Fabfrocks reads: Ralph Lauren

I think i've mentioned before that less than 20 miles from my parents house is a town called Horncastle which is famed for its antique shops, junk-antique shops, and second hand book shops. On Friday we went for a walk round: it is one of my favourite things to do when go home!

In one of the book shops I picked up a couple of novels for a pound a piece, and this incredible massive hardback coffee table book about Ralph Lauren for just £20:

It's so big and heavy I can't lift it on my own, but it is a truly beautiful book. It contains images of Ralph alongside pictures of his fashion and homewear campaigns, from his sketches to high profile campaigns, and frank biographic text about his life and his work. I was so pleased to have found it. I love reading about where designers have come from, their vision, and how both these things inform where they're going. Also, without sounding too much like the girls from Friends, Ralph is a somewhat attractive man!

It's visually spectacular, and luxurious and one of those books that you keep going back to and finding new images to become obsessed with:

When i'm looking at the book I can't help but run my hands over the pages Although it isn't a style I adopt myself, I love the clean and preppy Ralph Lauren aesthetic especially the homewears; I have RL sheets, and they are so soft and pretty. I think I also have a soft spot for Ralph because he is my Grandad's favourite designer and he wears him always; from his jackets to his pajamas. He loved the book too when I showed it him on Saturday.

I had scheduled posts over the weekend but now i'm back on real-time, and posting should resume as normal. Hope you all had a good break!

Love Tor xx

Fabfrocks reviews: Audrey Hepburn: International Cover Girl

You can have no idea how delighted I was when this book landed on my doorstep; the cover promises that there will be magic inside, and it doesn't disapoint!
The book contains over 600 pictures of Audrey Hepburn, some of them previously unseen, and the whole asthetic of it is fab; a sturdy heavy hardback frame, a candy pink cover covered in pictures of the lady herself, offering a glimpse of what's inside. It's a must have for not only die-hard Audrey fans, but I would say photography and movie fans too: the images span each decade of her entire career.
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I expected this to be a picture book, and whilst that is what it primarily is, the content and background story to each picture is just as fascinating. You are taken on a journey through Audrey's extraordinary life from the very beginning and given an insight into both her life and the career she had chosen; it is explained why she was chosen for certain roles, when her control of the images used to present her was tightened, and most fascinatingly, her relationship with Givenchy, who was responsible for creating the majority of her most famous costumes. There is also a brief chapter on her life in Holland during WWII which is inspiring and thought provoking. Although I admire her, I wouldn't consider myself an Audrey Hepburn fan, so it was also interesting for me to read about her husbands, family and relationships.
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Even if you aren't a fan of Audrey Hepburn as an actress, the pictures in this book show her to be a fabulous model capable of taking the most breathtaking photos. But this book is so much more than just a coffee table book, provided you are a fan of biography. Which, luckily, I am!
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I was delighted to find that not only was the book beautifully produced (which I had expected) it was also, and more importantly, a fascinating read. This is Scott Brizel's first book, but if he choose to write another biography of Audrey or anyone else (preferably in paper back so I can read it on the tube if you see this Scott) then I would certainly be picking it up.
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Love, Tor xx

Fabfrocks reviews: The little guide to vintage shopping

I don't usually do book reviews here (other than occassionally insist that Nell Dunn is a queen and you all go and read Up the Junction immediately!) but maybe I should: fashion and literature are my two biggest passions and I spend my BA and MA dissertations combining the two. I don't know why I haven't done it before, but i've decided that (very occassionally) I will: only books about fashion of course (or books with interesting fashion overtones). I'll leave the serious book reviews to WendyB!


When the little guide to vintage shopping by Melody Fortier arrived on my doorstep a couple of weeks ago, I was immediately impressed by how it looked and felt. I know you can't judge a book by its cover, but if you could then this one would be a winner: it looks like the cover has been made from a very beautiful vintage fabric which has been embroidered: the photo really doesn't do it justice!
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Melody Fortier is a lifelong vintage enthusiast, as well as a vintage buyer and seller, and her knowledge and passion for the subject is immediate from the very first page. She has a shop, a website, a blog, and is clearly in love with what she does!
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I love buying vintage and owning unique pieces, but because of the long and busy hours I work, I find I rarely have the time to do it. (Note to most London vintage stores: please don't close at 5.30pm when most people are still slaving away in their offices!) I also find that I struggle to value the pieces i'm looking at: is that dress really worth £50, or is it a 80s piece from Marks and Spencers (still good, but plentiful on a car boot sale for a couple of pounds!) This book answers all those questions and more. The knowledge the book imparts ranges from how to decide how old a garment is to how to tell if it will fit you; how to care for the garment once you've purchased it to how to alter and modernise your new purchases.


The text is also interspered with some fabulous illustrations of any kind of vintage garment you can imagine; from shoes and hats to underwear and jewellery.
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The book is informative as well as a pretty good read (particularly if you have an interest in history and the history of clothes - it isn't a novel!), and perfect for dipping in and out of whenever you need to know anything about your vintage shopping: The measuring illustrations and guides for prices and eras in table form are particularly useful. There is also a pretty useful section on buying on eBay: perfect for webheads like us (well, like me at least!)
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Overall I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in shopping vintage and wants to know more or as a go-to guide for somebody already dabbling in the vintage game. As it is an overview though, I wouldn't recommend it for someone who is already serious and knowledgable about their vintage! As a casual vintage partaker, it is definitely a book I am happy to have on my shelf.
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Love, Tor x