The new groundbreaking style-guide from bestseller author Charla Krupp on how to look 10 pounds lighter, 10 years younger and 10 times sexier every day, all year--in summer, winter, at the gym, even in a swimsuit!
You'll never get dressed the same way again once you discover:
*smart, easy ways to hide arm flap, a big bust, a muffin top, back fat, Buddha belly, a big booty, wide hips, thunder thighs, and heavy calves-and that's only half the book.
*which fabrics, colors, and styles make women look fat
*absolutely the best shades, shapes, and brilliant buys to make the pounds invisible
*clever solutions for special fashion situations--workout gear, evening wear, and even swimsuits!
*which products, fashions, and services you shouldn't waste your money on
*the top ten tips that will make you look thinner by tonight!
So, if you've ever put on a piece of clothing and asked "Does this make me look fat?" Finally, here is the book that will answer your question.
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"Krupp's advice--delivered in just the right knowledgeable-yet-commiserating tone--makes excellent sense. When it comes to clothes and the female figure, the author understands how proportion, balance, and color make the difference between lumpy and lovely, frumpy and fabulous."
--Publisher's Weekly
Praise for HOW NOT TO LOOK OLD:
"The woman knows what she's doing...A bullet-pointed battle cry against the forces of aging." --- New York Times, 2008
"Addictive. That's the best word for this beauty/fashion guide...Her focus isn't on sex appeal. It's about giving women specific, usually inexpensive tips." --- USA Today, 2008
"Frank advice on the little details." --- Wall Street Journal
Charla Krupp is the best-selling author of the two style bibles: HOW TO NEVER LOOK FAT AGAIN: Over 1000 Ways to Dress Thinner Without Dieting and HOW NOT TO LOOK OLD: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look Ten Years Younger, Ten Pounds Lighter, Ten Times Better. The two books together spent 22 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list, and were Amazon's best-selling beauty and fashion titles for the years, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and are hot sellers the world over--UK, France, Australia, The Netherlands, China, Greece, Czech Republic, Turkey, Hungary, Korea and Russia. Charla is currently a contributing editor to Time Inc's successful spin-off, People Style Watch.
Charla was an award-winning magazine journalist before bringing her accessible "real woman's" approach to fashion and beauty to television and the Internet. For ten years, she was a contributor to NBC's Today show and appeared in over 130 style segments covering the gamut of style from Beauty and Fashion Makeovers to Wedding Style, Beach Style, Baby Style even Pet Style. Charla is widely recognized as the first fashion magazine editor to have a monthly TV style segment. She has also done many woman-on-the-street style segments for Oprah and appeared on many national shows such as CBS Early Show, Good Morning America, Dateline, Rachel Ray, Wendy Williams, The View, Tyra, Entertainment Tonight, Extra, Access Hollywood and more. She also conceived and co-hosted E's first Academy Awards fashion review, The Golden Hanger Awards and delivered weekly pop culture commentary on E's The Gossip Show.
As an award-winning magazine journalist, Charla spent 15 years as the entertainment editor for Glamour Magazine, where she created the magazine's "Women of the Year Awards." She moved to Time Inc.'s new style magazine, In Style helping to create mega-successful franchises for that publishing phenomenon such as Getting Gorgeous. She returned to Glamour to become the magazine's beauty director, and later served as executive editor of Hearst's innovative magazine, Shop Etc. As a contributing editor to More Magazine, Charla wrote the monthly column "Fashion for Grown-Ups." She has also written for Time Magazine, The New York Times, Town & Country, Cosmopolitan, The Chicago Tribune, USA Today Weekend, aol.com, ivillage.com, and many others.
Charla started her journalism career with the American Society of Magazine Editors and the Mademoiselle Guest Editorship. She graduated at the top of her class at the University of Illinois College of Communications where she currently serves on the Dean's Advisory Board, and recently returned to give the commencement speech. Her husband, Richard Zoglin, is a Time Magazine editor, also its theater critic, and author of Comedy at the Edge: How the Stand-Ups of the '70s Changed America. She now lives in New York City and Sagaponack, New York.
I had purchased Charla's previous bestseller, How Not to Look Old, gleaned a few tips (she dared me to buy designer jeans, despite being in my 50s), and then sold it on Amazon. Because, let's face it, whatever tips she gave will be outdated in a decade. Her new book, however, has the potential to be a keeper. It contains timeless tips on how to look ten or more pounds thinner simply by the way you dress.
The book covers all sorts of body types such as big bust, wide face, arm flap, large belly, wide hips and thighs, big booty, heavy calves, wide feet and ankles. There is also a chapter on how to never look fat in summer, another for winter, another for workout clothes and one for evening clothes. A final chapter tells you what to do with your cast offs.
Each chapter has photos of famous people used as examples--mostly stars, but even Michelle Obama pops up in a couple. Each chapter also has quite a few special sections. "You know you have it when..." contains a checklist to see if you have the problem. There is a list of "High-fat/No-fat" clothing and accessories analyzed for their potential fat-making content. The "Swap-outs" section tells you how to exchange pieces of fashion for your body type. There is also a list of "10 Things that Make You Look Fat." "Thinner by Tonight!" provides "instant gratification" for dropping a dress size in seconds. "Brilliant Buys" gives specific recommendations for products that work, detailing brands, style number, prices and where to get them. The "Vows" section has (sometimes humorous) vows for your type. There is also special advice for the petite as well as the size 14 and up.... The "Don't waste a penny on" section warns you about "beauty bull" and fashion hype, while the "Going to Extremes" section informs you on cosmetic surgery, dermatological treatments, and other possible solutions. The "Don't you Dare" section gives you a one-sentence piece of advice that "even your best friend might not tell you."
Since I am a classic apple shape, I went straight to the chapter on Buddha Belly. The first page has "AKA" with other names for your type; some of mine were "jelly belly, belly fat, pot belly, belly rolls, and girly gut."I am told to "live in bike shorts" as the easiest way to drop a size fast. I should also switch all my underwear to shapewear such as Spanx, high waste bike shorts, Lip in a Box, TC, Wacoal or Donna Karan.
To my dismay, I learn that a dress is better for me than a skirt or pants. (I hate wearing dresses!) And the dress should be empire waste with a belt high above my waistline. I am happy to see photos of Demi Moore, Sandra Bullock and Gina Gershon all modeling the kind of dress with a belt that should flatter my figure. (Perhaps they are secretly apple shapes too.) 10 things I should never wear include a short top, a wide belt, a belt at my waist, tuck in tops, long fitted tees covering my stomach, bathrobe-style coats and knits, high-waist skirts and pants, heavy-duty layering, tight sequined tops and dresses, and waist high shapers. Some of these I have been guilty of wearing and I am given an explanation for why I shouldn't.
There is also a list of every kind of jacket or blazer and the style I should buy it in. For example, if I want a "safari jacket," it should be "belted, patch-pocketed, with epaulettes." (What are "epaulettes?") In the "High Fat vs. No Fat" section I see a woman dressed to look very fat, in a skin-tight dress which I would never dare wear. I am amazed to see how much better she looks with the black empire waist dress with a thin belt above the waistline. Some of my "thinner by tonight" tips are things I never thought of, while one of them makes me laugh: "Hold your bag in front of your stomach, a tried-and-true celebrity trick. A big clutch works. Small dogs and babies do, too."
Well, Charla, that last book you wrote cost me a lot of money in shopping. I can see I'm going to have to hit the malls again! I might even have to get a small dog or baby as an accessory.
Susan Schenck, author of The Live Food Factor: The Comprehensive Guide to the Ultimate Diet for Body, Mind, Spirit & Planet and Beyond Broccoli, Creating a Biologically Balanced Diet When a Vegetarian Diet Doesn't WorkRead more ›
This book should really be called, "How to Never Look Fat Again If You Aren't Really Very Fat To Start With", as the advice is for women who THINK they are fat, or are perhaps 20 pounds overweight. Not for the women of this country who are really, actually, fat.
I'm writing this review as a woman who is really, actually, fat.
Let's start with the first chapter, which is when I should have known to return this book. Charla Krupp suggests "psychological counseling" for women who are more than 50 pounds overweight. Which is nice - if you have insurance and that insurance covers it. Most health insurance in the US does not cover any treatment for obesity, including counseling.
Also -- and most importantly -- if a fat person picks up a book like this, they want advice for NOW, not when they lose fifty pounds. If I lost fifty pounds, I wouldn't need the bloody book! And don't get me started on her obvious lack of knowledge of many common medical reasons behind weight gain -- I realize this isn't a medical book, but if you are going to write a book about fat, you need to have some understanding of why people get fat and understand that it is not always simply a matter of will. This is obvious in, as another review mentioned, her attitude (and our cultural attitudes) towards being fat.
Krupp gets some things dead wrong. Things like facts, which make me wonder, where was her editor? For example, in the chapter about fat arms the author mentions a friend who had bariatric surgery, lost a bunch of weight, then had plastic surgery to fix floppy skin. The friend had a lot of side effects from the surgery - long scars, lack of feeling in the arms, etc. Krupp then archly says, "Dumbbells, anyone?..." Cute, but Krupp sounds like the dumbbell here because no amount of working out with weights will fix post-bariatric surgery loose skin. You can tone your muscles, but not your skin, as the skin and muscles are not the same. Having to have excess skin surgically removed after bariatric surgery is very, very common, and some editor should have noticed this.
On to a few of my quibbles with her clothing/makeup suggestions:
First, for both books -- Ok, Charla, we get it; dark-washed boot-cut blue jeans for everyone! We get it! Except for one thing - they look really out of place when it's summer. I don't care how fat my butt looks, I'm wearing white. It's hot.
Second, who chose the "high fat" looks? They suggest the people have no mirrors and haven't bought any clothes since 1988. Of course you don't wear a wide patent-leather red belt over a white dress if you're fat through the midsection. Of course you avoid sleeveless tops if you have ham hock arms. Your target audience is fat, not stupid. The two are not synonymous.
I noticed that Krupp contradicts herself between her first book and this one. For example, in the book about not looking old, she says to apply makeup with a light hand, and not do visible contouring. But in this book, she suggests using darker-than-skintone high-pigment sticks on fat areas and to sculpt cheekbones with them. Right, so I can look like a fat girl who tried to draw on some cheekbones. Lovely.
In both books, Krupp also has a strange obsession with giant, highly-whitened teeth. She shows all these people who have giant bright-white Chicklet smiles. I don't find them attractive or sexy or youthful, in fact, they remind me of Mister Ed. But that's probably just me.
She has a few good ideas - but honestly if you've read fashion or women's magazines in the last decade, you don't really need this book. If you must read it, follow one other reviewer's advice and get it at the library.Read more ›
I liked Charla's first book, but this one turned me off. If you read the first book, you've already gotten much of what she's going into here. I got the e-mail on Spanx and shapewear (which she treats as close to God-like in this book) and heels (the higher the better). As other reviewers have commented, her Brilliant Buy recommendations are mostly for more expensive products. She does throw in a few items at lower price points, but not very many.
Each chapter features 3 or 4 pictures of celebrities. Unfortunately, these are mostly pictures of model-thin celebrities. I counted 3 pictures of Gwyneth Paltrow, 2 of Jada Pinkett Smith - you get the idea. She does have a few pictures of larger women such as one of Jennifer Hudson and one of Queen Latifah, but I would have expected quite a few more pictures of stylish women that wear more than a size 2. Where was Oprah?
As a final point, I wasn't impressed by Charla's after picture. Yes, of course she looks better than the before picture, but that's not a high bar to cross. Why is she wearing such a shapeless sack dress in her after picture? She's an attractive woman. Why did her dress hide her shape rather than emphasizing her good points?
If you still think you need to read this book, get it at the library. It's not worth buying.
If you have ever looked in the mirror and thought you looked fat...then you need to pick up this book. It doesn't matter if you 4'11" or 6 ft tall...sometimes you just "feel" fat and other times you really could lose a few pounds.
While I am definitely in the latter group and could shed a few pounds (ok, ok, maybe more then a few)...I know this is a book that will help women of all ages and sizes.
I was very curious on what tips and advise Charla would offer to her readers. I feel that I am rather fashionable and fairly aware of what looks good on my body so I was delighted to read her fantastic, fresh and innovative tips and ideas. I was more delighted tosense her wonderful humor and gentle sarcasm. The book reads as if a dear friend was telling me little tidbits about my style. I don't know about you but I have only a handful of friends that I will trust to tell me the absolute truth on how I look. Now, I can add Charla to the mix.
Charla covers everything in this book. Nothing is left out. Whether you struggle with a Big Bust (chapter 5) or a Buddha Belly (chapter 7) like I do or have your own issues with Heavy Calves (chapter 10) or Wide Hips + Thighs (chapter 8)...you are going to find wisdom within these pages that will help you think twice about what you buy and what you wear.
Each chapter starts with a chapter title (i.e. Big Bust) then she proceeds with the "You know you have it when" section which describes what "the problem" is and how you know you have it. For example Chapter 5 - Big Bust states you know you have this "issue" if "You wear an empire top and everyoneassumes you're pregnant " or "You look down and can't see your feet" or "You can keep a cell phone in your cleavage".... Chapter 5 is my favorite chapter as I am an E bra size...sorry didn't mean for you to choke on your drink...and I can totally relate to every one of those statements plus the statements on a few other chapters as well!
The book is balanced by different sections within each chapter. For example: High-Fat vs. No-Fat, Swap-Outs, 10 things that will make you look fat, Brilliant Buys, Vows, etc. Each section helps to pinpoint your exact problem and provides solutions, tips and tricks to alleviate the situation.
This is definitely a book that you will refer to over and over, time and time again. While it was great to read it all in one sitting...it is definitely a reference book as we are ever constantly changing. I am not sure when the last time I laughed out loud at a book...but there was so much "uh-huh" going on with each chapter that I had to giggle...I felt as if Charla has been following me around the last 20 years. Watching me as my body matured from a young married 105lb women to a stay at home, mom of twins and NOT 105lbs (hey, I still have 2 of those 3 numbers in my weight...they've just added a friend and I'm not telling you which one!)
Grab a coffee, get this book and then go shopping for clothes that will not make you look fat again! On second though...skip the coffee (too many calories)...just get the book and go shopping!Read more ›
