Customer Reviews

How to Never Look Fat Again: Over 1,000 Ways to Dress Thinner--Without Dieting!

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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 Because, let's face it, whatever tips she gave will be outdated in a decade.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.

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.

mythoughts

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!

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.

I usually buy clothes because of color or because they look stylish. The fact that I look fat in them probably crosses my mind but I'll just ask a friend "do I look fat in this" and they say no and I go about my business. Then my husband reminded me "women always lie to other women". You know he's right. I lie to my friends about their clothes because I hate to hurt their feelings. Anyway, after reading this book I went on a clean out spree in my closet and now I don't ask my friend's opinions. I just ask Charla. I reference her book constantly and I have been feeling more confident in my clothes choices. I have even lent this book to friends but so far they have not been motivated to change their wardrobes. But I did and now for a 55 year old women I look stylish and slimmer. I wish I had this book 20 years ago!!!

I'm a big girl, and even though in the beginning Krupp states that obese (anyone over 50 pounds) should loose weight before using these tips I think that anyone can really benefit from dressing nicer. I've always been taught that feeling good about yourself is the best way to make a change. If you dress up you feel better, and to keep that feeling you are then more willing to make other changes (such as loosing weight).

I like how the book was broken down. Krupp goes through each of the problem areas women have and gives tips on how to dress that area properly. Many of the tips transcend multiple areas so you won't be standing in a store thinking "this shirt helps here but not there". By including the same items through a few different body areas you can buy a few "no-fat" or "low-fat" pieces to add to your wardrobe, instead of paying for a whole new wardrobe.

I also like the section in the back where she tells you to go through your closet. She gives you a brief step-by-step to really get the "high-fat" clothes rid from your life. The reason I liked this section is that just going and buying a few new pieces and adding them to your closet isn't going to keep you from dressing in the "high-fat" clothes. To really take advantage of the tips in this book you need to start with a clean slate, so to speak.

After reading this book, seeing the pictures that show the tips she gives, and really analyzing the clothes you currently have and the clothes you are going to buy you should be able to dress thinner without ever stepping foot into a gym. Although even with a new wardrobe the gym is never a bad thing. (She even has hints on how to dress at the gym! How great is that!)

We all want to be judged on our skills. Skills we earned through hard work that we can measure, calculate and control. We've been told from an early age to "not judge a book by its cover". Sadly that is not the case in our picture, media-driven world of today. No matter how great or significant our message--if we don't package correctly it will not be heard. With that thought in mind, (and probably grinding our teeth at the unfairness of it), I cannot more highly recommend this book. Just get over how men can roll out looking like they are coming in from a three day drunk, but let a woman forget her lipstick...horrors! This book is well organized and I did use the lists of clothes to get rid of in the book and sent the old clothes to a consignment store. I am building my collection of shape and compression wear. My skills will prevail and be included in a trim, youthful package to obtain maximum effect. A great book for any women in the working world or just wondering should she jump into it at all.

Agree with some other reviews. Realistic pictures of real people would have hit home rather than the models used, there were contradictions (white pants?? no white pants??) but what I found most glaring were the strongly recommended use of control garments. Despite the praise of these darlings, no one is going to convince me that these are such fun to wear in August. Or ever. Sure -- for a special occasion when the mother of the bride wants to look fantastic, but day to day?? At up to $60+ per pair (and one should have at least six), it seems to defeat the purpose. The reason to buy a book like this is so NOT to go to Plan B - control garments. I would also have liked to see the problems of older women addressed, but there are just so many pages and so much material to get to.
On the very upside, there were a ton of things I agreed with and just maybe one or two I'd done -- like bought a mid calf skirt that very day that I'm returning. Okay. Maybe three or four things. Everyone has seen the "Oh, my Lord" people in the grocery store (or anywhere else) and would love to hand out free copies. There was also a degree of comfort in knowing, but having validated, that many of us deal with the same body issues. Like the "wear it and own it" attitude. If you're not within your comfort zone, you won't enjoy owning the item and it will sit in a closet no matter what book suggests.
I showed an Oprah ad to my local library and they bought it at my request. Absolutely worth it, and along with the tips there are a lot of smiles. Maybe wouldn't have bought it, but had fun reading it.
Hat's off to everyone who has cared enough about their appearance to find the book worthy of their time. You won't get handed a copy in the grocery store.
Have to go return the skirt....

This book offers some good tips but will require a major clothing/underwear budget to follow all the rules. Life is too short to run around at all time in compression bike short underwear.

While helping my husband adjust to his diabetic menu, I've been gradually losing weight. As I'll need a new wardrobe soon, and would like it to be a flattering one, I ordered this book for some pointers on dressing to flatter my short, chunky shape. I found parts of the book helpful, and I'll keep those tips in mind as I shop.

That said, I had one major, and one minor, issue with the book. The minor issue is regards a pair of "high fat/no fat" photos which followed the discussion on glasses. I was thrilled to see the model in the "high fat" photo wearing glasses, and cut my eyes to the right-hand page expectantly, wanting to see the "no fat" glasses look. Surprise! On that page, no glasses. Minor, perhaps, but for those of us who don't wear contacts (my opthalmologist says about 15% of glasses wearers can't tolerate contacts), it would have been nice to have just ONE photo in the book reflect our style needs.

The major issue is the author's endorsement of "compression shapewear" - up to the point of recommending it all day, every day for some body shapes/sizes. Despite the surrounding tips on dress length, necklines, skirts, pants and shoe styles, hair styles, and so on for different face and body types, this idea - the updated girdle - stuck with me unpleasantly. Can I not look "fit not fat" without it? Despite the author's claim that women of all sizes and shapes can dress to look their best, the message I'm hearing is that you really need "compression shapewear" to do it.