Customer Reviews

Men's Wardrobe (Chic Simple)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is *the* reference guide for the man pursuing that elusive, important goal that separates a real man out from the philistines around him: the quest for the perfect, stylish wardrobe.

This book was given to me as a 21st birthday present, which was shortly before I finished university, and I have found it to be an invaluable resource in building a good wardrobe and in discovering a good sense of style as I've set out to forge my own way in the 'real' world.

The book presents a very detailed examination of classic men's fashions in various aspects of life and their corresponding wardrobes: work, leisure, sport, winter, summer, accessories, ties, cufflinks - and so on. This book gives you an insight into what defines the classic fashion in each of these areas and gives some tips and general rules about how you should construct your wardrobe in each of them.

The book is also very 'cool' - it is very well presented with lots of great photos and illustrations. The variety of classic quotes from books, films, etc that are used to illustrate various points work really well and help to maintain your interest and the sense of coolness about the book as well.

It should be noted that this book is not an exhaustive guide to what is fashionable, and is almost quite the opposite. Rather than focusing on clothes or wardrobes that are fashionable, this book presents only those things that are never likely to go out of fashion (like the classic two or three button, black or dark blue suit, or a well-made trenchcoat). So, don't buy this if you're looking for an analysis of the latest in men's fashions, but do buy it of you are into timeless classics and don't plan ever to go out of style.

This would also make a good companion piece to other books on "how to be a man", and in fact it does address this question in part as well.

Chic Simple is a book of glossy pictures and bad text. The writing is poor in both substance and in its unreadable graphics. The text full of senselessly varying fonts and styles. There is good information squeezed in tiny print in the back of the book, but that is obtainable from any of the clothing books out there already. If you like gazing at men's clothing, though, it's a nice book to thumb through for a few minutes. It will provide you with some nice visual examples of how to put together outfits. However, a good salesman could do the same. I don't understand the rave reviews given to this book. It's not bad but it's not great either. If you're looking for real understanding of clothing beyond pictures, go elsewhere.

Loved the full color layout. Explainations of what a Harris Tweed is, Pin Stripe vs. Chalk Stripe, Oxford, or Broad cloth, Tattersall, or window pane. Terms that get batted around but have never been able to see actual examples before. Very comprehensive. Perhaps the one thing I would have wanted additionally would have been more ideas and direction in dressing for social occassions that did not include a Tux, or the boss. Overall though I found it a very worthwhile book and intend to refer to it time and again.

If you are young and gay or just young then this book may be of some use as you cruise the shopping malls. If on the other hand you are a little older, gay or straight, shy away from J Crew and Abercrombie, cringe at khakis, wonder at those who show their t-shirt peeking up from under their polo shirt and have given up wearing ball caps in public and are ready to upgrade your image then Alan Flusser's THE ART OF PERMANENT FASHION would be a better buy.

I have found this book to be a good general resource for information regarding mens fashion and grooming. (The checklists are VERY helpful) The book has good overall advice with one exception. The authors claim that the perfect tie is the black knit tie your mother tied for you on Sunday morning. As an adult I don't know if I would want to shop in a clothing store that sold black knit ties, much less wear one in public... With that said, the book provides ample information in an easy and visually pleasing way. I would suggest this book to any man who is interested in becoming more informed about laying the foundation of a stylish wardrobe.

An excellent first book for man who wants to be well dressed. This colorful, picture filled book is very good at laying a foundation. However, other than a few scattered tips there is little on how to ensure that a particular suit, color, or style will look on you. Other than that, this book is very good at informing the reader on how to match a suit to a shirt to a tie. Also, makes an excellent gift for the young man leaving college or graduate school.

I was hoping for a book that would provide specific advice on how to pick quality clothes that work for my body type (tall & thin). This book wasn't very helpful. It was full of fluff that got in the way of reading the parts of the book that were somewhat helpful. For example, much of the book is filled with trivia and history of different types of clothes. Another example of fluff was the tips on what types of music to listen to while wearing the clothes (no I'm not kidding). I don't give a damn about the history of Chinos and I don't think other men care either. The helpful information in this book could have filled a book one quarter of the books size. And in all honesty, even the helpful stuff wasn't that helpful.

If you don't know where to begin, no book shows you better. However, although it promotes "chic simple" classic designs as your everyday time-tested fashion solutions, many of the outfits pictured in the book lean on the trendy. Ironically, this book will be dated within five years.

Congrats to the authors! This book helped me acquaint myself to what the concept of style. It covers every type of clothing from "yawn to dawn," and also covers some intangibles (a.k.a. -- accessories). What cinched this book in my mind, was the clever way they used quotes to drill in some of the fine points; any book that uses Homer Simpson as an example of styling, is sure to win anyone over.

This book is a good start, so you won't be at a complete loss in a men's clothing store. But no book can be definitive as a guide to something so complex. Buy a jacket off the rack that fits comfortably in the shoulders, take it to a good tailor for alterations, and ask for advice on your wardrobe. Ask about your shape, about the appearance you want to project, about where to shop for good stuff. Listen to what he says. You'll save a lot of time, you'll save a lot of money, and you'll get personal guidance from someone who already knows what's in the book.