Already Pretty: Learning to Love Your Body by Learning to Dress it Well [Paperback]

Sally McGraw (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 12, 2012

Structured as a fun and accessible self-guided makeover, Already Pretty is the antidote to cookie-cutter style guides. Instead of dumping you into a body type category and restricting what you can and cannot wear, this friendly, funny, body-positive book presents a highly customizable regimen to help you define and hone your own personal style. Packed with enlightening exercises, mix-and-match figure flattery techniques, and effective tutorials, Already Pretty illustrates how personal style can foster self-love and self-respect. After determining your current personal style and evaluating pieces from your existing wardrobe, you’re taught to define your ideal style – a process that includes identifying personalized figure flattery priorities. These priorities are tailored to your preferences and your unique body, and may be quite different from the style mandates parroted by fashion industry insiders. Working through this process moves you closer to your fashion aspirations, ultimately allowing you to merge your current and ideal styles through careful culling of your current wardrobe and targeted shopping for new, key pieces. Already Pretty reveals the fundamentals of fashion and figure flattery, but also encourages you to create a style that is both expressive and unique. This book is judgment-free and reader-centric in every way. A true guidebook to crafting personal style, Already Pretty teaches women to love their bodies, dress impeccably, and embrace the philosophy that dressing well is key to living well.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sally McGraw is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer, blogger, teacher, and communications professional. She earned a creative writing degree from Binghamton University in 1998 and, after graduation, worked in the book and magazine publishing industry for ten years. She has contributed writing to local newspapers, magazines, and websites throughout her entire professional life. In addition to writing her popular daily style and body image blog Already Pretty, she has contributed to The Frisky, typeF, and Glamour and is an ongoing features contributor to the Minneapolis StarTribune. She offers personal shopping and style consultation services, both in person for clients living in the Twin Cities and via e-mail for clients worldwide. She is one-third of Strong, Sexy, & Stylish, a collective of experts working to teach women to love themselves. Visit www.alreadypretty.com for more information about Sally, to participate in online forums related to this book, and to purchase a companion PDF.

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 12, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1475148275
• ISBN-13: 978-1475148275
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #216,471 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Already Pretty, a guidebook for your own style July 13, 2012

By Juliann C. Whicker

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I love fashion books, and makeover books, and style books, particularly style books, and this is a wonderful addition to my collection. This is more of a workbook than a picture book, because it's about helping you make your own, personal picture book about your own personal style. I haven't worked through it, because it's something that will take time, with many small steps from finding your current style, finding out what it is that you want your style to be, and working towards that goal.

One of my favorite things is identifying where you are now. I've never seen this step displayed as an important step, but it seems apparent that you can't know where you're going if you don't know where you've been. The entire tone of the book is so not consumerist, it's a relief! I don't feel like there's some 'out there', 'other' that she's selling, only that she wants you to be the happiest you possible.

One thing I would suggest for anyone really interested in finding their personal body shape is making a croquis. This is where you dress in a leotard or underwear and take photos of yourself front, side and back, then use it as a paper doll, printing it out so you can try out different silhouettes and styles. This is something I learned as a sewer, and I find it incredibly helpful, not only because you can use it as a fashion piece, but I think that the more exposure you have to your actual body, the less abhorrent you find it; the first time I made a body form, my body form, I was appalled how huge and three dimensional it is because I only see mirror images/photos of myself, but to have an actual figure that takes up space was a shock. Eventually familiarity made the size acceptable to me.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not your average style guide... way better! August 18, 2012

By Lisette Carrithers

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Okay, I collect style/fashion books the way other people collect cook books. You know buy it thinking it is going to be great and then sit there looking at the Style/Food porn pictures and never really do anything with it. I have shelves of these type of books. This book is in no way like those. This is a thinking woman's style guide. True there are not tons of pictures of body shapes that will leave you scratching your head because none of them look like your shape. There are lots of pictures from bloggers, that is real people with there own figure flaws and foibles that dress their bodies in their own individual styles and look great. Some of these women are tiny, some not, some are young, some are older. Will you find yourself here, maybe, but their confidence and style shine through and even if you don't you'll want what ever they are having. This book is about asking the questions -real questions that get you to unearth your particular style regardless of the fashion of the season or your lifestyle. Sally is all about acceptance of your body and your reality. Got a newborn that spits up on everything she is not going to tell you that washable cotton shirts are a bad thing. Her voice is funny and smart and doesn't make you feel shallow because you might be interested in looking better than you do right now. What woman doesn't need a little more of that in their life?

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic guide! August 22, 2012

By Maine Reflections

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Well written by a lady with a wonderful attitude about body acceptance, who affirms the right of every woman to dress in a way that will make her feel beautiful. She gives step by step directions on how to revamp your wardrobe, all the while talking as a friend, not as a haughty "expert" and not as someone who thinks you need to change, because in her mind, you are "already pretty." Highly recommend!