Forever Cool: How to Achieve Ageless, Youthful, and Modern Personal Style [Paperback]

Sherrie Mathieson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2, 2007

Each year, 75 million baby boomers spend $100 billion on clothes—but you’d never know it to look at them. Alarmed by the fashion faux pas of her fellow fifty-plus peers, style consultant Sherrie Mathieson set out to help them update their personal style yet remain age-appropriate. While her theory is to skip formulas and mix it up, she counsels her boomer brethren to avoid trying too hard (Ladies, what’s worn in Vegas, stays in Vegas; guys, flowered shirts are so Beach Boys).

She presents stylish, contemporary twists to classic looks (a simple, sleekly cut black suit is punched up with stacked silver jewelry; a graphic skirt adds panache to a solid-color sweater set; a pair of men’s khakis is driven out of dullsville with a black linen shirt).

Each page pictures an unfortunate “never cool” ensemble and beside it a “forever cool” rendition. Whether her stuck-in-a-fashion-rut real-life people are sporting sad accessories, underage looks, problem prints, or predictable pieces, Mathieson takes on all of them with kindhearted candor and breathes new life into their attire.

From work attire to special-occasion outfits for evening, the beach, the gym—even the ski slopes!—Sherrie Mathieson has fresh-looking fashion fixes for any boomer who is ready to ramp up his or her clothes savvy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A must-read, illustrated with amazing before-and-after photoes of 'real people' models." --The New York Times Book Review

"Great style is about embracing your stage in life -- and choosing your wardrobe accordingly." --Vogue

"Looking your best is so simple and so achievable." --Bobbi Brown, Beauty Evolution --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

SHERRIE MATHIESON is an award-winning costume designer and style consultant whose work has included Hollywood films, TV shows, and commercials for Fortune 500 corporations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter; First Clarkson N. Potter Ed edition (October 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307405311
• ISBN-13: 978-0307405319
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 0.7 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #485,915 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sherrie Mathieson was accepted as a costume designer by United Scenic Artists, local 829, at the age of 23. For her first feature, "Godspell" she was awarded the "Young New York Film Critics Award for Best Costume Designer". She continued to work in film, TV, MTV, commercials, industrials, and fashion print styling for 28 years.*

Today she has a growing and diverse clientele of all ages, backgrounds, lifestyles and professions for whom she consults on all matters of personal style.

It was the men and women who were beginning to have concerns about the aging process and how it translated to their appearance that called her attention to a void in good expert advice and the inconsistency in the marketplace. She was a pioneer with her book "Forever Cool", (Clarkson- Potter, 2007) and dedicates much of her time to seminars on the subject of ageless, youthful and modern style for boomers and the unique challenges they face. Her new book "Steal This Style" was published by Clarkson- Potter, April 14,2009. Sherrie resides in CT, and divides much time between NYC, NY and Scottsdale/Phoenix/Tucson, AZ.

*Sherrie has costumed and styled for roles, Academy Award-winning actors, sports figures, comedians, rock stars, dancers, industry leaders---and worked with top directors in the film industry.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some good advice - some personal opinions, August 22, 2006

By 

JG (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forever Cool: How To Achieve Ageless, Youthful, and Modern Personal Style (Paperback)

While the author does a good job with most of this book, use your head before taking all her advice. She has something against pink, pastels, jewel tones, and white shoes. Yes, some colors look bad on some people, but it isn't age, its their skin tones and hair color. One of the most beautiful, older women I've ever knew looked wonderful in pink and we all admired her young spirit for wearing color when others her age only wore blacks, greys, and blues. (This was 60's & 70's era.) White shoes are the same, they can age you badly, but a snappy pair of pumps or sandels can make an outfit. The great thing about this book is the real people models which make it easier to study what looks good, what looks bad, and why.

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll love this book, July 22, 2006

By 

S. Gillette (SCOTTSDALE, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Forever Cool: How To Achieve Ageless, Youthful, and Modern Personal Style (Paperback)

It's easy to see how the problems that Sherrie Mathieson addresses in this book develop. Eventually, we all realize that clothing stores are catering to a crowd that is 20-30 years younger than we are. At that point, many of us start staying away from the stores or buying "old reliables," with the end result being a dated and dowdy look. Even worse, we try to fit into the kid stuff, making ourselves look in the best case like we're trying too hard, and in the worse case, like aging floosies. Finally, someone has provided some guidance for navigating these treacherous times. As a private client of Sherrie's, I have gone from angst ridden to quietly confident that I can look my best in any situation. The principles that she sums up in this book, in tart prose and great pictures, can be mastered even by the somewhat fashion challenged (which includes me). Go after simple but modern lines, invest in great accessories which you'll have for years, stay away from clichéd colors, strive for vitality and naturalness even with our changing bodies and laugh lines. This approach provides the best formula for avoiding plastic surgery that I have found to date!

48 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's About Time, July 15, 2006

By 

Rae York "teaching mom" (West Enfield, ME USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Forever Cool: How To Achieve Ageless, Youthful, and Modern Personal Style (Paperback)

It is about time that people "of a certain age" are recognized in the style revolution of the 21st century! I am still in my 30's but I loved the practical advice offered about remaining stylish as one ages. I know MANY who could benefit from the author's artistic perspective on dressing the aging body and remaining-Forever Cool.

Buy one for Grandma but check it out for yourself first!