Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more



or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Start reading Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Color:
Image not available

To view this video download Flash Player

 

Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible [Hardcover]

Tim; Calhoun, Ada Gunn
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)

List Price: $28.00
Price: $19.04 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $8.96 (32%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it tomorrow, May 24? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition $12.74  
Hardcover $19.04  
Paperback $14.40  
Best Books of the Month
Best of the Month
Amazon's editors selected this title as a Best Book of the Month in crafts, hobbies & home. See our current Editors' Picks.

Book Description

September 11, 2012
In the beginning there was the fig leaf...

and the toga. Crinolines and ruffs. Chain mailand corsets. What do these antiquated items have to do with the oh-so-twenty-first-century skinny jeans, graphic tee, and sexy pumps you slipped into this morning? Everything! Fashion begets fashion, and life—from economics to politics, weather to warfare, practicality to the utterly impractical—is reflected in the styles of any given era, evolving into the threads you buy and wear today.

With the candidness, intelligence, and charm that made him a household name on Project Runway, Tim Gunn reveals the fascinating story behind each article of clothing dating back to ancient times, in a book that reads like a walking tour from museum to closet with Tim at your side. From Cleopatra’s crown to Helen of Troy’s sandals, from Queen Victoria’s corset to Madonna’s cone bra, Dynasty’s power suits to Hillary Clinton’s pantsuits, Tim Gunn’s Fashion Bible takes you on a runway-ready journey through the highs and lows of fashion history.

Drawing from his exhaustive knowledge and intensive research to offer cutting-edge insights into modern style, Tim explains how the 1960s ruined American underwear, how Beau Brummell created the look men have worn for more than a century, why cargo capri pants are a plague on our nation, and much more. He will make you see your wardrobe in a whole new way. Prepare to be inspired as you change your thinking about the past, present, and future of fashion!


Frequently Bought Together

Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible + Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style (Tim Gunn's Guide to Style) + Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work
Price for all three: $45.63

Buy the selected items together


Editorial Reviews

Review

"Tim Gunn is fun and chatty, but most of all he is incredibly knowledgable and informed!"

—Diane von Furstenberg

“Tim Gunn’s Fashion Bible is a must-have for discerning fashionistas. Not only is it packed with fun facts from the whole of fashion history, but it is a rollicking good read and, in many places, laugh-out-loud funny. Gunn combines acerbic wit with disarming charm—a rare combination—such that we don’t realize how much we learn from the book. Beware: he may be unforgiving when it comes to a favorite style—but you can’t help feeling he’s right.”

—Kathryn Earle, Head of Visual Arts Publishing at Bloomsbury

“Rich with photos, this book combines Gunn's signature brand of sassy wisdom with a smart and entertaining journey through the history of fashion--no item in the closet is left uncovered…. Gunn makes this history of fashion more than just another lesson about fabrics and dyes--for him, it's the people and the culture that bring the items we wear into sharper focus; in fact, Gunn states that "the primary purpose of this book is to give your clothes more significance." …. Numerous cultural tidbits, fantastic images, and sartorial wisdom from one of fashion's most respected gurus make this a must-read for "everyone who gets dressed in the morning, not just an elite crew in Manhattan."

Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"[Gunn's] expertise is very up to the minute, and while this book is a valuable guide for today, it will also reflect well historically on our current styles in decades to come."

(Saturday Evening Post)

About the Author

Beloved pop culture icon Tim Gunn is best known as co-host of the twelve-time Emmy-nominated reality show Project Runway. He also hosted two seasons of his own Bravo makeover series, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery Books (September 11, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1451643853
  • ISBN-13: 978-1451643855
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,609 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Authors

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
(57)
4.7 out of 5 stars
A very interesting book on the history of fashion. B. Wheelock  |  12 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 34 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars From Toga to T-Shirt September 13, 2012
Format:Hardcover
Tim Gunn may be best known from "Project Runway" but here he shows himself again to be a fascinating writer(Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work). Now he embarks on a history of fashion, complete with quite a few snark-filled rants, a number of raves, and just plain useful and helpful tips.

Some interesting chapter titles include:
"Underwear: Security vs. Freedom," "Belts: Friend to Soldiers and Vixens," "Dress Shirts: Prudery and Puffery," and "Capri Pants and Shorts: The Plague on Our Nation!"

This is more suited for the general reader than the serious scholar, but it's also very readable and quite fun.

Lavishly illustrated, full of examples such aa "proper bra fitting", and the various categories of shorts.

One of his pet peeves is athletic wear outside sports.

Fun & informative!
Was this review helpful to you?
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars He made it work. September 27, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am a Project Runway junky, and I enjoy Tim Gunn. I agree that this book is meant for the fashion ameteur, but that is I. I learned a lot about the evolution of our current styles. And some of the comments made me think about our current usage of items such as bras. Tim Gunn has an intriguing hand with language, and this book reflected it. On the Kindle Fire, I was delighted to find that the pictures were easy to view. I was afraid the digital product would blur them.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fashion Bible September 20, 2012
By Nancy
Format:Hardcover
I admit that I bought the book at a book signing really to meet Mr. Gunn, who is as nice in person as he appears on TV, but then I actually read the book and I enjoyed it. Its filled with pictures that help illustrate his examples and they run from Mark Walhberg to one of the first bikini models to some truly ugly 70's ads for clothes. He also touches on clothing aspects that are everyday day wear such as sweaters and baseball caps.

You don't have to be a fashion student to have fun with this book.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Fashion Book
This is a great book for anyone looking for advice or just to get some knowledge about fashion and the world of it.
Published 5 days ago by barroyo
5.0 out of 5 stars A must have!!!
First of all, I would like to say that the shipping was sooooo fast. It took only 3 days to Chile. Thanks AMAZON for the excellent service so for :)
If you are intested in... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Vicorcall
5.0 out of 5 stars Many women need basics
I found this book very helpful. It basicly reinforced my own views and offered several new options. I would buy more by Tim Gunn
Published 1 month ago by Liz Winner
5.0 out of 5 stars It's Tim Gunn, why are you hesitating?
I loooove Tim Gunn, both on screen and in writing. His prose mirrors his speech, if you've seen him on Project Runway, expect the same style of wit and criticism. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jessica
5.0 out of 5 stars ah...really?
a very interesting and informative book, with fun facts through out.
classic Tim Gunn quotes. If you love his feedback on project runway, you'll probably enjoy what he has to... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Javier
5.0 out of 5 stars Gunn's book is adorable!
If you have ever seen interview with Tim Gunn, you must have noticed how perfect is the language he uses, how pleasing it is. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Daria
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Background for a Stylist
If you are looking to tie in current fashion and trends and past, this is a great book to do so. It offers the history of garments and accessories. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Susan Kantor
4.0 out of 5 stars tim does it again
if you're a fan of tim gunn, you will enjoy this book...i think tim is the epitome of a "gentle man"... i wish he was my roommate. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Carol A. Sieck
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun read.
It was a fun read and there are plenty of "Tim words" for you to look up. :) It was really interesting to learn about all the different items in your closet and where... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Joy Konieczka
5.0 out of 5 stars Tim Gunn is the best!
Addressing history and current circumstances, Mr. Gunn's wit and advice is top notch. The chapter on undergarments is a must read for anyone venturing out beyond Walmart!
Published 3 months ago by shoehorse
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews


Forums

Have something you'd like to share about this product?
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions


So You'd Like to...


Create a guide


Look for Similar Items by Category