Big City Look: How to Achieve That Metropolitan Chic [Hardcover]

Vincent Roppatte (Author), Sherry S. Cohen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 1998

You've seen her striding down the avenue of any big city--the woman with The Look--the look of elegance and style. Her hair swings; her makeup is natural, but lush; her clothes original, but classic. She's delightful and sophisticated. She's irresistible. She's quintessential big city.

Rarely does a style book come along that is practical, real, and much more than the usual pie-in-the-sky beauty lecture. Big City Look is a celebrity-studded how-to by Vincent Roppatte, Saks Fifth Avenue's master beauty stylist and spokesman for Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salons. Vincent is a legend in his field, and the most celebrated women in the world are his friends and clients. His book, Big City Look, clearly deconstructs the extraordinary and stylish appeal of urban women in different regions of the country. And you don't actually have to live in a big city to have that confident, put-together look that whispers elegance and grace.

What exactly is it that gives panache to that stunningly chic New York woman--even when she's not a classic beauty?

What secrets does that feminine and gorgeous Atlantan woman keep--the secrets that bestow the southern Big City Look?

How does that radiant Chicagoan manage to look so classy--even when plowing through the legendary snow and wind?

That Dallas delight--how does she dress and wear her hair to give her such seductive and stylish advantage, such captivating attitude?

What's the Washington, D.C., style formula--the one that bestows that insider in-control allure on that important capital woman?

How does that enchanting L.A. woman manage to epitomize the glamorous heart of Hollywood?

While certain clichés ring true (Dallas sports gorgeous big hair, New York dresses in black, Atlanta loves headbands), there are so many more subtle, regional differences when it comes to great style. Understanding and being able to duplicate these fashion, makeup, and hair secrets results in a smashing, appropriate, and wonderful look. Even if you live in a tiny village and are on a small-town budget, the look of urban style can be yours.

So how does the woman with the Big City Look develop that flair for clothes and makeup, that seductive attitude we universally admire? Vincent knows. And he tells you in Big City Look.

A celebrity-studded book by Saks Fifth Avenue's master stylist deconstructs the extraordinary and stylish appeal of women in six big American cities: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Dallas, Atlanta.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Manhattan stylist to the stars (and other folks with money), Roppatte shares practical hints about achieving the Big City look. Singling out the metropoli of Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., he and coauthor Cohen describe the looks indigenous to each area in terms of hair, fashion, face, and attitude. New Yorkers are defined by eccentricity, lots of black, and a water bottle, whereas their Chicago counterparts sport more commonsense leggings and knee-length skirts. Many observations are worth committing to memory, such as spending more than 20 minutes on makeup is 10 minutes too long. And one of the authors' commandments of good taste is "Thou shalt not roll up the waistband of thy pants or skirt." Chic at its "chic-est." Barbara Jacobs

Review

"Since he was seventeen years old, I've been observing my friend Vincent as he became an indispensable advisor, makeover artist, confidante, and creator of image to one famous woman after another--and to hundreds of less celebrated clients. Some of his VIPs, like Diane Sawyer, owe me a lot because I introduced them to Vincent. But Vincent introduced me to a new Liz. He made my television career possible by turning me into a blonde. He knows more about women than Warren Beatty and he cares for the final result. He may not know it, but he himself helped to create the New York Big City Look." -- Liz Smith

"Vincent is a favorite of some of the most glamorous women in New York, and this book will show you why." -- Kathie Lee Gifford

"Vincent is a master at his trade. He makes everyone look and feel fabulous and he pays extraordinary attention to detail. Vincent has great taste and great style. Nobody does it better!" -- Phyllis George, former Miss America, former First Lady of Kentucky

"[This] book is like Vincent himself--a melange of wisdom, humor, and most of all, style secrets. He knows what makes heads turn, and he's contributed to the style of many of our models." -- Katie Ford, CEO, Ford Models, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1st edition (September 23, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060175893
• ISBN-13: 978-0060175894
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,484,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's subtle and charming and mostof all-helpful., February 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Big City Look: How to Achieve That Metropolitan Chic (Hardcover)

I'm an Atlanta business woman who ended up in Washngton D.C.--and I thought I knew everything but I didn't. My whole look was wrong--I could FEEL it. I wore pastels and shorter skirts--perfect for SAtlanta but washington called for dark clothes and longer skirts--not to mention pin stripes. This was a wonderful book that really gives a reader an idea of regional dressing. I threw out all my headbands--and how did he know how many I had in my drawer?

I recommend it thoroughly--and I plan to give it to my friend who is relocating to New York.

20 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars This book is unintentionally hilarious. . ., December 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Big City Look: How to Achieve That Metropolitan Chic (Hardcover)

Boy the reader from "fashionable Washington, D.C." hit the nail right on the head. This book is definitely for the over 60 crowd. Vincent's fawning prose over his "It Girls" of today were funny and puzzling. Kathie Lee Gifford? Claire Shipman? Liz Smith? These women often look like they need grooming tips and a good bath. Others like Julia Ormond, Adrienne Vittadini, Isabella Rossellini, or Nina Griscom do indeed have that extra something, but Vincent didn't really manage to define it. The tips on dressing were okay, but nothing that most mothers haven't already taught their daughters. The only real thing that elevates this book and makes it partially worthwhile, is that Vincent is donating his portion of the profits to charity. Next time either he or Sherry Suib Cohen write a book, they should also scan the pages for really glaring glamour discrepencies, like showing Diane Sawyer's or Phyllis George's fillings, either edit them out or have these women close their mouths. I also think that the women presented seemed like mindless sheep, and that their cities and fashion codes which they live by were stereotyped and parodied. While this book is an okay general guide to give the reader a feel for how a certain portion of the population looks and dresses, I'd recommend watching CNN Style, or Fashion File and simply paying attention.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where Have You Been All My LIfe?, September 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Big City Look: How to Achieve That Metropolitan Chic (Hardcover)

I'm 17 years old and rarely find beauty books that TALk to me. I love Mr. Roppatte's book and I tried almost everything (which worked, incidentally). I also loved hearing the little gossipy stuff about the stars he "does." This is a wonderful and original beauty book--now, when I travel, I'll know how to change my hair!!!!! What fun!