What Not to Wear

Rating:
Summary: "WHAT NOT TO WEAR"
Review: This book is totally useless to any woman with even a moderate figure concern. There wasn't one woman pictured in this book to whom I could relate! I am 50-something with an average figure...5'4" tall & about 140 pounds.....struggling with the the mid-life weight issue. The authors' idea of "big waist" or "big butt" or "flabby tummy".....was laughable! If you are a teenager or 20-something with absolutely no self-esteem or positive self-image and are desperate....maybe this book has something to offer. Other than that.....save your money!

Rating:
Summary: There are better guides out there, but it's a start
Review: I am probably the only person in all of Britain who has bought this book without watching the series, so it has had to stand on the book alone for me. In this book two women, Trinny and Susannah, give tips on what type of clothes suit or are to be avoided for various body parts (e.g. big bust, small bust, fat tummy etc). They themselves feature modelling the clothes in question, and then list shops (British) where you can buy what suits you. These pictures can sometimes be like corny 'before and after' shots - 'bad' clothes modelling with frowns and slouching, 'good' outfits with a smile and great posture - but they are effective at showing you what the authors are trying to explain. The main point any reader would get from this book is dressing well is not rocket science. Every point made in this book is obvious - e.g. wearing a sleeveless top when you have big arms is only going to accentuate your big arms, not camouflage them. But seeing what some people are getting around in, obvious points obviously need reinforcing now and then.

This book has its faults - it manages to contradict itself in places. For example, Trinny (I think) is shown in an A-line skirt and this is sited as an example of 'bad' dressing' for her body type, but later in the A-line skirt is there again, this time as a 'good' example. Depends what you want to highlight or camouflage when you get out of bed in the morning I guess. And while some people might find the language a laugh (all talk of boobs and jugs and such) I found it a bit contrived. Again, I never saw the TV show, so I will admit that maybe I am missing something.

You don't *need* this book - surely most people could figure it all out for themselves by actually looking at themselves in the mirror before they leave the house in the morning. But perhaps it will be the nudge in the right direction for some, and reassurance for others that yes, they are doing it right.

Rating:
Summary: Good book for fashion victims
Review: I am fashion-impaired. Although I had read much of the advice in this book, I never had it visually shoved in my face before in such a forceful manner. Now, I might actually stop wearing the kind of tapered jeans I've been wearing since I was 14.

This book is a fast read but provides useful advice. I hope it comes in useful on my next trip to the consignment stores.

Rating:
Summary: A Fairly Good Place to Start A Wardrobe Makeover
Review: If you stand in front of your closet thinking "I have NOTHING to wear", this book may be just right for you.

Or, if you stand in front of your closet, and end up dressing in outfits that make you feel frumpy, dumpy, and uncomfortable, this book may also help you.

Also, if you think you dress pretty well, but are unhapy with how some parts of your body look in certain clothes that you own, this book can guide you to a better look.

Overall, the book doesn't offer any really new ideas (you can find guidelines like these in the pages of most fashion magazines), but the plus side is, this book puts all the basic information together in one place.

Another plus to this guide is that the authors try to use humor (not that they always succeed) to help you deal with perceived body flaws.

The final good point about this book --most of the ideas are affordable, and may even be do-able with clothes you already own.

I'd have liked to have given this guide a higher number of stars, but the lack of new or exciting information kept it a three stars for me.

Still, it's a good place to start if you don't know where to begin your wardrobe makeover.

Reviewer: Linda Painchaud

Rating:
Summary: A Must for Any Woman, Whether You Like Clothes or Not
Review: Based on the popular BBC series "What Not to Wear," this book summarizes Trinny and Susannah's basic rules of what not to wear. At the very least, you will discover what a person of your body type should not wear and you can then buy clothes using a process of elimination. However, Trinny and Susannah do give very good tips about what clothes suit you and what you should look for.

The book is broken down by body type: big arms, big boobs, no boobs, saddlebags, short neck, etc. It is then broken down further by best and worst clothes: best and worst skirt, best and worst boots, best and worst jacket, etc. For each best and worst, there are great photos of Trinny and Susannah that illustrate what they're saying. At the end of each section, they summarize their points by giving you basic rules to follow for each body part. They also list places to shop to find the clothes to suit you at the end of the book.

Following Trinny and Susannah's rules are GUARANTEED to make you look better without changing your body in any way. Reading this book is informative and entertaining. It is not a "do this, don't do this, do this" boring, droning guide. The girls are always biting and unforgiving, and they will force you to be more honest with yourself. My only criticism about this book is that it is not all-encompassing. You will not find what not to wear for any occasion or what not to wear for your exact body type (i.e., broken down by clothes size, measurements, etc.). Instead, you will find basic ground rules to adapt for yourself and follow whenever you shop. I am hoping that further Trinny and Susannah books, including their other book, _What Not to Wear for Every Occasion_, will supplement this book nicely and give further detail about what not to wear.

Rating:
Summary: Here's What Works About This Book..........
Review: There have been lots of reviews of this book written here already so you have a good idea of what the concept holds.

Let me tell you why it works so brilliantly for me.

First, it focuses on what won't work for you.

That's always a basic starting point, I use it with my children when I teach them how to choose their clothes. Same holds true for us as adults.... There are certain combinations, certain choices that simply don't work.

Once you've gotten that worked out, BRAVA!

That's where this book works beautifully.

I really enjoyed the "Best" and "Worst" ideas for dressing according to Body Types and Body Strengths. SO SIMPLE and SO TRUE.

Next time I update my wardrobe, this simple guide is coming along for the journey

Rating:
Summary: Tuck this in your purse, tote, jacket when shopping....
Review: There are tons of how to dress for your figure, how to look polished, chic and overall nifty books on the market. Ignore them and pick up WHAT NOT TO WEAR. Now you don't have to wait to log on or click on to get the skinny from Trinny and Susannah. Have big arms, then avoid cap sleeves and big bracelets. Short neck, earring and open collars are your friend. Massive breasts? Banish that trench coat and bulky knit sweater ASAP. The advice goes on and on. And unlike other volumes, Trinny and Susannah are more than willing to fling on garments that reveal unknown flaws. Who knew Trinny has thick ankles, a big bum and horrid saddlebags? Or the exact scope of how massive of bust and tum Susannah is?

The only flaws? The covers are too close together. And the breakdown of shops by guilt factor has me wanting to book a trip to London ASAP.

Rest assured, my copy of WHAT NOT TO WEAR is already Post-It noted and ready for a shopping trip to the mall!

Rating:
Summary: Fun!
Review: If you are a little confused about how to dress down a problem area on your body then you will enjoy this fun book. The very fact that the women are real women and not models makes the pictures of outfits in the book realistic. While in some parts it does say that something is bad for a body type, and on another part of the book that same thing is shown, it does offer good insight and great advice to those who feel lost when trying to find something that looks and feels good on them.

Rating:
Summary: Obvious and Little to Learn
Review: After seeing these two on Oprah, I thought this book would be well worth the money. Unfortunately, I was wrong. If you have seen their show or seen them at all... you know all they have to offer. The book is very short and has very little information you don't already know. For example, fat arms... don't wear a princess cut sleeve (one that is very short and tight). You can do more for yourself by being critical in the dressing room mirror. Save your ten dollars and buy something you know you look good in.

Rating:
Summary: Much easier to follow than what one SHOULD wear.
Review: These ladies were on Oprah earlier this year (2004) and I wanted the book then. I picked it up recently, and already I'm feeling empowered by knowing what mistakes to stop making. Plus, I'm shopping for trendy clothes that I never would have considered before because I wasn't thinking about what they are supposed to do for one's figure. Now I feel like my clothes are working for ME, not the other way around.

It helps that my figure is exactly like Susannah's: I have cleavage, my upper arms have always been a disaster, and two children later, NOBODY wants to see my tummy. She looks tall in the photos, too, and I'm 5'10".

The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is the language. Call me an American puritanical git, but "arse" after "arse" gets on my nerves, especially from two women who are supposed to be "reclaiming their femininity". Maybe they'll consult a thesaurus before their next book.