The Knot Book of Wedding Gowns (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "In ancient Egypt, brides were traditionally draped in layers of pleated white linen..." (more)
Key Phrases: sweep train, bridal salons, manmade fibers, Cost Cutter, Light Warm, World War (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

What's the real difference between an $800 gown and an $8000 gown? Is Dupioni better than Duchesse? When do you need a crinoline, and what is a crumb catcher? From the creator of the #1 online wedding resource, The Knot Book of Wedding Gowns provides the answers to these questions and thousands more. The perfect gift for a bride-to-be, this lavishly illustrated book--more than 250 color photographs and illustrations--tells her everything she needs to know about the single most expensive and important piece of clothing she will ever own. The only fully comprehensive book on the subject, The Knot Book of Wedding Gowns dissects the construction of the dress; profiles the numerous styles; defines and illustrates hundreds of varieties of fabrics, laces, embellishments, and accessories; and provides straightforward counsel on which cuts work best with which fabrics, and what styles look best on which body types. In addition, informative sections explain how and where to search for a dress, how to pull everything together to achieve the perfect look, and how to care for the masterpiece when the wedding is over. Fascinating bits of history throughout unveil the traditions and significance of this most important piece of clothing.

For that all-important decision of a lifetime, The Knot Book of Wedding Gowns is the ultimate book on the ultimate dress.

About the Author

Carley Roney is the founder and editor in chief of The Knot, the world's most popular wedding Web site. She lives in New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811832236
• ISBN-13: 978-0811832236
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #262,335 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Barely eye candy and not very useful, June 16, 2005

By	Niki M. (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews

The book is okay for casual browsing but it not imformative enough to use as a reference guide. I would have liked to have seen more discussion of various styles and types of gowns for various ceremony settings, body types, time of year, etc. Not to mention, the dresses used as examples are not very current or fashion forward; they appear rather dated. And the use of mannequins to display the gowns rather than actual models I found to be very cold and impersonal. The book is rather boring to read and gives more of a broad history lesson of wedding gowns than something an actual bride can use to assist her in her gown search.

Save your money, there is absolutely nothing in this book you can't find out online or in any given bridal magazine. Don't be fooled by the "The Knot" branding thinking this book is going to be chock full of useful information. It is not one of those types of books you'll keep forever. In fact, I am throwing mine out today. The only reason I kept it this long is because of how much I paid for it. But I read it once and it has been collecting dust and taking up space ever since. If you feel compelled to purchase it, do yourself a favor and buy it used. I wish I had.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for learning the basics, November 3, 2004

By	Kristel A. Robinson (Santa Ana, CA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As someone who didn't know anything about wedding dresses, I really loved this book. It describes all of the basics -- dress silhouettes, bodices, skirt shapes, fabrics, etc., including illustrations -- and discusses which types look best on different body shapes. It also explains the different types of fabrics, details, and train lengths. I am sure that this knowledge will be really helpful to me when I go dress shopping. The bridal shops have so many types of dresses, that it is nice to be able to narrow down my choices a little beforehand.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Alright I guess..., February 25, 2003

By A Customer

This book was okay, I would suggest reading through it in a bookstore. No need to spend the money.