87 of 92 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Makes Every Woman See Her Beauty, January 11, 2007
This review is from: The Science of Sexy: Dress to Fit Your Unique Figure with the Style System that Works for Every Shape and Size (Hardcover)
My new years resolution is get a fashion education and do a better job on spending money on clothes that really flatter me and fill the gaps in my wardrobe. I think buying this book was an excellent step. He does an amazing "1 2 3 let me show you how its done" job.
He covers body types all the way from 4' 9" and 90 pounds to over 6' and 250 and pounds - so pretty much the full gamet. (I think if you are smaller or bigger than that, could just use the smallest or biggest type and work with that). What I LOVE is that he talks about how beautiful each body type is and how great they can look by playing up their assets - so I think he does such a great job affirming women of all types. It reminds me a little bit of the book Metamorphosis by Richard Kibbe (a fabulous out of print book) in that it points out all the differnt types of beauty a woman can be.
I think it is really difficult to be objective about your own body and very easy for focus on the negatives. For example, I've always viewed myself as not all that womanly and feminine becuase I am very short and fairly slim. The tape measure doesn't lie and in this book, I learned that I pretty much have an hourglass figure (I thought only pin up girls had hour glass figures) and my celebrity body double is Salma Hayek - and she is pretty darn womanly!! What was I thinking!? And then he gives very specific suggestions on how to play up my waist, etc.
Yes, it is only 4 pages per body type, but it is very, very detailed and specific. He crams a lot of info into four pages and still makes it very visual. You'd pay a lot of money to get an expert to give you these specific guidelines. For each profile you get:
* details on what your blessings are - assets to play up
* your curses - i.e., I'm short and have to tailor just about everything which is a bit of a drag
* very, very detailed specifics on what to wear and not to wear for dresses, tops, pants, jewley, jackets and shoes (lots of info here - they used a very small font)
* a celebrity body double - from people like Alysso Milano on the petite side to Carolyn Manheim on the more plus side
* illustrations that show what not to wear and then what to wear for casual, work and formal.
The recommendations are conistent with what I know works for me (i.e., I've always known wrap dresses work for me), and I'm looking forward to trying some of the other suggestions. I think it is also interesting to see the body types that are close to mine. This would be a great book to share with some girlfriends and let them find their profile.
There is also a few chapters on general dressing guidelines, a nice list of items every woman should own (which is great if you are trying to really build a wardrobe like I am) and a very nice glossary of different types of clothes so if he says "avoid a a high stance jacket" or a "surplice top" and you don't know what is, you can see a picture and know exactly what he is talking about.
In short, if you are really looking for specific guidance - espeically if you are a "hard to dress" type - this is a gem.
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55 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Four Stars because..., January 12, 2007
This review is from: The Science of Sexy: Dress to Fit Your Unique Figure with the Style System that Works for Every Shape and Size (Hardcover)
yes, there are only four pages per figure type in the book. Still, if most women (including myself) followed these four pages of ideas we would look pretty darn good, I think. But, there is more to this book than just those four pages. The author has other sections that are more general that apply to everyone. Sections like things to do and not do when buying clothes--how to look for proper fit and good styling and such, that are useful to just about everyone.
I don't think this is the bible of style books, and if you want only one book on style this would probably not be it. But, if you're just looking for more good ideas to jump start the new year and new you, then this does have some good ideas and is written in an upbeat and positive tone.
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28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, but...., February 22, 2007
This review is from: The Science of Sexy: Dress to Fit Your Unique Figure with the Style System that Works for Every Shape and Size (Hardcover)
This book was great and the author's formula of figuring out your body type is very precise. You take three simple measurements to get your basic shape, and then look at a height/weight chart to figure out if you're average, medium, or tall, and that's it. Then you flip to the section for your specific body type (there are 48 possible types) and read the do's and don'ts for dressing well.
With other style books I've read (for example The Pocket Stylist: Behind-the-Scenes Expertise from a Fashion Pro on Creating Your Own Look by Kendall Farr), they just give your three basic shapes to choose from and it's hard to figure out which one you actually are.
The only drawback to this book is that once you have read the 4 pages for your particular body type, that's about it. The chapters in the beginning with shopping advice were very general and didn't teach me anything I haven't already heard (such as buy clothes that are well made and don't buy expensive trendy items that will likely be out of style next year). I would have liked it if the author had included photos of each celebrity body double because I was not familiar with some of the stars and it would have been nice to have a visual.
I do really enjoy this book and I'm glad I bought it. It would be fun to share with girlfriends who are interested.
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