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The Sartorialist #1
The Sartorialist
9780143116370 - The Sartorialist. - 0143116371. -ISBN 13: 9780143116370. -General Design. - Design / fashion. - English. -Design. Country of -United States. Age -Adults. Overall Height - Top to -1.75". Overall Width - Side to -7.75". Overall Depth - Front to -5.25". Overall Product -1.85 lbs.
512 pages, Paperback
First published August 12, 2009
8 people are currently reading
1578 people want to read
About the author
Scott Schuman
14 books27 followersScott Schuman is the creator of the popular fashion blog "The Sartorialist". After leaving his position as director of men's fashion at his showroom to take care of his daughter in September 2005, he began carrying a digital camera around and photographing people he saw on the street whose style he found striking. He then posted these to his blog, sometimes with short comments, always either favorable or open-minded. He is well known for photographing what have been described as 'real people.'
"The Sartorialist" quickly became a regular read for fashionistas, both on the street and in the upper echelons of the industry.
"The Sartorialist" quickly became a regular read for fashionistas, both on the street and in the upper echelons of the industry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
October 28, 2016
This was a book of photos of various people the author met and photographer, finding them stylish, so it partly show the photographer's own taste of what is a well-done outfit, no doubt - but that doesn't mean that one won't gain enough from them even if of different taste: some details can be interesting and inspiring (the color of a comb, textures, sleeve folding, androgyny...). There's more at thesartorialist.com.
Most of the photographer are just very stylish ordinary people, but there are a few famous ones included. The photos are from many places: Italy, France, Sweden, and America (of course) are some. Certain people also get a little accompanying comment text (like the person on the cover). People of different ages (even kids can be cool), places, income levels - but all with great personal style (even in work clothes).
There's a lot of suits, but with variety of details, color, etc. so not really boring if you're interested in them and want inspiration for wearing yours. Also some amusing outfits that make you guess (the androgyny, and the one example of 'homeless or working at a fashion place'? question *lol*)
It's probably the best to read this gradually, otherwise it can get numbing. There's plenty of pages - this is thick - so you definitely get your reading's worth of inspiration. Even I was surprised how much just this book (there's two more for me to read after this, of this series) can bring inspiration to pay attention to my clothes, and have an adventure imagining new outfit combinations. A good, recommendable read :)
Most of the photographer are just very stylish ordinary people, but there are a few famous ones included. The photos are from many places: Italy, France, Sweden, and America (of course) are some. Certain people also get a little accompanying comment text (like the person on the cover). People of different ages (even kids can be cool), places, income levels - but all with great personal style (even in work clothes).
There's a lot of suits, but with variety of details, color, etc. so not really boring if you're interested in them and want inspiration for wearing yours. Also some amusing outfits that make you guess (the androgyny, and the one example of 'homeless or working at a fashion place'? question *lol*)
It's probably the best to read this gradually, otherwise it can get numbing. There's plenty of pages - this is thick - so you definitely get your reading's worth of inspiration. Even I was surprised how much just this book (there's two more for me to read after this, of this series) can bring inspiration to pay attention to my clothes, and have an adventure imagining new outfit combinations. A good, recommendable read :)
November 2, 2012
K, so Scott Schuman is a blogger/ photographer who goes out on the streets (in big cool cities) and takes photos of 'the real people' to show as he put it: 'a two-way dialogue about the world of fashion and its relationship to daily life'
So, I like fashion and I wish I had enough money to dress myself the way I would like to and I love portrait photography so I was thinking I'd real like this book. Well, yeah, not so much.
Main gripe is that although Schuman says in the book that he tries to find a diverse range of people and fashions but he doesn't and he totally photographs a type. There were, like, two woman of fuller figure, a few more men, no one with visible physical disabilities and the majority of his subjects were classically good looking. They were mostly rich looking carefree types smoking and riding vintage bikes. Where are the tired commuters? Parents with their babies? Fashionable peeps actually doing their daily life? You don't have to be 'beautiful' to look good in clothes.
Another thing I found creepy was the way the majority of women posed themselves (or does he ask them to pose?) since when did everyday ladies stand around like vulnerable bambies with sad/scared eyes and turned in toes? It’s super creepy and sad. On the topic of creepy: the rich people trying to look slummy and hobo chic is fricking creepy too. It's so horribly bogus that rich fucks spend 100s if not 1000s of bucks on patchy falling apart retro type threads to look homeless when the actually homeless have 0 bucks and die because they cannot clothe themselves and stay warm.
I don't hate on Schuman, I think he is talented and he obviously leads an interesting life. I just think if he is going to claim to be some sort of social documenter he should pull his camera away from the shiny pretty things for a moment and document some of the marginalized too.
So, I like fashion and I wish I had enough money to dress myself the way I would like to and I love portrait photography so I was thinking I'd real like this book. Well, yeah, not so much.
Main gripe is that although Schuman says in the book that he tries to find a diverse range of people and fashions but he doesn't and he totally photographs a type. There were, like, two woman of fuller figure, a few more men, no one with visible physical disabilities and the majority of his subjects were classically good looking. They were mostly rich looking carefree types smoking and riding vintage bikes. Where are the tired commuters? Parents with their babies? Fashionable peeps actually doing their daily life? You don't have to be 'beautiful' to look good in clothes.
Another thing I found creepy was the way the majority of women posed themselves (or does he ask them to pose?) since when did everyday ladies stand around like vulnerable bambies with sad/scared eyes and turned in toes? It’s super creepy and sad. On the topic of creepy: the rich people trying to look slummy and hobo chic is fricking creepy too. It's so horribly bogus that rich fucks spend 100s if not 1000s of bucks on patchy falling apart retro type threads to look homeless when the actually homeless have 0 bucks and die because they cannot clothe themselves and stay warm.
I don't hate on Schuman, I think he is talented and he obviously leads an interesting life. I just think if he is going to claim to be some sort of social documenter he should pull his camera away from the shiny pretty things for a moment and document some of the marginalized too.
September 2, 2024
What are people REALLY wearing? This book lets you see the trends emerging on the 'sidewalk runway' that goes on around us everyday as we go about our business. I think that there is often a trend that takes place on the street that a smart designer capitalises on; this book reinforces that belief for me.
March 19, 2016
These pages contained one 'oversized' lady (only not really). And it made me wonder at the erasure of big people. Are bigger people not beautiful? Do they not have fashion sense? Does the photographer not see them? I wonder what the world looks from his perspective and if the streets are emptier for him.
May 18, 2017
The ultimate book for those who like to people watch! People watching in Paris, Stockholm, and Milan while living in Oregon (read gray, grayer, grayest) is the perfect respite from seeing REI wearing folk. Scott Schuman, I heart you.
And, readers, be sure not to miss: thesartorialistblogspot.com
And, readers, be sure not to miss: thesartorialistblogspot.com
June 25, 2019
I think I slightly prefer the online version, because I can read the comments there and it's a total internet thingy. On the other hand - here I have everything in one book and I don't have to scroll... Anyway, interesting and colourful, that's what it is. Crazy styles look great on some folks, I bet if I wore that way I would look like crazy myself. :)) But I love it, I love it!
December 17, 2009
Scott Schuman is The Sartorialist. Not a serial killer, although wouldn't that be an excellent serial killer? No, The Sartorialist is a blogger - and before you roll your eyes, dude, Scott Shuman is a blogger who doesn't write very much, and who takes extremely fine pictures.
He takes pictures of people who know how to dress themselves. Aging Italian playboys. Tiny, youthful French fashion editors. Artists, housepainters, Carolina Herrera, Kanye West. He has a weakness for beautifully tailored suits, women in oversized coats, skinny jeans, and Carine Roitfeld. There are lots of women in tights, and he has a Northern Italian's appreciation for color, by which I mean, in this book, if it's not black, it's probably navy blue.
I envy his access, his equipment, his frequent flyer miles, and his extremely discerning eye. And the ultimate take-home message from this book: if you know how to wear a scarf, that's half the battle.
He takes pictures of people who know how to dress themselves. Aging Italian playboys. Tiny, youthful French fashion editors. Artists, housepainters, Carolina Herrera, Kanye West. He has a weakness for beautifully tailored suits, women in oversized coats, skinny jeans, and Carine Roitfeld. There are lots of women in tights, and he has a Northern Italian's appreciation for color, by which I mean, in this book, if it's not black, it's probably navy blue.
I envy his access, his equipment, his frequent flyer miles, and his extremely discerning eye. And the ultimate take-home message from this book: if you know how to wear a scarf, that's half the battle.
June 25, 2010
mmmm, yummy, yummy, yummy!
The book is partly about fashion but it's his composition of color that I notice over and over again. It's a thick little f***er of a book but it's you still want more when it's done.
Some things I learned about fashion from this book are as follows:
1. Fashionable people smoke.
2. Fashionable people ride bikes (cute bikes,not those ugly functional ones we see in Portland so often).
3. Outragiously fashionable people smoke and ride bikes at the same time.
4. Fashionable primarily residue outside the United States.
5. The Fashionable people that do reside in the United States stay clustered on the East Coast, specifically New York.
The book is partly about fashion but it's his composition of color that I notice over and over again. It's a thick little f***er of a book but it's you still want more when it's done.
Some things I learned about fashion from this book are as follows:
1. Fashionable people smoke.
2. Fashionable people ride bikes (cute bikes,not those ugly functional ones we see in Portland so often).
3. Outragiously fashionable people smoke and ride bikes at the same time.
4. Fashionable primarily residue outside the United States.
5. The Fashionable people that do reside in the United States stay clustered on the East Coast, specifically New York.
February 19, 2012
4.5 stars. To me, this book is more about portrait photography and less about fashion. This is not to say that some of these people are not fashionable by any standard, old or new.
However, I think the photographer is looking for unusual (sometimes shocking) fashion choices, which I am not convinced are always deliberate. And there are of course shots which I would by no means consider chic: courageous yes... stylish no... (and I'm talking about the guys wearing "underwear" as pants and so on).
I would give this book a 5 star rating if it was advertized as portraiture. The working attires come to support my statement: there are some shots of painters going to work, which although wonderful pictures, tell very little about the person's fashion fingerprint. There is a lovely snapshot of some barbers from Milan (and an equally enchanting story); but obviously these folks are not trying to be fashionable - only to do their job.
In the end, I find this book a gentle nudge to discover one's personal fashion signature, outside his/her comfort zone.
However, I think the photographer is looking for unusual (sometimes shocking) fashion choices, which I am not convinced are always deliberate. And there are of course shots which I would by no means consider chic: courageous yes... stylish no... (and I'm talking about the guys wearing "underwear" as pants and so on).
I would give this book a 5 star rating if it was advertized as portraiture. The working attires come to support my statement: there are some shots of painters going to work, which although wonderful pictures, tell very little about the person's fashion fingerprint. There is a lovely snapshot of some barbers from Milan (and an equally enchanting story); but obviously these folks are not trying to be fashionable - only to do their job.
In the end, I find this book a gentle nudge to discover one's personal fashion signature, outside his/her comfort zone.
September 10, 2013
There's a reason why thesartorialist.com is my homepage.
It's because Scott takes beautiful pictures.
Up until recently, I was perfectly fine with looking at all the photographs that he took of people on the website, but when I chanced upon this book in a bookstore in Amsterdam, I knew I had to buy it. (Sadly, I didn't get it there because my parents said 27 euros was not worth paying for a book.)
What I love most about this book is the commentary that comes with some of the pictures. Schuman writes about how he came to take those photographs, his subjects and also about why he was drawn to them in the first place. Being a lover of fashion, this book is a great eye-opener to see how stylish people dress and offers little details that improves your entire outfit dramatically.
I particularly like how menswear is documented in this book. Living in Singapore where the average man I see is almost always shabbily dressed and donning ill-fitting clothing. The men that The Sartorialist photographs know what suits their body and dress accordingly. There is a picture in the book where a "bald fat man" is featured and Schuman notes that despite that term that the man used to describe himself, he still dressed in a way that would make him look best, as well as invested in a good Italian tailoring for his suits. These nuances and stories are what make the book for me.
I'll be eagerly starting his next book soon.
It's because Scott takes beautiful pictures.
Up until recently, I was perfectly fine with looking at all the photographs that he took of people on the website, but when I chanced upon this book in a bookstore in Amsterdam, I knew I had to buy it. (Sadly, I didn't get it there because my parents said 27 euros was not worth paying for a book.)
What I love most about this book is the commentary that comes with some of the pictures. Schuman writes about how he came to take those photographs, his subjects and also about why he was drawn to them in the first place. Being a lover of fashion, this book is a great eye-opener to see how stylish people dress and offers little details that improves your entire outfit dramatically.
I particularly like how menswear is documented in this book. Living in Singapore where the average man I see is almost always shabbily dressed and donning ill-fitting clothing. The men that The Sartorialist photographs know what suits their body and dress accordingly. There is a picture in the book where a "bald fat man" is featured and Schuman notes that despite that term that the man used to describe himself, he still dressed in a way that would make him look best, as well as invested in a good Italian tailoring for his suits. These nuances and stories are what make the book for me.
I'll be eagerly starting his next book soon.
November 13, 2009
This is mostly a picture book, but that isn't to say I didn't take as much away from "reading" it as I would anything with more words. I loved the Satorialist blog because he sees an angle of humanity that I don't usually associate with fashion. The people he seeks out are sometimes "in the fashion world" and sometimes not. They don't take themselves too seriously and yet they celebrate their style seriously. Maybe this is getting a bit too deep for a book of fashion shots, but I often wonder what being human means. In these pages, at least, being human is a celebration of having so few serious distractions (war, disease, poverty) that you can literally afford to be a bit fabulous.
February 13, 2015
One of the shots (an elderly Italian gentleman) reminded me so much of my grandfather..
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December 13, 2024picked this up for my brother's fashion photog gf. I flipped through it first of course. Interesting how this is 50% older men in well-cut, timeless suits and 50% very thin young women in the most 2008 outfits you've ever seen
June 22, 2010
Scott Schuman, the blogger of now famous fashion blog thesartorialist.com, has come up with a satisfying print version - a 512-page picture book which collects his favourite photos from the past four years.
Schuman, who also shoots for GQ and Vogue, clearly demonstrates how good a photographer he is by bringing out the characters of the strangers-turned-subjects he meets and finds interesting right from the streets. He celebrates real world wearable style versus runway fashion style from all over the world - New York, France, Italty, London and many more - with beautiful photographs of real and well-dressed people as they go about their daily business.
Some photos are also accompanied with personal comments on why Schuman finds the subject photoworthy. FreshGrads's only gripe is that he doesn't write about every single one of his photo subject. Someone should really accompany him on his shoots and get the stories of his subjects down on paper.
While one may browse through Schuman's blog, stopping only to see an image that catches his eye, The Sartorialist book demands more of an idyllic read to be slowly savoured.
Many pictures found in the book are have never appeared on the website so cheapskate fans out there can forget about printing and binding it yourself. Besides, the book makes the perfect coffee table book or as a gift for a fashionable friend.
There is also a limited hardcover version named The Sartorialist: (Bespoke Edition), which sells at a much, much more expensive tag.
For more book reviews, visit FreshGrads Reads. We also do reviews on food, movies and more in Singapore. Check us out here!
Schuman, who also shoots for GQ and Vogue, clearly demonstrates how good a photographer he is by bringing out the characters of the strangers-turned-subjects he meets and finds interesting right from the streets. He celebrates real world wearable style versus runway fashion style from all over the world - New York, France, Italty, London and many more - with beautiful photographs of real and well-dressed people as they go about their daily business.
Some photos are also accompanied with personal comments on why Schuman finds the subject photoworthy. FreshGrads's only gripe is that he doesn't write about every single one of his photo subject. Someone should really accompany him on his shoots and get the stories of his subjects down on paper.
While one may browse through Schuman's blog, stopping only to see an image that catches his eye, The Sartorialist book demands more of an idyllic read to be slowly savoured.
Many pictures found in the book are have never appeared on the website so cheapskate fans out there can forget about printing and binding it yourself. Besides, the book makes the perfect coffee table book or as a gift for a fashionable friend.
There is also a limited hardcover version named The Sartorialist: (Bespoke Edition), which sells at a much, much more expensive tag.
For more book reviews, visit FreshGrads Reads. We also do reviews on food, movies and more in Singapore. Check us out here!
October 23, 2009
Relatively small format paperbac on heavy coated paper, very high quality images, well printed and finished. Not much text--almost completely "street style" fashions from New York City, Milan, Florence, Paris plus a few outliers--Stockholm, London.
It works beautifully as a book and as a blog, which is how the author got his start. Very few of the subjects are models, many of them are not dressed in any obvious or even definable label or trend but all--well, almost all--look relaxed and casually fashionalble. Easy to lose half an hour here, fifteen minutes there whenever you pick it up, can kill an afternoon going through it with a friend or two.
Highle recommended for anyone who is into fashion, street style or good photography.
It works beautifully as a book and as a blog, which is how the author got his start. Very few of the subjects are models, many of them are not dressed in any obvious or even definable label or trend but all--well, almost all--look relaxed and casually fashionalble. Easy to lose half an hour here, fifteen minutes there whenever you pick it up, can kill an afternoon going through it with a friend or two.
Highle recommended for anyone who is into fashion, street style or good photography.
August 6, 2015
The very first book about the street-style blog that started the fashion world's obsession with street style, The Sartorialist. Scott Schuman, aka The Sartorialist, collects together some of his favourite images, from some of his favourite cities, that he featured on his blog. The text that accompanies some of his images elucidate his thought processes, and the approach behind some of the images. It is really interesting to read why he chose to photograph the people that he has. Some are famous, and some feature more than once, but all have great style. It is encouraging to see such individual approaches to fashion from all over the world, and to see people of all ages and genders celebrated for their style.
September 25, 2009
For years, Scott Schuman has manned the helm of one of the Web's greatest street style blogs. Now, he presents some of his favorite shots in this chunky little book. (The book's shape is a direct homage to Scott McCurry's 'Portraits,' another wonderful photography book.) There are so many things I love about Schuman -- his joyous embrace of fashion, his perfect eye, his ability to consistently find real women and men who mix it up so personally and so brilliantly. Bravo!
April 17, 2010
Street fashion on people young and old in cities across the world. There is much to see here, I am sure I could keep flipping through this and finding things I had not previously noticed. The pictures are wonderful, though often I wished for just a little more context. There is a list at the end of where and when each photo was taken, and occasionally the author includes a name or a little anecdote, but I found myself wanting something like the descriptions in the New York Look Book - who are these people? What do they do?
January 8, 2011
I bought this to-day, there isn't much to read but there are pages and pages of photographs mostly of ordinary everyday folk who have a fantastic sense of style be it conservative, hipster, or eccentric. and although I haven't had time to look through all the plates I'm giving it 5 stars because it represents fantastic value and is beautiful to look at, Schumans photographic skills are well displayed with his choice of subjects, wonderful fashionista who all have 'that certain something' that puts them one step ahead of the rest of us.
October 30, 2009
self-taught photographer and apparently also blogger Scott Schuman comes from the fashion industry and takes outdoor portraits of people he likes, honest photography I believe, you clearly see in the pictures that he likes his subjects, the pictures are good, never great, the book contains some text but not a lot, it is mostly images, overall a good and stylish book that can be read or viewed quite quickly.
January 25, 2011
Scott Schuman has been taking fashion photos for his blog and in turn these photos have been featured in fashion mags around the whole. I love his approach when taking photos of passerbyers or fashionistas and presenting the subject in a positive light. On his blog people are able to comment on what a look might convey or how with clothing a story in told right in front of your very eyes. Do enjoy this tremendous book soon. It's a wealth of knowledge and fashion at your finger tips.
March 15, 2013
Masterful. Scott Schuman lets me stare at people and their clothes and 500 pages later I'm ready for more. (YAY it exists.) Haha half the people here are smoking the other half are on the phone. The ocassional backstory text always refreshed me with depth and context; I think I could use just a smidge more of that, too. Oddly (because I have only the visual cues? because they look like models??) I don't feel drawn to any one here -- don't wish I could meet them. That's a bit sad.
October 20, 2013
I kind-of surprised myself with my enjoyment of this book. It is true eye-candy. I am not a "fashion" person and I'm not even really a "photography" person, but this book really spoke to me. Every page was filled with people that would catch your eye on the street. I agree with another review that it doesn't portray the normal everyday folk - but so what? I loved looking at almost every person in this book.
December 22, 2013
I can't exactly say I know much about fashion, let alone how to spot someone that is relatively fashionable - but as a photographer, I am more interested in the lens he's shooting with and the subjects. I loved that there were true minimalist fashionistas in there as well as the eclectic styles that make you question whether you can push your own style further.
I love the attention to detail and I have a feeling he has a penchant for shoes.
I love the attention to detail and I have a feeling he has a penchant for shoes.
October 26, 2010
I enjoyed looking at the different personal fashions and drew some inspiration from a handful. I was tempted to rip out the pictures, but didn't. I enjoyed this book more because I was drunk when I looked through it.
November 25, 2009
I sure don't have any fashion sense, but I like looking at people who do.
September 8, 2019
Scott Schuman's fashion blog is a temple for style and personal expression, and this publication collects Schuman's favorite images along with his commentary for a delightful and thought-provoking read. His philosophy on fashion is an appreciation of individual parts or ideas rather than the entire outfit, and that theory contextualizes the images in this work as the variety and range of styles and people is truly significant. I can't see myself personally owning this book, but it was an enjoyable page-turner and worth checking out from my local library for its points of creativity and inspiration.
June 21, 2018
This book is very interesting.
the story caught me completely.
the story caught me completely.
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November 24, 2025This was so much fun. Would love to back through with sticky notes.
May 18, 2017
I once posted on his blog how I dislike some girl wearing Mickey Mouse ears, red rayban wayfarers, pointy black Madonna bra, tinny knickers which were obviously shorts and louboutin's. And it was her having a Sunday walk somewhere in the world, don't remember where. People slammed me on the site after my remark that she looks gross and eventually it was deleted. Haha. I never posted anything again. I loovee his site and I just can’t get enough how much time and details people spend on dressing up, which eventually looks gorgeous and so out of bed but obviously so not out of bed. But have you seen the price of this book? Sweet Jesus.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews