One of my favorite TV shows on the air today is PROJECT RUNWAY. I have become an avid fan and am in awe of the intense creativity and imagination that the designers exhibit. What I enjoy most, however is watching always-fabulous co-host, Tim Gunn, give feedback and gentle (but always honest) guidance to the enthusiastic participants. Tim’s wisdom comes from both a well-informed background and personal love of fashion. If you have not read his book, Tim Gunn’s Fashion Bible
I, too, share Tim’s love of fashion history and have always been interested in empowering others to express their personal style. On a daily basis, I am working on new patterns for my Indygo Junction line, and it’s a joy to work with my team of designers who share this same passion! It was on this continued 
quest for all things vintage that I discovered the teachings of Mary Brooks Picken. I quickly became immersed in Mary’s thoughtful teachings from the Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences, founded in 1913. Mary not only taught about fashion design, but also shared her own ideas about personal well-being, grace, and charm. I was so inspired by Mary’s wisdom, that I wrote my book Vintage Notions to give today’s women of all ages the chance to look back at Mary’s contributions to fashion and style.
This past summer, I had the opportunity to meet Tim Gunn in person while he co-hosted a fashion show in Kansas City. I talked with him about our mutual fascination with fashion history, and was happy to find that he too knew of Mary Brooks Picken’s role in shaping American fashion. I left Tim that day with a copy of Vintage Notions, which I can only hope he values as much as I value his Fashion Bible.
As evidence of this fashion guru’s continual inspiration to me, some of Tim’s words surfaced again, recently, as I finalized my latest book, Indygo Junction’s Fabric Flowers. That day we met at the Kansas City fashion show, Tim had described a funky astro-turf purse that was accenting a Kate Spade dress as a way to “add a wink to your wardrobe.” The playfulness and flair of this little tidbit made a lot of sense to me in the context of my Fabric Flowers book — each of the projects in the book provides a different way to add a splash of color, texture, and vibrancy that can redefine any wardrobe.
So, once again, thank you Tim for your fabulous book, wonderful advice and never-ending inspiration.
Time for a Giveaway!!
I’d love to share the inspiration by offering readers a chance to win a copy of Tim’s book – Fashion Bible - AND a copy of my two books – Vintage Notions & Indygo Junction’s Fabric Flowers. Simply post a comment to this blog post with what inspires you about fashion. You will have until Sunday, Dec. 16th at midnight to post your comments to enter to win. A winner will be selected at random to win a copy of all three books! Good luck & happy sewing!
Having Tim Gunn’s fashion book along side Amy’s Vintage Notions would be a daily reminder for me to sew beautiful things so the world can see more beauty rather than sadness and ashes.
I’d really love Tim Gunn’s Fashion Bible.
I have been DYING for Tim Gunn’s Fashion Bible!!
What inspires me? Well, to me, fashion is an art form. It’s wearable art.
I would love to have the new book. So miss being able to pull out the classics to wear.
wonderful!
People inspire me!
I love the Fashion Runway Show. Mostly I enjoy using the colors of nature for my quilting.
I took a look at Tim’s book on Amazon and I can’t wait to read it cover to cover.
What a terrific giveaway !!! Happy Holidays!!!
What I love about fashion is that it’s always changing, but it always returns! Somehow what we wear today and just have to have goes out of style, but if you keep it long enough…here it comes again! Fashion sets our mood as we dress for the love of our life, family or just to meet a friend to gossip! We can choose what we like, add a snappy hat, scarf, pin or even some old fashioned gloves and be the envy of all who we take the time to smile at! Fashion is just plain fun, I have a ball just trying to be a “fashionista!” And, of course, these books would help me achieve my goals!
What a thrill it would be to win the books written by two very artistic people. To think that Amy is right here from the Midwest is even more thrilling. I have been sewing since I was 4, and never stopped loving the creativity it offers. Tim is an inspiration to all of us who love to design something unique.
I love to look at the styles and think of what I would make, haven’t done much for years but need to dress up for a wedding in June…
I recently lost more than 20 pounds and couldn’t afford to replace my entire wardrobe until I discovered thrift and consignment shops. It’s incredible how many lovely, still fashionable clothes I’ve been able to buy for maybe $100 rather than $1000. I also enjoy reading the “New Dress a Day” blog and find it quite inspirational.
I love timeless fashion! Designs that are classic and pieces that can be added to a wardrobe.
What I enjoy about fashion is that the trends repeat themselves and come around in cycles. It’s fun to see something from years ago be a popular trend sometimes a decade or more later. What a wonderful giveaway. Thanks for the chance to win the 3 books!
I use fashion as a way to make the appropriate statement for each event. Jeans and knit top for youth sports, the perfect cocktail dress for parties, pants/skirt and blouse/sweater for the office, and fun sundresses or shorts and tanks/tees for summer. I like to shop at small boutiques to get the best fashions (and to support the local economy). I love to sew and use contrasting fabric for projects to give personality. I have made tops, skirts, dresses, and handbags. The handbag I have been carrying this fall is embellished with a yoyo flower, but I want to learn to make other flowers for embellishments.
I am inspired by looking at photos ans such in magazines.
Learning to not be like everyone else.
I love all things retro. I have started sewing again after about 15 years.
so am remodeling clothes
Tim Gunn is truely one of a kind. He has a subtle wit and general niceness about him that is conveyed with humor and good taste. How wonderful that you were able to spent time with him at a fashion show. Mary Brooks Picken is a hero of sewing that not many people know about today. Her methods are still used by many as the best way, although they may not know who she was, but learned from their Mom’s or Grandmoms.
I love Project Runway!!!! I’ve recently rediscovered my love of sewing and can’t seem to stop these days.
I love how we can literally re-invent ourselves every day through our fashion choices and combinations. Fashion represents who we are, who we were and who we will be — it’s all in the choices we make!
I’m inspired to reuse and upcycle old garments and give them new life.
I love to be inspired how to update my own wardrobe and express myself. I am also inspired to try my hand at making skirts, I am not brave enough yet to make other types of clothing.
I enjoy watching the changes in fashion, color fabric embellishment thinking about what would work for me it keeps me in the creative zone.
I am such a fan of Project Runway and Tim Gunn. I do beadwork and have had my work on many runways in the Western genre…this would be such a swell and happy gift!! Happy Holidays!
I hope I am not too late for this giveaway. Thanks!
Fashion always gives a visual adjunct to history. Hem lengths, up or down, can forecast economic prosperity. The more or less constriction of women’s clothing can tell you something about societal ideas about their relative personal freedom in that society. The history of cloth and it’s uses tells so much about a culture that may be long gone, but not perhaps forgotten. The history of use of various fibers speaks to invention and wandering innovators. Who was the first person to unreel a silk worm cocoon and decide it would make a great fiber for weaving. Even now we experiment with different, man made materials in clothing and that speaks about us and to us. What will the future bring, who knows but fashion is about much more than a walk down a runway, it about our ideas and conflicting ideals. Aside from all of that Tim Gunn is a treasure and I always enjoy his snappy style and kind but honest words. Go Tim Go!
Clothes speak of the times in which they were worn. Not only the styles, but the fabric and notions, combine with the history of the time to give a whole, rounded picture of the lives of people. It is this that inspires me.
I love Tim and Project Runway shows!
What inspire me about fashion are creativity and imagination of all sorts of colors and materials. I don’t necessarily wear like a fashion icon, well most people don’t aren’t we? but through the shows, the honest warm words from Tim, I became more conscious about how I look, how I wear, how I decorate the place I live, and see my life in a more colorful/creative way.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I love fashion and the ability to interput it to what looks best on me.
I love how everybody can have their own style. We don’t all have to look the same thing to be stylish.
what inspires me is trying not to look or be like everyone else, individuality is always in style : )
I love Tim Gunn and Project Runway! It is about the only show I try to watch each week. Thanks so much for the giveaway- I would love to win Tim’s book and yours as well. They both look very interesting.
It would be fun to read about fasion. Never can have enough help with that! Thank you for another chance to win your books.
What inspires me most about fashion is that today there seems to be more acceptance of individuality. We can express individual style better than in the past when everyone seemed to conform to the current standard of the time – short skirts for everyone, or straight legs for everyone. Now there is more choice in the market, I think, which allows individuals to choose what looks and feels best to them.