Customer Reviews

Eccentric Glamour: Creating an Insanely More Fabulous You

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I adored this book and was sad when I read the very last page that my time in the company of the wonderful Simon Doonan was coming to a close. Rarely have I literally burst into laughter while reading a book (causing quite a commotion on the airplane!). This is not the book to pick up if you're looking for a list of must-haves for your wardrobe. Instead, it celebrates those glorious creatures who throw fashion advice to the wind and unabashedly embrace their own unique, personal style--whether Vogue agrees or not. A true delight!

Simon Doonan is clearly dealing with a minor bat infestation in his flawlessly-haberdashered belfry, but the man can write. I don't think there's one clunky sentence in this book. It's also hysterically funny and subversive, and the brilliance of the writing elevates the material to no end. I'm indifferent to fashion and I'm still buying this thing in hardcover -- and now that I am armed with my diagnosis of Existentialist with Gypsy overtones, shopping has even become more enjoyable.

I'm going to flat out admit it, I'm an eccentric

nut.I talk to the cats I meet on my morning walk,

I still play records on a record player,and I find

it much easier to shop in thrift stores vs. regular

retail.I still gravitate towards the same kind of

pieces I went for in my younger days.I adore a good

"stripey top", Classic LEVI JEANS,& CONVERSE Lowtops in

Black. One of my last purchases was a RAMONES tee

shirt,but....I always keep in mind that I am "a middle

aged woman" and I try to wear any "quirky pieces" in an

"age appropriate" way.I love this book because it's not

the usual style guide.It's given me the guts to be "okay

with myself", quirks & all.I'm an "Existentialist", I'd

prefer a ton of thrift store finds to any designer jeans

or other expensive clothes.I gave up on being "sophis-

ticated" years ago. :) I'd recommend all of Simon's books,

he's such a great writer! If you do own this book hang onto it

and refer back to it from time to time, especially in times when

your self esteem takes a bit of a knock.There will always be people

out there who can't quite grasp the concept of "just being yourself"

and they are just itching to tear you into little bits. Don't listen

to them!!If you can stay true to "yourself" you are on the right track.

Just follow your own path and be the interesting, quirky person you were

meant to be,and always keep "a young spirit" no matter what!

I just finished the book, Eccentric Glamour, by Simon Doonan & I was pleasantly suprised. To be honest, I had not heard about this book or Simon Doonan in general. (Poor, pitiful, non-fashionable me).

As I read the book, I came to understand that I was already a "Glamourous Eccentric" and this book only validated my reasoning for being so. I just thought I was quirky & had a weird fashion style (according to friends and family). I now fully embrace my eccentric fashion sense & advise everyone to go out & grab this book...sit down with a notebook as there are great ideas & quotes throughout and be on your merry way to being YOU. An eccentric YOU of course.

Enjoy!!

I love this book simply for Simon Doonan's writing! He is sharp, witty and provocative and I found myself laughing out loud at some of his observations. Not so much about fashion but more about attitude, this book is a fun read.

I found this book in the library and absolutely loved it. Simon is my new best friend (although he doesn't know it)! I can't wait for his next book. This one was full of creative ideas that I felt set me free from the fashion constriction of most magazines. Free to dress individually yet maintain a sense of style and glamour. Great, fun book! You should buy it!!

I love this book! Simon Doonan captivated me with his witty, sly and pithy writing style. I didn't want to put it down! The way in which Simon distills fashion into three styles - Gypsies, Existentialists and Socialites is fascinating. I'm now seeing examples of those distinct looks in ads and fashion magazine layouts. Few and far between are people who love fashion and aren't afraid to express their individuality and really "dress up". What we now take for eccentricity in dress would have hardly seemed out of the ordinary in the 60's and 70's. I believe the poor grooming habits and lack of style in the majority of Americans is the result of the jeans and tee shirt culture we're living in now. As music has become dumbed down so has fashion. People have lost their sense of fun and creativity in getting dressed - they have a fear of standing out from the crowd. Here in San Diego where I live I'm always non-plused at how sloppy and down right dull folks like to look! It isn't uncommon to go to some ones home for a beautiful sit down dinner and find your dinner partner in jeans and a plaid shirt!! I'm talking about VIP's in the county! "Eccentric Glamour" in a way fulfills my longing for real style. For me the book gets 5 stars.

Where are all of the gushing reviews for this book?! Maybe I'm a speedier reader than most but I would assume anyone who's read this would immediately get online and share with the world what a hilarious gem this is.

Charming, self-deprecating, outrageous and dead right about fashionable people and popular culture, Simon Doonan is THE man I'd want at my dinner party. By page 100 of Eccentric Glamour I had to put it down because I was shaking with silent laughter at every word. Literally every "of", "the" and "and"!

Please, Simon, please let your next book be a compendium of all the columns you've written for the New York Observer. Thanks for making this world your own.

i guess you were in Dallas recently and people didnt like you. I loved your book you were genius. Come to Dallas again and I will tell you about meeting Bette Davis at IMagnin in LA.

I am a bit of a fashion and style guide junkie. OK. More than a bit. I have read them all, looking for that perfect explanation of what to buy to be impeccably in style. And Simon Doonan has solved my problem. Buy what I want- as long as it is unexpected and makes me happy. Or buy nothing and make my clothes from poodle fur. A "to thine own self be true" for the style challenged! Not only did the book make me laugh, it made me look at my safe wardrobe choices and want to throw them out the window and dress only in gold lame'. I hope Mr. Doonan is pleased with himself.