Tartan: Romancing the Plaid (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Doria de La Chapelle (Author), Rose Marie Bravo (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

William “Braveheart” Wallace did battle in it. Queen Victoria decked Balmoral in it. Madonna donned it to strut around the stage. Tartan, the beloved symbol of kin, clan and nation to the Scots, has evolved into the one of the world’s favorite fabrics. Serving as inspiration for designers of everything from haute couture to furniture, tartan mania is in full swing. Fashion world insiders Jeffrey Banks and Doria de La Chapelle have written the definitive book on tartan, bringing together a dizzying array of images to tell the story of tartan’s humble beginnings to its current status as the ultimate emblem of great taste and high fashion. In addition to chronicling tartan enthusiasts from every age–including the incomparably fashionable Duke of Windsor whose closet was jam-packed with tartan kilts–Tartan profiles the designers who’ve made tartan an integral part of their work, from punk-inspired provocateurs Vivienne Westwood, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and Alexander McQueen to the more refined fashions of titan Ralph Lauren and Burberry. The perfect mix of a fashion and lifestyle book, this volume explores the global phenomena of tartan mania.

About the Author

Rosemarie Bravo is the CEO of Burberry. Jeffrey Banks is a Coty award-winning designer of men’s and women’s apparel. Banks has worked with a number of Scottish fabric mills designing tartans of his own. Doria de La Chapelle is a freelance writer and publicist. After covering fashion and beauty for Mademoiselle, she worked as advertising director at Henri Bendel.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli; illustrated edition edition (October 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847829820
• ISBN-13: 978-0847829828
• Product Dimensions: 13.2 x 9.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,318 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #8 in	Books > History > Europe > Scotland
  #56 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Fashion > History
  #77 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Graphic Design > Commercial > Fashion Design

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEAUTIFUL!, November 26, 2007

By	Pamela Keogh "Author" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

WOW -- I am an author who has written a few illustrated books like this -- and all I can say is this book is LEAGUES above the rest -- amazing photographs and layouts, beautiful paper, beautifully produced. A real labor of love. Although I know a fair amount about fashion, I did not know all that much about tartan... until now. A revealing mix of history, culture, modern tmes, with images ranging from the Duke of Windsor (how lonely -- albeit well dressed he looks...) to Rod Stewart, Princess Diana and the Bay City Rollers. As well as some of my favorite models and designers in the world.

Mr. Banks and Ms. de la Chapelle have done an amazing job. This book is so well written, stunning, and beautifully produced, that it is going to be MY Christmas gift to others this year.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highland Fling!!!!, November 29, 2007

By	Stylemaven - See all my reviews

You'll be doing the Highland Fling in no time (or at least the Lowland Shim) when you read this terrific book. It's a wonderful history of the fabric and the tome is filled with interesting history and some fun, lighthearted photos - like the guard who's catching a breeze and having his kilt lifted to show . . . well, buy the book and find out. I was very surprised (nicely so) to find out it wasn't just a dry historical analogy but rather a work that examines something we see in everyday life but may not have taken the time to think about.
Stylemaven

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected Fascination..., November 5, 2007

By	Michael Picucci "Psychologist, Author" (New York City) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I was introduced to this tome it woke up a fashion and hstory perspective that was a new dimension to my being, a very plesant one. This is more than a fashion book - it is hundreds of stories and dazzling images that introduces multidimensional perspection and connection to a very rich and mystical design grid and real stories as to how world famous designers were inspired by the tartan. A facinating read on many levels, rich in imagery and opening up the true mystique of tartan to the unitiated like me.