Colin Cowie Chic: The Guide to Life As It Should Be [Hardcover]

Colin Cowie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2007

A handbook for living well in the twenty-first century

From legendary lifestyle expert Colin Cowie comes the last word in living a gracious, sensuous life on any budget. Colin draws back the curtain on his own chic, passionate, 120-miles-per-hour life, revealing how to create and entertain in an inviting home, garner respect in the workplace, and travel with ease and comfort. No matter how or where you live, or whatever your personal style may be, Colin Cowie Chic will place you on the fast track to experiencing life to the fullest.

This immensely practical handbook offers step-by-step instructions on everything from workplace etiquette to the art of no-sweat, fuss-free travel. Colin also takes the guesswork out of navigating today’s social situations with the kind of charm and confidence that will get you invited back anywhere you want!

The invaluable details he shares include:

Home:
Essential comforts for every room
Kitchen decorating ideas
Storage and organization shortcuts
Know-how for being or hosting a guest

Entertaining:
A wine-and-cheese primer
Options for stunning table settings
A no-fail hangover cure

Travel:
Unbeatable jet-lag remedies
Road-trip guidelines
A must-have packing list

Work:
Tips for motivating employees and coworkers
Desk etiquette for the office

And much more!

Packed with detailed lists, gorgeous photographs, and helpful illustrations, this is the only guidebook you’ll ever need to live a beautiful, elegant life (as you should!).

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

COLIN COWIE’s renowned parties have made him a favorite of Oprah Winfrey, countless celebrities, heads of state, and royalty—and secured his place as one of the most sought-after event planners in the world. He appears regularly on The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Early Show and is a frequent contributor to O, the Oprah Magazine. He has been featured frequently on Entertainment Tonight, and in USA Today, the New York Times, Brides, and People on etiquette, home design, entertaining, and other aspects of living well. Born in Zambia and raised in South Africa, Colin now resides in New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter; First Edition edition (December 31, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307341798
• ISBN-13: 978-0307341792
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #223,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Colin Cowie's renowned parties have made him a favorite of Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Seinfeld, John Travolta, heads of state and royalty, and many others-and secured his place as one of the most sought-after wedding planners in the world. He appears regularly on The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Early Show and is a frequent contributor to O Magazine, Brides, and People. Born in Zambia and raised in South Africa, he now resides in New York. Colin Cowie Lifestyle, his event-planning, interior-design, and lifestyle company, is based in Los Angeles and New York. Please visit him online at www.colincowie.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A small book with BIG ideas!, February 13, 2008

By 

Peter Lopez "P.Lo" (NYC, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Colin Cowie Chic: The Guide to Life As It Should Be (Hardcover)

This small book is packed with a million ways to literally make your life better. It feels more like book about good values than anything else. Colin constantly reminds us about considering other people's feelings. His definition of style is fantastic: Self respect, which leads to respect of others and their respect of you. That is why every other idea he comes up works so well and so well together. They aren't coming from garish desire to impress or cause envy, they come from a desire to please and make your guests, as well as yourself, comfortable and happy. I don't mean to overextend my point, but it's a rare thing to read a book about napkins, shoes, table clothes and invitations that comes from such an earnest place. THANKS Colin.

Secondly, the book has so many useful tips, guides, practices, drawings, photographs, etc... that literally show you step by step how to get your personal organization setup as well as how to host a party that you can actually have fun at!! It's not an impossible Martha Stewart like scenario, that no one can actually do, it's honest and has real nuts and bolts advice to help all of us live "life as it should be".

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars visually unappealing, January 3, 2008

By 

Anne - See all my reviews

This review is from: Colin Cowie Chic: The Guide to Life As It Should Be (Hardcover)

The content is good, but the layout and photographs are very disappointing. It's also a very small book, which I could not tell by seeing it online. It looks like the publisher was trying to save money by using mostly small, black and white photographs with a brown sepia tone. I found it hard to believe the Colin Cowie I see on TV actually signed-off on this book. There are several nice full color photos, but mostly small, poorly shot black and white. Again, the content is good, but be sure to "Look Inside" before you buy.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very talented mind :-), February 4, 2008

By 

Little Miss Cutey (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Colin Cowie Chic: The Guide to Life As It Should Be (Hardcover)

I suppose for the decorating portion of the book it's easy to create these looks for your home etc when you have money to spend. Of course, you don't always need to spend a lot of money, but it definately helps. I picked this up because I've seen Colin on Oprah and The Early Show heaps of times and his taste is always impecable. He is so talented and creative.
This book is full of wonderful ideas that can either be reproduced or similarily recreated. There are ideas about everything from organising clothing to how to be a good house guest and everything in between. He's got fantastic ideas and reading this makes me want to live my best life possible. I have no problem recommending this to almost everyone who wants to change things up a little or travel well or even how to get over a hangover. Interesting and great little book. It encompases a lot of topics and information.