Buy this. Gorgeous pictures, charming and scholarly text, what more can a designer, clothes lover, or dress historian ask from any book? The introduction of these pretty jewel-like volumes on Shoes and Hats provide pleasure and inspiration for designers and fashion fanciers. And the detailed inset photographs on construction makes "Shoes & Slippers", and its sister volume "Hats and Bonnets" obligatory reading for costume makers. Who knew that the Snowshill Collection held this treasure trove of costume? Hat's off to Althea Mackenzie for her terrific work on these fresh additions to the costume and fashion bookshelf.