Women of Color

Rating:
Summary: At Last-someone who sees the beauty in Women of Color!
Review: Darlene,

Thank you for using your formidable skills, professional expertise and your life's experience as an African American woman to adapt the "seasons of color" theory for use by "Women of Color!"

This is a beautiful, well-done book! Kudos to the photographer, Edgar Thompson,and the models as both the photographs and the women depicted in the photos are beautiful!

The text is well-done and "user friendly!"

I believe that all women can and will relate to your practical advice, sense your sincerity and appreciate your empathy!

As a confirmed "Autumn," I am now aware of the difference that "wearing your season" can have on the quality of the compliments received. It is the subtle difference in receiving a "compliment" to the effect: "...that dress looks nice on you" versus "...you look wonderful in that dress!" Many women will immediately appreciate that it is the latter compliment to which we aspire and that "makes it all worthwile!"

I look forward to your "next" book because I know that your experiences since finishing "Women of Color" are probably worthy of your literary efforts, as well.

I will try to remain in "my season." But, if you notice that I have strayed, then a gentle nudge is o.k.!

Again, thank you!

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Book for Women of All Colors
Review: I already own this book, and my family and I all view it as an absolutely indispensable guide for the colors within our individual "seasons".

Ms. Mathis has effectively changed the Fashion industry and image consulting field(and the way color is used and how people see themselves)--permanently!

What I like about this book is that it does not exclude the so-called "white" woman but includes them as well, as they too come in wonderous and glorious shades of brown: ivory, creme, beige, almond, tan...and the list goes on. It does not target one specific "ethnic" group, but goes beyond it to embrace ALL women and men of ALL shades through its unique color-seasons guides.

I suggest that, whether you are man or woman, of whatever color range, get this book.

Rating:
Summary: Should Be More About Color!
Review: I found this book a great add-on to Carole Jackson's Color Me Beautiful. The photographs are beautiful and the techniques are presented logically. However, I didn't like that she seems to advertise certain clothing designers like Donna Karran/DKNY and Liz Claiborne. Also, she seems to push the idea that in order to be beautiful you need to spend a lot of money on things like manicures & pedicures every 7 days seeing a skin care specialist often. HELLO! Not everyone has a budget for these sort of things! I also didn't like the fact that she seems to think that your season dictates your personality and what fragrance you choose.

Rating:
Summary: Should Be More About Color!
Review: I found this book a great add-on to Carole Jackson's Color Me Beautiful. The photographs are beautiful and the techniques are presented logically. However, I didn't like that she seems to advertise certain clothing designers like Donna Karran/DKNY and Liz Claiborne. Also, she seems to push the idea that in order to be beautiful you need to spend a lot of money on things like manicures & pedicures every 7 days seeing a skin care specialist often. HELLO! Not everyone has a budget for these sort of things! I also didn't like the fact that she seems to think that your season dictates your personality and what fragrance you choose.

Rating:
Summary: One extremely disappointed woman of color
Review: I have read many books on style but this one must be the most disappointing. There is some good information on choosing the right colors and building a wardrobe but nothing that you could not find in a good women's magazine. Most of the book consists in anecdotes illustrating Ms. Mathis's skills as a fashion counselor-at times it sounds like an advertisement or a biography. My main complaint is that the author assumes that a woman's personality is predetermined by her coloring; for instance, all summer women are catalogued as soft and romantic. As a woman of color, I expected to learn how to bring out my true personality with the help of the right clothes, accessories and makeup. I did not want any fashion guru to dictate what I should be like and how I should behave. Mary Spillane wrote a far better book based on the Color me Beautiful system. She even included references to women of color without making a big fuss about it.

Rating:
Summary: A great short and simple guide to personal enhancement.
Review: Ms. Mathis' book is a great short and simple guide to personal enhancement for all women. I acutally enjoyed not only looking at the various pictures illustrating womens' many colors and style, but I read every page. In addition, I have found her information on color palates from hair color to wardrobe indispensible. Ms. Mathis also offers readers the opportunity to have their palates developed by her personally. She provides an address and details on palate swatches. Overall, "Women of Color" impressed me. It is the first book of personal enhancement I have found worth reading from cover to cover. I was able to derive useful information from it and actually looked forward to applying it.

Rating:
Summary: Great Information
Review: This book has great basic information on color coordination. It is based on the concept of seasons...summer,winter, spring, and fall. It is directed toward women of color(black,hispanic, oriental, etc). For anyone familiar with the season's concept most other books will inaccurately blanket type all black women as "winters". This book does not. It takes in to consideration all our shades and hues. For anyone who has studied fashion or color application the information may be too basic. For the average woman or someone who is dissatisfied with the effect of the shades they wear this book has a lot of information and shows you how find colors to compliment your skin tone and undertones. This is also great for anyone needing to plan a wardrobe and needs to know how to mix and match colors to get the most mileage. I first read this book about 5 years ago. There wasn't a picture of the book cover so I thought it was a different book because of the copyright date. It is the same as the original from 1994. It's an excellent book and the information is still relevant but keep in mind to wear what feels good to you and that as people of color we come in every shade of the rainbow so there will always be exceptions to the rules.

Rating:
Summary: What A Great Book!
Review: This book makes being beautiful plain and simple. The step by step process will allow you to see changes instantly. Darlene Mathis is a master at making people beautiful - just look at her, she's a truly beautiful woman herself. If you're in the DC area, I highly recommend trying to get an appointment at her salon. If you're in the mood for pampering, it's the place to be and definitely worth the trip!

Rating:
Summary: Must-buy for Image Consultants - current and future!
Review: This book takes the theory of Seasonal Color to a new level. As a woman of color and a Certified Image Consultant trained in Seasonal Color draping, I very much appreciated the detail and thought given to seasonal color as applied to women of color.

Too often, women of color were tagged with one particular season, with no allowance for the rainbow of skin tones and coloring combinations that we are born with. This book explains not only the different possibilities for coloring, but teaches through gorgeous photography and color charts that women of color can fit into any of the traditional seasons.

Wonderful information is also contained within this book on dressing figure challenges, accessories, and drawing the eye to where you want it. For anyone in the Image Consulting industry who works with women, this book is a great reference. Our world is becoming more multi-cultural every day, and this book will help Consultants work effectively within that world.