Dressing Smart for Men: 101 Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make...and How to Avoid Them

Rating:
Summary: Still wading through, but it doesn't look good!
Review: First off I will readily admit to not finishing this book as of yet. And while I still intend to complete the book, it is now in part, an attempt to find much worthwhile in it.

I will not seek to impune the credability or expertise of the author, I have yet to determined whether this is an instructional book or a marketing tool. But the way the way the information is delivered makes this book lacking any value so far.

My chief complaints:
1. The author puts much importance on the use of color to achieve a good look. Perfectly valid premise. However most of the photos are in black and white. Many of the ones that are in color are simply of large selections of color swatches, with which we are somehow supposed to find applicable to our own use. I already know what navy looks like and that there are variations in the color. A side by side of the effect of 2 different navies would be much more enlightening than a swatch array of 10 shades of navy.

2. Where the author does use a side by side example of one combination looking better than the other, the "better looking one" is clearly photographed with increased exposure time and therefore looks brighter. The bad example is a darker photo. What a surprise it looks duller. A poor way to support a premise.

3. The concept of matching and enhancing skin tone is a perfectly valid one. However, when the author gives example of skin tone by "name dropping" famous people as having such and such a skin tone, we have just crossed the line to ludicrous. These may in fact be people the author has worked with, and is simply trying to impress or prove qualifications, perhaps not. However the examples given, assumably as an instructional guide, are a mish-mosh of famous people of different races all lumped into the same class of skin characteristic. Aside from the fact that it is hard to imagine 3 people of origins african, english, and mediteranian having the same skin tone or characteristic, the way it is presented is absurd.
To give an example of skin tone in the terms of "X" toned people include Colin Powell, Robert Redford, and Bill Clinton is the same as saying martians have "x" skin tone.
Beside the obvious flaws in this method, ie: the people mentioned are not standing in front of you to make a comparison, most reader's exposure to these individuals are only through their tv sets. I don't know about you, but I had a TV set that made everyone look green. Not a good basis to put together a great look.

As I said, I am continuing to read this in the hopes of finding some usefull information. However, the previous examples have all occured in the first 50 pages so it does not look good. Thought you might like to know it before buying it yourself.

Rating:
Summary: awesome advice
Review: I have read several other books on clothing and this is one of the best. Unequivocally a keeper. I always wondered why some clothes looked outstanding on me and others made me look like I just got hit by a truck. I have the answer now and will be sure to fill my closet with clothes that flatter my skincolor and tone. Also good advice on classic clothes. Read it a few times and practice! Good Luck