Tag: beauty

One of Them – New Biographies and Memoirs in the Collection

Kath

It’s a new month and that means a bunch of new biographies and memoirs hitting the shelves.  We’ve got a real mixed bag of goodies for you to dive in to, here are just some of them for you to check out:

One of them / Lal, Shaneel
“What would you do if you were told by the people you loved the most that the way you were born was evil and wrong? For Shaneel Lal, this was their reality from the time they were five. Growing up in a tiny, traditional village in Fiji, Shaneel always knew they were different. After escaping Fiji and moving to New Zealand as a teenager, Shaneel tried to keep their sexuality – and gender – to themself, but gradually found the courage to come out. One day, while Shaneel was volunteering at Auckland’s Middlemore hospital, a church leader came up to them and offered to ‘pray the gay away’. It was a lightbulb moment for Shaneel, who could not believe that the same practices that had scarred their childhood in Fiji were operating – and legal – in New Zealand. Determined to ensure others wouldn’t have to go through what happened to them, Shaneel founded the Conversion Therapy Action Group, which lead the movement to ban conversion therapy in Aotearoa.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Because our fathers lied : a memoir of truth and family, from Vietnam to today / McNamara, Craig
“Craig McNamara came of age during the political tumult and upheaval of the late ’60s. While he would grow up to take part in antiwar demonstrations, his father, Robert McNamara, served as John F. Kennedy’s secretary of defense and was the architect of the Vietnam War. This searching and revealing memoir offers an intimate portrait of one father and son at pivotal periods in American history. Because Our Fathers Lied is more than a family story–it is a story about America.  Because our fathers lied tells the story of the war from the perspective of a single, unforgettable American family.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

bell hooks : the last interview and other conversations / hooks, bell
“bell hooks was a prolific, trailblazing author, feminist, social activist, cultural critic, and professor. Born Gloria Jean Watkins, bell used her pen name to center attention on her ideas and to honor her courageous great-grandmother, Bell Blair Hooks. hooks’s unflinching dedication to her work carved deep grooves for the feminist and anti-racist movements. In this collection of 7 interviews, stretching from early in her career until her last interview, she discusses feminism, the complexity of rap music and masculinity, her relationship to Buddhism, the “politic of domination,” sexuality, and love and the importance of communication across cultural borders.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

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Big Dress Energy: new in fashion & beauty

Stephanie A

Get inspired by our latest fashion and beauty arrivals. We have new books on creative makeup, sustainable fashion and natural fibres, the history of skirts and a look at the past of iconic menswear pieces. We’re especially excited about Africa in Fashion, which looks at Africa’s rich cultural heritage and showcases dynamic African fashion brands and Big Dress Energy, a makeover for more than just your wardrobe. Take a look and channel your own big dress energy!

Big dress energy : how fashion psychology can transform your wardrobe and your confidence / Forbes-Bell, Shakaila
“In this unique and transformational style guide, fashion psychologist Shakaila Forbes-Bell explores how our wardrobe acts as an extension of our identity and offers practical advice on how we can harness the principles of fashion psychology to upgrade our look – and dress in a way that feels completely authentic. From insight on how to tap into the protective power of clothes, curating a wardrobe that lasts and turning your makeup, skincare and haircare routines into legitimate forms of self-care, Big Dress Energy will invite you to see your style in a new light so that you can leave the house feeling inspired, happier and more confident. It’s about damn time!” (Adapted from catalogue)

Sundressed : natural fibres and the future of fashion / Tonti, Lucianne
“Fashion is ready for a revolution. Many brands claim to be ‘sustainable’, but they are not. Far too many clothes are produced – and in ways that harm the Earth. The solution? Regenerative farming of natural fabrics such as cotton, wool, flax and cashmere. In this original and superbly written book, Lucianne Tonti takes readers to the farms and fashion houses that are creating a truly eco-friendly industry. Sundressed reaches out to anyone with an awareness of climate change and a love of beautiful, lasting garments. It brings us back to the wild – where true fashion is born.” (Adapted from catalogue)

The rebel’s wardrobe : the untold story of menswear’s renegade past / Szabo, Bryan
“An entertaining exploration of trend-immune fashion classics and the surprising origins of your everyday clothing items. The Rebel’s Wardrobe unpacks the modern menswear lexicon and reveals, for example, why the Carhartt jacket designed for railroad workers became synonymous with skaters and graffiti artists, and how polo shirts made the leap from middle-class tennis clubs to British Mods. Traversing genres and styles, this book goes back to the gestation period of iconic pieces and shows how they became timeless classics that transcended fashion.” (Adapted from catalogue)

Africa in fashion : luxury, craft and textile heritage / Nimo, Ken Kweku
“Africa in Fashion explores the kaleidoscope of craft cultures that have shaped African fashion for centuries and captures the intriguing stories of contemporary and avant-garde African brands. Part One looks at Africa’s rich cultural heritage and place in the network of global fashion. Part Two ushers the reader into the spectacular world of African fashion today. It showcases a carefully curated set of the continent’s most dynamic brands and, through interviews with prominent and inspiring designers, offers rare insight into their ethos and design practice.” (Adapted from catalogue)

Creative makeup : a step-by-step guide to expressive makeup from fantasy to full illusion / Duffy, Rachel
“Learn how to create the most incredible make-up looks from an expert in creative make-up, make-up artist (MUA), Rachel Duffy. This collection of techniques and tutorials will explain everything you need to know about creative make-up whether you are an aspiring MUA, a make-up student or someone who enjoys make-up as a creative outlet. Your creative make-up play time starts here–you just have to let your creativity flow!” (Adapted from catalogue)

Skirts : fashioning modern femininity in the twentieth century / Chrisman-Campbell, Kimberly
“In a sparkling, beautifully illustrated social history, Skirts traces the shifting roles of women over the twentieth century through the era’s most iconic and influential dresses.  At once an authoritative work of history and a delightfully entertaining romp through decades of fashion, Skirts charts the changing fortunes, freedoms, and aspirations of women themselves”– Provided by publisher.” (Adapted from catalogue)

Fashion reimagined : themes and variations, 1760-now / Carlano, Annie
“This book was published in conjunction with the exhibition Fashion Reimagined: Themes and Variations 1760 – NOW, organized by The Mint Museum, Charlotte, North Carolina”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)