Were Fascists Fashists?

I bought this new book at Petulia's Folly called Fashion at the Time of Fascism.  Exploring Italian modernist fashion from the 1920s-40s under Mussolini's regime, you can tell a great deal of research went into this book.  The images are really awesome, but I especially love the scaled down versions of various patterns from the era. 

Store Front and the New York Public Library Blog

I sporadically read the New York Public Library' blog because they often have great fashion related postings. Recently, they posted about this book, Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York about specialized family owned shops with unique old time charm in NYC that are sadly on their way to extinction.  It makes me sad knowing that independent businesses cultivated by people that were passionate about their trade are being replaced by the homogenous walmarts and starbucks of the world!  

Support your local businesses ya'll (and your public library's too!)