'I did not have three thousand pairs of shoes. I had one thousand and sixty' -Imelda Marcos. In recent years shoes have become objects of fanatical devotion, as covetable designs have gained iconic status and shoe designers have become heroes of popular culture. From Christian Louboutin's signature red sole and the Manolo Blahnik heels that helped to define Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw to the eco-friendly footwear of the future, shoes are now a fashion statement all their own. Is there such a thing as a leading shoe fashion anymore? The silhouettes, colors, and details on the feet of models and in the pages of fashion magazines used to be the ultimate in style, but they no longer represent all fashion footwear any more than haute couture represents all fashionable clothing. Renowned fashion specialist Jonathan Walford recounts the fascinating history of more than 350 leading women's shoe designers and manufacturers who have shaped modern footwear over the last sixty years. A rich array of sketches, photographs, and advertisements highlight superlative craftsmans hip and lasting trends. Featuring designs by Bally, Beverly Feldman, Camper, Charles Jourdan, Chie Mihara, Christian Louboutin, Ferragamo, Herman Delman, Jimmy Choo, Joan and David, Kenneth Cole, Manolo Blahnik, Maud Frizon, Roger Vivier, Rupert Sanderson, and Sergio Rossi.

Stunning new fashion designs in 285 color images. These are fresh, innovative creations from collections by recent graduates of sixteen of the most respected fashion design programs at colleges and universities across the United States. Garments from more than 100 talented designers now entering the fashion industry are featured, including looks for eveningwear, menswear, childrenswear, sportswear, and more. The wide range of work in this anthology is augmented with a brief dossier on each designer, including inspiration, materials, flats, and full-color fashion illustrations. This easy to navigate resource has garments organized alphabetically by designer and indexed graphically by school. It is an essential reference to the newest talent and trends in fashion.

Born in 1930 as Arnold Isaacs, Scaasi reversed the letters of his name and became a favorite designer of the haute couture fashion world. In this lavishly-illustrated volume, Parmel (curator, textile and fashion arts, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston) traces his career, influences, and his impact on fashion and advertising. Coinciding with a MFA exhibition that runs through June 19, 2011, the volume includes material from his personal papers; commentaries on and reminisces by famous clients who wore his designs (e.g., Barbara Streisand, Barbara Bush); remarks on the fabrics he used; a chronology; and list of the outfits featured. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Highlighted in this volume are the pioneers and innovators in the world of haute couture. They include Jean Patou, whose Paris couture house led fashion in the 1920s and’30s, Coco Chanel, who brought comfort and practicality to haute couture, Elsa Schiaparelli, who collaborated in her designs with surrealist painter Salvador Dali, Mary Quant, who designed for London’s youth culture in the “swinging sixties,â€� and Gianni Versace, champion of the supermodel. Others include Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Guccio Gucci, Philip Treacy, Levi Strauss, and 40 others. Small in size but filled with information and insights, eachIcons of Culturetitle is a collection of brief, pithy, and enlightening biographies of men and women who have made their mark and left lasting influences in the lively arts. Scattered among these capsule biographies are two-page overviews that examine various aspects of the art. Handsomely designed and accessible to laypersons, these books make fine quick-reference sources while also providing enjoyable reading for inquisitive minds. Illustrations in color and black and white on most two-page spreads.

Bennett gives her irreverent take on modern motherhood and proves that a strong sense of humor and an even stronger sense of self are the mother's milk of sanity. Brutally honest, outrageous, and sure to raise a few eyebrows, this is a riotously funny read.

Versace. The very name conjures up images of outrageous glamour and bold sexuality, opulence and daring. All of course true, but only half the story. Versace is also the legacy of a great creative genius from a poor, backward part of southern Italy who transformed the fashion world through his intuitive understanding of both women and how a changing culture influenced the way they wanted to dress. The first book in English about the legendary designer, House of Versaceshows how Gianni Versace, with his flamboyant sister Donatella at his side, combined his virtuosic talent and extraordinary ambition to almost single-handedly create the celebrity culture we take for granted today.  Gianni Versace was at the height of his creative powers when he was murdered in Miami Beach. The story was front page news around the world and the manhunt for his killer a media obsession. His beloved sister Donatella demanded no less than a funeral befitting an assassinated head-of-state to be held in Milanrsquo;s magnificent cathedral. In what was the ultimate fashion show, the worldrsquo;s rich and beautiful ndash; Princess Dianna, Elton John, Carla Bruni, Naomi Campbell, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, Anna Wintour and others ndash; gathered to mourn a man already considered one of fashionrsquo;s great pioneers.           Deborah Ball, a long-time Milan correspondent forThe Wall Street Journal, conducted hundreds of interviews with Versace family members, Gianni Versacersquo;s lovers and business rivals, models such as Naomi Campbell whom he helped shoot to international stardom and fashion industry icons, including Anna Wintour, the legendary editor ofVogue.  Ball vividly recounts the behind-the scenes struggles ndash; both creative and business ndash; of Donatella as she stepped out of her brotherrsquo;s long shadow and took control of the House of Versace. The book offers the first inside look at the enormous challenges Donatella faced in living up to Giannirsquo;s genius, her struggle with a drug habit, her battles with her brother Santo and the mystery of why Gianni left control of his house to Donatellarsquo;s young daughter, Allegra.House of Versaceis a compelling, highly readable tale of rise from obscurity, a painful fall and ultimate redemption as the Versace empire returned to health ndash; for now.  Bringing together fashion, celebrity, business drama, jet-set lifestyles, and a notorious crime,House of Versaceis an old-fashioned page-turner about a subject of enduring fascination.

Think Valentino: think luxury. Think elegance. Think red carpet. Fashion most beloved upholder of refined decadence and the most exciting couturier in business is known around the globe simply by his first name. Only a few years after opening his fashion house in Rome in 1959, Valentino was already at the height of success, counting Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, and Audrey Hepburn among his devotees. Over forty years later, not much has changed. Valentino has always designed clothes for glamorous and sophisticated women, never wavering from his signature style. This publication renders homage to Valentino illustrious career via a copious selection of images from his archives, including drawings, magazine shoots, advertisements, portraits of Valentino, and documentary photographs; presented chronologically, the visual material is accompanied by a vast array of newspaper and magazine articles about Valentino throughout the years.