Swing Style: Fashions of the 1930s-1950s
Maureen Reilly

What vintage clothing lover wouldn’t swoon over a coffee table book filled with color photographs of swanky cocktail dresses and elegant daytime ensembles from the 1930s to the 1950s? Swing Style brings together a vast array of photos depicting the gorgeous garments of the mid-20th century. As the pictures so clearly illustrate, careful tailoring, fluid fabrics and whimsical details made the womenswear of this era truly special.

Unfortunately, the teen models and contemporary suburban settings detract from the inherent beauty of the clothing in this book. (In truth, the pictures look like snapshots taken before the senior prom.) Still, the amateurish photo-graphy and poor design are redeemed by informative copy, which serves as a helpful primer on the swing era, from its dawn to its demise. The back section includes a vintage resources guide listing a small selection of boutiques throughout the U.S., and a humorous jive lingo glossary. Clothing connoisseurs should take a pass, but new collectors and novice swing kids looking to bone up on their knowledge of vintage attire will likely enjoy this book.

- Joanne O'Day