Rating: 
Summary: cruel to be kind
Review: Trinny and Susannah are like those mean girls in high school who made your life hell only this time they're on YOUR side. This book is terrific. It illustrates in photos--not arty drawings what looks bad and what looks good are certain figure problems. Big behinds, short necks, flat chests, flabby guts, thick calves, no waists and more are all discussed. If you like watching them on BBC then you'll love the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: I watch Trinny and Susannah's show and love their frank, hearty style - they tell it like it is! In this book, they highlight different problem areas (large behind, no boobs, short legs, flabby tummy, etc.)and show you how to maximize the body parts that your assets and minimize those that are not - that is their fashion philospohy. I wanted to find a tee shirt recently that did not make me look like Dolly Parton. By following the suggestions in the book, I was able to find a more flattering style which compliments my ample bosom yet does not make me look "huge". Thanks Trinny and Susannah!
Rating:
Summary: An Entertaining Guide to Dressing for One¿s Body-Type!
Review: With 160 photo-filled pages of Trinny and Susannah illustrating the dos and don'ts for each each of 10 common problem areas (ie. large bust, no bust, big arms, large bottom, no waist, short legs, flabby tummy, saddlebags, short neck, and thick ankles & calves), this is the sort that will be quickly and enjoyably devoured the moment you pick it up. Certainly, these are among the most common concerns for those with less-than-perfect physiques (although it is not an exhaustive list). Nevertheless, this is a helpful little book, the purpose of which is to teach women how to dress to minimize flaws while tastefully accentuating the assets. Because they deal with problem areas rather than body types, however, one could end up with a situation where one has two problem areas for which the solutions are (in some cases) contradictory. The book really is, therefore, only a guide to get you thinking about your shape and experimenting with clothing styles. One still has to make adjustments for one's own particular combinations of flaws and assets. The book begins with a very interesting and informative introduction. Having enjoyed the BBC television series "What Not to Wear," I was surprised to find that Susannah and, in particular, Trinny have problem areas that I certainly would never have guessed had they been less than forthright in revealing them, and they are very frank indeed in illustrating their problem areas. Because this is the sort of book that teaches through illustration, there is little in the way of text--a description of the problem area being dealt with, examples of the best and worst clothing choices, and the reasons why that choice is particularly fatal or favourable. Though sparse on text, the book still manages to be packed with information (not to mention being very funny--I found myself chuckling throughout). There is also a shopping guide (which is, alas, strictly limited to UK shops). Nevertheless, in the case of boutiques it is well annotated with the lines of clothing carried and the type of clientele (and in some cases body type!) they cater to. A very helpful section for those living in or planning a visit to the UK. In conclusion, if you have at least one of the problem areas discussed (and who doesn't!) and are looking to develop a dress sense that tastefully flatters your assets while hiding your flaws, you might want to check this book out. Certainly, if you've seen and enjoyed Trinny and Susannah's entertaining and informative BBC television series, you'll enjoy this book.
Rating: 
Summary: i like the compare photos and suggestions
Review: i like the compare photos because they explain the rules of dressing more to one's body shape without lenghthy complex paragraphs, but i found "color me beautiful" to be a better book when it comes to the how to's of dressing... i still recommend this book as a complement to "color me beautiful"
Rating:
Summary: style and dressing for a less-than-perfect body shape
Review: Learn about personal style and dressing for a less-than-perfect body shape with the aid of two 'life coaches' who point out it's just as important to understand What Not To Wear than fashion trends. Color photos point out styles which can make fat arms look bigger, short legs look shorter, and big butts look larger - and are accompanied by contrasting photos which point out the highlights of different styles - and why they work. A fun, revealing guide more practical than most general "how to dress" books.
Rating:
Summary: Just O.K.
Review: I've got this book at the airport on the way home thinking, on this 30 hours journey it'll give me plenty of reading...well it didn't happen. I read it very quick and the information I got out of this book wasn't too much (and I'm not a fashion-expert)!
It explains only a very small amount of the basics, also it doesn't talk about the body-shape/types and what suits best for them, etc. The authors instead, took the problem areas SEPARATELY (big boobs, no boobs, big arms, big butt, no waist, short legs, flabby tummy, saddleags, short neck, thick ankles&calves) and they gave advice on each problem SEPARATELY.
For instance, pear shaped people has usually wide hips, saddlebags, small boobs and so on, so all these things could have been corporated into one group and dealt with all those usual body problems together, recommending the right clotes. This way unfortunatelly they've (as other reviewers said) contradicted themselfs. What best highlights one part of your body and makes a flaw dissapear, it makes your other body flaw look even worse.
The things I've liked about the book was that it's funny; I had a good laugh. Also there are some info in this book and it's a start for one to start out. Since there are not a lot of information it won't be confusing. I think this book also perfect for teenage girls to learn the basics, have a laugh then they can get more books, magazines, etc. on the subject on a higher level. The set-up of the book otherwise very clear, easy to understand; on the left handside you get the 'worst-look' (what not to wear), on the right hand side the 'best-look'+ another 2-3 alternative in text. The models are Trinny&Susannah.
It's not a thick book at all (159 page), so I don't think it was worth the price I paid for it ($15)
After this book I bought the 'Lucky shopping manual', personally I love that book. Easy to understand, I would defenately recommend that book to check out! Na, that book has helpd a lot!! It is about the same size as 'What not to wear' only much thicker (320 page) so it's packed with great info!
I think there are much better books out there on this subject!
Rating:
Summary: Why this book improved my wardrobe
Review: Here's the way to think about this book: it casts aside your personal preferences and ingrained habits, and takes emotions out of the equation. It turns clothes selection into an analytical design problem -- a problem that can be solved.
An earlier reviewer said "You can do more for yourself by being critical in the dressing room mirror." No, I don't think you can...not unless you're able to take a random cross-section of the store into the dressing room and look at yourself completely objectively. In the real world, by the time you get to the dressing room you've already narrowed down your selections to "your" kind of clothes, and it's too late. I'm cursed with a truly gigantic chest, and always tried to avoid clothes that called attention to that part of my body. The result, I now realize, was turning my whole torso into a vast undifferentiated blob. At the urging of this book, I walked into a store and tried on a deep v-neck t-shirt. Amazing! The effect was completely transforming...I looked better and more confident, and the cursed boobs simply weren't an issue.
For those who grouse that the author/models are too tall and thin, just think of the pictures as cartoons. The real value is the text, which gives you useful principles to guide your shopping. An interesting result -- men are amazed at this book. They say "finally, I think I *get* clothes!" Then they wish for a menswear version...
Rating:
Summary: harsh at times, but true
Review: I really like this book. Finally, someone has the guts to say what no one else will! This is a nice place to start when evaluating your wardrobe. I love that there were so many pictures included. Buy this and start accentuating your best assets and concealing yoru flaws.
Rating: 
Summary: What not to buy
Review: This book. Unless you are tall and skinny or tall and big breasted, this book has nothing to offer. Bad jokes about one's body may suit English humor, but does little to address the problems nearly everyone, who is not a fashion model, posesses. I wasted my time and money on this one. The only reason there is even one star is because I had to put at least one.
Rating:
Summary: Ok, but could be a lot better...
Review: This book is ok, but not as great as i'd hoped. I, too, saw the women on Oprah but even then, thought their fashion advice was obvious (the women who wore the "mom" jeans was in definite need of an update -- ANYONE could have made her over!)
Also, i wish they both would have posed a little better for the "before" pics -- anyone looks bad when you stand like they did and make faces. I'm sure they were just trying to be funny, but to me, it all depends on how you carry yourself, no matter what you wear.
I think Suzanne is a great model for the problems they address for her body type, but Trinny just has too good a body for any "flaws" (except, of course for her very tiny boobs -- or should i say mosquito bites?!) She would probably look good in anything. They need real women to model the do's and don'ts for this book to make it more helpful.
|
