Rating: 
Summary: Intriguing Subject, Well Done
Review: ... Rather than just bashing fashion completely, the author makes the point that its power is so strong that even she falls under its spell at times. I like that because I'd much prefer reading a book from the perspective of a recovering Fashion Victim than some person arguing why fashion is completely evil.
One or two chapters do get a tiny bit choppy toward the end but they're still filled with very interesting material. I thought the chapter on fur was well done. The writing was superb and it addressed topics that a lot of other writers don't touch on (like, do anti fur activists hurt their cause more than they help?). I also enjoyed the sections on how designers manipulate consumers when it comes to sizing and also the section on the potential dangers of dry cleaning, since I admit I do a lot of it.
It's not a perfect book but I still think it deserves 5 stars for bridging the gap between intelligent and entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: Be a wiser shopper
Review: Absolutely wonderful. This book is very well written, well researched, definitely an easy read. It adds humor, history, and interesting places. After reading this, it makes one stop and think about the items that one is purchasing. Where was this made? Who's hands made it? What's the story behind it? Will this last one season or more? How many other people are wearing this? Recommended for all women who love to shop.
Rating:
Summary: Filled with insight and wit
Review: As a fan of social sciences nonfiction, I was pleased to come across Michelle Lee's excellent exploration into why, generation after generation, consumers continue to buy into a concept which is at its very core so fleeting. I was particularly intrigued by the chapter called McFashion, in which Lee compares today's trendy disposable clothing to fast food junk. And I appreciated that a mainstream book tackled the subject of sweatshops in a very readable way.
It's an added treat that Fashion Victim is written in an easy-to-read and at times extremely humorous manner. The author admits that she herself has succumbed to the social pressure of being a fashion victim and rather than launching a tirade against the entire system, she displays some compassion for the poor souls who have bought into it like her.
I've often wondered about many of the same subjects that are brought up in Fashion Victim. I live near some of the world's biggest malls, including the state's biggest outlet mall. It's amazing that people come from miles away to go shopping! In a way, this book extends far beyond the subject of fashion and is more about our consumer culture and how fashion has become part of the mainstream. It's not just the pure fashion lovers who the names Prada and Gucci.
A definite recommend.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, with a few tiny slow parts
Review: FASHION VICTIM was a pleasant surprise. I found it to be refreshingly witty and informative. I am a self professed fashion victim (my closet full of shoes tells the tale!). I am glad that someone has written a book about why fashion grips people like it does. I was incredibly interested and horrified at some of the information the author brought up in FASHION VICTIM, like that 75 percent of American men own a pair of Dockers and the billions of dollars in foot problems that high heeled shoes cause women. It's absolutely mind-boggling. If I had to pick one part that was a little slow, it was the chapter on sweatshops but I admit it's a topic that doesn't hold my interest as much, say, vanity sizing or killer shoes. I enjoyed this book much more than some of other fashion related books that came out this year. Can't wait to read her next book.
Rating:
Summary: Impressive, informative and stylishly written
Review: Finally, someone has written a book to explain the wildly ridiculous and addictive phenomenon of fashion. This book takes an insider's look at what attracts consumers to fashion and some of the bad things it does to us. I'm not exactly Carrie Bradshaw wearing Jimmy Choos and miniskirts every day, but after reading this book, I realized that I could be considered a fashion victim, too.
The strongest part of the book has to be the author's writing style. It's an easy read but not at all fluffy like how other fashion related books can be. I definitely recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: What, no works cited?
Review: For a journalist, I'm shocked that Lee has compiled such research without providing exact dates, times, locations, publications, and interviews. I was expecting an unapologetic unveiling of the fashion industry along the lines of Schlossinger's "Fast Food Nation". Boy, was I disappointed.
And about the court case referred to on page 34 -which editor allowed for such paraphrasing with no requirement for formal citation? Obviously, one un-versed in the term, "libel".
Rating: 
Summary: Great reading for clothes & shopping lovers!
Review: I agree with the reviewer from CT--Michelle's tone is very friendly, very personal and gives you the sense that she is the friend who knows all the tricks of the trade and wants to share them with you. I really enjoyed that aspect of her style, and she even admits that, by definition, she's a Fashion Victim, too. She starts you off by defining a fasion victim, and I doubt that any of us could read this passage without agreeing that we've been a fashion victim once or twice. From there, she takes us into the world of models, clothing manufacturing, and all things related to fashion. She gives thorough treatment to the violent past of clothing makers and the sweatshops--if you don't know much about either of these topics, she gives you a GREAT education. The chapter where she covers designer knock-offs and clothing quality is an interesting read. Prepare to be surprised! One of the main themes of the book concerns the illusions that the fashion industry creates for consumers. I didn't realize fashion shows only last 10-15 minutes at best, and I laughed out loud when she quotes a friend who went to a runway show and at its end remarks, "THAT'S ALL?!" Michelle also makes a fantastic point that the world of fashion was once esoteric, but now, the whole industry is very mainstream. Industry magazines sit right alongside issues of Newsweek, and Fashion Week now has TV coverage! Models have become household names. She reminds us that many models were just really skinny young girls who grew into older really skinny girls, and she makes her reader feel less intimidated by divulging that they are created to look perfect by lights, airbrushing, tape, heavy makeup, you name it. Knowing that a model fights with common skin issues or clothes that don't fit right will make you breathe out. :-) I appreciated how she relates her story about stuffing herself painfully into a size 2 dress for fashion's sake--and how the dress only looked right when she was standing. I've been there a few times myself... You'll find yourself nodding and agreeing with her in a LOT of places. I gave this one 4 stars because I felt that her chapter on fur ran on a little too long. I'm not a fur fan, but this chapter made me sympathize with the farmers--read about the Ebbets Farm Raid and be stunned how 'good' intentions of activists destroyed a family. There's no way to cover the subject without rousing strong feelings on either side, but I really wished she'd have given more page space to another topic. Fur and fashion could be a whole separate book. The fur chapter runs on significantly longer than the others in her book. Overall, a refreshing, fun read that anyone who is interested in the world of fashion would enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: INTELLIGENT, ORIGINAL AND HILARIOUS!!
Review: Michelle Lee has struck a fine balance between paying homage to fashion while poking fun at it at the same time. No matter how you slice it, this is a great book. I was instantly attracted to the topic and was pleased by the incredible amount of information packed into these pages. I related so much to the chapter on body image, in particular. It really worked because she didn't take the obvious holier than thou approach. And I actually laughed out loud to some of her Fashion Victim's 10 Commandments. A fascinating book by a talented writer. Five very enthusiastic stars!
Rating:
Summary: Honest and amusing
Review: Michelle Lee proves that fashion writing doesn't have to be stuffy or boring. I found her so-called "casual" tone to be refreshing; it felt as if she was speaking directly to me. I loved that she shared her own fashion struggles between love and hate with her readers. Ms. Lee's anecdotes are witty and bring to mind many of my own experiences as a slave to fashion. The reporting was informative and insightful. Occasionally, I had a hard time forcing myself to put the book down because I found some of the stories so interesting. As I read, I found myself outraged at the treatment of sweatshop workers, yet embarrassed that I still bought mass-produced clothing anyway. I lamented the takeover of fast, disposable fashions (Lee calls this "McFashion"); yet I rejoice at the ease of grabbing the latest trends off the rack. These are some of the fashion dilemmas that Ms. Lee shares with us. She confesses that she herself is a fashion victim, with a mixture of pride and shame, but offers some helpful advice to those who wish to kick the habit. This book was a pleasant surprise and an enjoyable read. I'm not a fashion critic, a fashion writer, or a fashionista. I'm just a regular person with three closets full of nothing to wear. If you're anything like me, you'll like this book.
Rating:
Summary: No Intellectual Stimulation whatsoever
Review: This book reads like an incredibly long fashion article. (Some fashion articles in Vogue and Harper's are excellent, but it's obvious why this one worked at MLLE.) It lacks depth in the subject matter. For all the work that she pu into it, I feel like she is just skimming the surface. It's writing style is utterly irreverant. No wonder people find fashion vapid and superfluous. The points that were made in the book are nothing ground breaking or thought provoking. It was well researched, lots of statistics, names and numbers, but I dont think that the writer understands fashion at a level where she can write about it in the normative sense.
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