Customer Reviews

The Bombshell Manual of Style

5 star:		(77)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I have had this haunting feeling lately that most women today are lacking something, or trying too hard. We don't seem to express our vulnerability or our sensuality- we just show a lot of skin-- low-cut tops, lowrise jeans. What is real sex appeal?
For that matter, what is real va-va voom? Finally, an adorable, tongue-in-cheek book about the classic goddesses who overcame bad childhoods and multiple marriages. They believed in dreams, they made us believe in dreams. The authors say you don't even need to be busty, or blonde, it's state of mind, a consciousness. This book is glamourous, sweet, empowering and made me laugh, too. (I ran out to Saks Fifth Avenue and bought Jicky perfume, very old school sexy.) There's even a quiz and a cute website which I found on the web when I looked up the book title. I only wish there had been a little more on exercise, but I guess the book was too honest for that....bombshell weights do go up and down but a bombshell is a bombshell because she believes I herself more than her scale. (I am buying this book for my depressed friends, it's better than Prozac.)

For some reason, the people who buy this book expect to see a step-by-step guide on how to become Marilyn, Elizabeth, and Sofia. However, there is no such thing as step-by-step guide on becoming a bombshell. The bombshell tendency is often born into a girl (or boy) but is carefully cultivated into the full-blown bombshell that we know and adore. While I admit some of the things are dated, why can't we incorporate a little bit of the forties and fifties into our lives? Champagne baths are a tad much for those of us with budgets, but why not have a grocery store-cheap bottle in the fridge for those toasting those special occasions like a dove landing on the windowsill? This book was an eye-opener for me, showing me that I can be my own type of Marilyn or Elizabeth in the modern world, it just requires a little bit of glam and a whole lot of confidence. While you and I never may be listed with the Bombshells of legend, we know we are Bombshells, and so does everyone else with the swish of our hair, the champagne in our refrigerator and our genuine effervescene for the movie of life in which we are the star.

Don't purchase this book if you want a step-by-step guide or tips on how to become Marilyn Monroe. This book is not that. It's more of a catalogue of famous Bombshell tendencies (which bras, makeup, shoes, music, etc.) that you either find just like yours, somewhat like yours, or nothing at all like yours, and you could use these tendencies to cultivate your bombshell status. But no step-by-step. Sorry.

In a time when fashionistas prescribe either cookie-cutter, sexless Anne Taylor fashion or outfits that scream "$50 an hour, me love you long time!", the return of the bombshell is long overdue! Sexy but never trampy, playful but never moronic, intelligent but not at the cost of sensuality, the bombshell is an archetype that European feminists never crucified - although it suffered more stateside. I hope this book heralds a new interest in the joyful balancing act of the bombshell. This IS a how-to book, despite what some reviewers have said. It is, however, more of a description of a paradigm than a cookie-cutter prescription - with some concrete advice on shoes, scent, clothing, attitude, lifestyle, etc. Sometimes tongue-in-cheek, high-spirited, sensual, unapologetically feminine, delighted - with a little spritz of irony- this book is a fun, fun, fun read. I loved it - treated myself to a bottle of Coco by Chanel to celebrate, and the next day I wore a just-knee length b& w polka-dotted skirt with a fitted black top and new red open-toed 1940s heels that I hadn't previously been brave enough to wear to the office. Celebrating a kinship with the Bombshell makes me feel fabulous! You might even say... liberated! Liberated to be playful, sexy, whimsical, feminine, capricious, sentimental, *and* intellectual. The Bombshell is the well-balanced, thinking woman's Cosmo Girl. The only things I wasn't too keen on were the critiques of certain artists and authors as not-for-bombshells. As far as I'm concerned, the bombshell can read as much as she wants, and whatever she wants - and the same goes for art appreciation. A Bombshell with a Ph.D. might find it a bit naff to have sex appeal linked to reading material - but then again, maybe wrapping a copy of Being and Time in a Men Are From Mars dust jacket would appeal to her whimsical sense of irony. Never mind me, though - just go get the book and see what you think!

It's about time some practical advice was given with an air of humor, light-heartedness and sexiness. An adorable how-to manual that doesn't take itself too seriously. But watch out-if you follow this advice expect heads to turn. The information packed into this little pearl is dead on. The authors have obviously watched all the classic films and have distilled the best tips into a concise guide no aspiring bombshell should be without. I recommend this to everyone. (It will make men smile, too.) It's positive, fun and beautifully illustrated.

Isn't it always the case that what some readers hate about a book is what you love about it? I love the focus solely on vintage movie stars, perfume, music etc. I love the way it reads like a movie magazine of the era, full of fluff and fun and nothing too sad or intrusive. I love the way the author seems to be making a study of bombshells in their native habitat, the movie screen and the Hollywood of yesteryear. I love that although it's so over the top you may sense a hint of things being "tongue in cheek," she passes no judgments about the bombshell way of life.

I love the fact that it is not a how-to book which I find have a tendency to sound rather "Do this or you aren't beautiful/strong/hip/chic/accomplished etc." You can take what you will from this book. Read it to see a light and fun side to bombshells whose lives are usually mentioned in junction with tragedy now. Read it to see some suggestions as to what music a bombshell listens to and what mood it sets, what movies she loves and what books she reads (and why). Maybe you'll want to add some bombshell touches to your life or maybe you won't, either way it's a fun read.

Personally I pick it up to cast a rose glow over my life, to add some effervescence and to recapture a sense of fun. To me, that's what makes this book sparkle, it is a slice of a cotton candy world. It's a rose-tinted bygone Hollywood that you can stroll through and pick up a few trinkets to adorn your reality, or not.

This is a great book. It's not a good book if you're looking for a guide to dress like Lindsey Lohan or how to put together a work appropriate wardrobe. It's a fun and funny book about the concept of the bombshell. The concept that started with Marilyn, Sophia and Kim, and continues today in some of the sexier and smarter women out there. Being an old movie buff certainly helps in the appreciation of this guide. If you can't stand black and white movies, and think that Marilyn was fat and over-rated, do not bother.

I have always admired the women who coined the name "bombshell." Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, and the likes, all hold a special something, a way of life all their own. This book delves in and explains it.

From what to cook to what to wear to how to throw a tantrum (according to your hair color), this book not only informs, but entertains wildly. Whether you want to take it seriously and remodel your life, or just use it as an amusing afternoon read, this book is a must for every woman.

Not only does it encourage sex appeal and glamour, it touches on the fact that it also takes brains to be a bombshell. This is something few people recognize, and thus women are forced to feel that if they are beautiful and sexy and enthralling, they can't be witty and intelligent too. And that's oh-so-wrong!

I love "The Bombshell Manuel of Style" and read it over and over. It's neat to see how there's a little bombshell in all of us. This is worth its price and more!!!

"The Bombshell Manual of Style" by Laren Stover was a major disappointment. It's one of those schlocky "empowerment through high heels" things that have unaccountably become popular lately -- and not even a particularly good example of its ilk -- made even worse by combining it with schlocky nostalgia, a la the movie "Swingers". I kept waiting for the book to turn into a bitter parody of itself, i.e., "The Bimbo Manual of Style, 1957 Edition" (which at least would have been entertaining), but it never did -- or not intentionally. If only Ms. Stover had been content to let the book remain a frothy romp through vintage-style glamour, instead of also trying to make it a how-to book. It aimed for glitzy, missed, and ended up embarrassing, like reading old issues of "Cosmo".

"Bombshell" encourages its readers to derive self-worth from that which is dumbest, silliest, and most trivial about femininity. It pretends otherwise, telling us that bombshells are intelligent, authentic, compassionate, etc. -- then suggests prancing into a job interview braless in a tight sweater. I can't see intelligent, authentic, compassionate women like Marie Curie or Rosa Parks or Mother Theresa doing that; so while a bombshell might be *permitted* to be intelligent, authentic, and compassionate, those qualities are clearly secondary -- what she's *required* to be is a busty floozy. I'm well aware that women have hearts and bodies as well as minds -- that we can be smart, strong, and functional while also enjoying love, sex, men, and traditionally feminine pursuits -- and three cheers for all that.

I also want to make clear that I usually enjoy frivolous fun and/or "girlie" books. I loved "Kiss my Tiara", "Sex Tips for Girls", and "The Sweet Potato Queens' Guide to Life". I enjoyed "The Grrl Genius Guide to Life", "Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts", "Miss Piggy's Guide to Life", and most of "The Bad Girl's Guide to Life" (all these books, by the way, do what this book tries to do, with far more amusing and helpful results). But there are limits.

First of all, "Bombshell" assumes that 1950s-style femininity is good clean fun; innocent of social/cultural baggage, and bravely persevering despite a conspiracy of spoilsports to forbid it. I like dressing up and flirting as much as anyone; I'll admit that cleavage flaunting and the occasional tantrum have their place; and I work out faithfully, get pedicures, and wear perfume.

What I find baffling and irritating is the notion that this is somehow rebellious -- as though there were Orwellian puritans prowling the streets, slapping lipsticks out of women's hands. I've never encountered anybody like that; but every single day of my life, I encounter movies, TV shows, magazines, advertisements -- and yes, books -- telling me in blatant and subtle ways that I should wear makeup, dye my hair, get "cosmetic" surgery, etc. Whether or not I comply is optional (so far), but one can't have it both ways. An image mandated by all of corporate capitalism, all of the mainstream media, and all of popular culture, cannot possibly be considered rebellious -- or even original. Fishnet hose may be fun, but they're not "fighting the power".

Secondly, "Bombshell" is off-puttingly dated. Almost nothing in it postdates 1960. For example, one chapter is devoted entirely to perfumes popular between 1920-50 ("Jicky"? OK, Collette wore it, but where do they even sell it nowadays? In one shop in Paris?), including an elaborate, gushing description of one that no longer exists ("My Sin"). Everything introduced after 1980, no matter how popular it is/was, gets lumped together in a one-sentence dismissal, apparently because the fragrances of that era are too old to be trendy -- but, unlike the equally untrendy perfumes the author praises, are not yet old enough to be nostalgic.

Thirdly, "Bombshell" conveniently overlooks the fact that being a bombshell went out of style for a reason -- it didn't work. Women have had the past few thousand years (surely a fair trial period for testing a theory) in which to act like shallow airheads, and it hasn't done us or anyone else any good. We still don't have world peace, comparable pay, or even a decent parking space.

Stilettos and simpering only worked for beauties and movie stars -- and usually, not even for them. Marilyn Monroe, whom "Bombshell" constantly cites, had a miserably unhappy life, abused drugs and alcohol, and died, probably of suicide, while she was still in her thirties. So did Dorothy Dandridge, another of the book's "role models". Elizabeth Taylor has been divorced -- what, eight times? -- and in and out of rehab repeatedly. I don't wish to be unkind to any of the ladies in this book, but their combined track record suggests that its methods produce less than successful results.

There's also a strangely artificial feel to "Bombshell". It has the same relationship to actual women as Ralph Lauren ads have to actual cowboys. Real-life women don't dress or act that way. With the exception of a few starlets and showgirls, nobody did, not even in those days. This book isn't about women in the 1950s -- it's about *movie characters* in the 1950s.

Retro can be charming and fascinating in its own way, and there are several good books about various elements of retro style. "Bombshell" wasn't one of them. Those who don't enjoy this sort of thing should skip it. Those who *do* enjoy this sort of thing should *also* skip it, because they'd be better off watching Marilyn Monroe videos, listening to Frank Sinatra CDs, or reading hard-boiled detective stories (since those always seem to have at least one bombshell "dame" in them). Ms. Stover should have put together a coffee table book about vintage clothes, music, and movies; and gotten it out of her system. The illustrations in this book are delightful -- but otherwise, this "bombshell" is a dud.

Written and illustrated by people who should know, here is some fun advice with 100% hot style. Based on great movie stars and what can only be personal observance of real-life Bombshells, this little book is too much fun to put down. The illustrations are bright, sexy and whimsical, and the advice will make you feel better about getting dressed, doing your nails and forgetting how to cook. Reminiscent of Helen Gurley Brown's Sex and the Single Girl, (only funnier,) it covers everything from Marilyn Monroe's diet, to what to wear at home, (hint: it's not sweatpants!) You'll want to grab a copy to see how you measure up, and how to make it all better. It's a silly book, hard-core feminists will be offended. But it is sooo delicious, you'll find yourself sippping a cocktail to Frank Sinatra before you've finished the last page. Sister Holly Golightlys rejoice!! Hurry, get some bubble bath and get this book!

Please, people, obviously Ms. Stover never intended this book to be some sort of self help endeavor. She is actually a very intelligent woman if you've ever bothered to read anything else she's written. Anyway, this book is about deconstructing and examining what it is to be a bombshell, the whole idea behind the image. And none of the women discussed in the book would anyone consider to be "slutty" or "bimbo-esque" as has been suggested in other reviews. Also I think another over-arching point of this book is that women don't have to dress and act like a New England prep or intellectual snob to be an intelligent, powerful, vivacious woman. If you like old movies and are fascinated by the bombshell persona then this is absolutely a book for you. Very easy to read a la cart with lots of interesting anecdotes about all those bombshell women.