu comunicación y tus relaciones? ¿Te interesa conocer los secretos psicológicos que se esconden detrás de las tendencias, las marcas, los colores y los estilos?

"A diamond is forever." Who among us doesn't recognize this slogan and, with it, the fascination that diamonds hold in our collective imagination as emblems of royalty, glamor, and eternal love? Rachelle Bergstein's cultural biography illuminates the enticing, often surprising story of our society's enduring obsession with diamonds - and the people who have worked tirelessly to ensure their continued allure.

Nice women never wore makeup. Even the word was taboo in polite society—until Max Factor entered the scene. Born in Poland in 1877, Factor worked as a beautician for the Russian royal family, the Romanovs. In 1904, he fled to America, where he opened a cosmetics store in Los Angeles. Creating makeup originally for silent films, then the talkies, and, ultimately, color motion pictures, Factor designed looks for Katharine Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Bette Davis, and countless other beauties of the day. Soon women everywhere wanted to look like their favorite glamorous stars, and Factor was there to help, bringing his innovative cosmetics to the general public.

Are you new to the world of instructional design and looking to create impactful learning experiences? Look no further than Instructional Design Made Easy: A Beginner's Guide. This comprehensive guide delves into the essential theories, models, and principles that form the foundation of effective instructional design. Whether you're designing for the classroom, online platforms, or mobile devices, this book will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills to transform your content into engaging and inclusive learning experiences.

Info We Trust celebrates data storytelling, as explained by one of the field's most talented creators. Both engineer and artist, R. J. Andrews draws on disciplines from across the human experience to show how to create new ways of seeing the world. And most importantly, to build powerful data-driven information that is worthy of trust.

Thread's Not Dead is the essential strategy guide for dominating the t-shirt design business! Start your own clothing line, design for your favorite brands, and more. Learn the secrets and strategies used by the most successful clothing brands. You can become the next Mark Ecko, Obey, or Johnny Cupcakes! This book covers everything you need to know.

Albertus, first carved on a bronze tablet in the 1930s by German Jewish refugee Berthold Wolpe, has proved to be one of the most enduring handcrafted typefaces in the world. It is at once modern and timeless, authoritative and whimsical—renowned as the typeface of London Street signs, David Bowie albums, and Star Wars movie posters. In this unique celebration, bestselling author Simon Garfield charts the story of the creation of Albertus, its innumerable and vibrant uses, and the erratic brilliance of its designer, as recounted by Wolpe's children.

Design Like Apple uncovers the lessons from Apple's singular approach to product creation, manufacturing, delivery, and customer experience. Learn how design can create a competitive advantage by delivering beauty, ingenuity, and charisma. Get guidance on how to nurture taste, talent, and a design culture at every level of your organization.

Specially designed to help you get into the Otaku culture by informing you about all the different parts of it in an informative manner, this audiobook gives accurate information about Japanese culture and will answer many of the questions you may have about the strange fandom of Otaku and what it entails.

Unlock the vibrant world of ornamental horticulture with The Art of Blossoms, your essential guide to creating breathtaking perennial borders that captivate the senses all year round. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a budding enthusiast, this comprehensive eBook delves into the beauty and intricacy of crafting gardens that not only dazzle the eye but also sustain the environment. Begin your journey with a deep dive into the history and evolution of ornamental plants, and discover how aesthetics play a crucial role in shaping our gardens. With sections dedicated to modern techniques ...

Bigger Than Fashion is about the relentless rise of streetwear; it’s a captivating story of how a fiercely guarded counterculture, full of iconoclasts and hustlers, was disregarded until it skyrocketed into a massively influential lifestyle and fashion movement worth billions of dollars. Streetwear was built on the fusion of subcultures, unflinching DIY ethos, and a fiery sense of community that attracted everyone from skaters and hip-hop heads to punks and graffiti artists.