Customer Reviews

Secrets of a Fashion Therapist: What You Can Learn Behind the Dressing Room Door

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I loved this book. It reminded me of shopping as a young girl when there were women in all the grand old department stores who knew about clothes and would pass their knowledge on. So much of this has been lost in our self-service world. With this book, Betty Halbreich offers her expertise not only to the well-heeled patrons of Bergdorf-Goodman, but to the rest of us. And her take on the whole "fashion thing" is so light-hearted. After reading Secrets of a Fashion Therapist, I am savvier at shopping -- and I have more fun doing it.

I love this book so much the Public Library told me to purchase my own copy - I check it out at least once a month! I am from NYC and this book is soooooo NYC. I feel like I know Betty and Bergorf Goodman dept store. Great, excellent, terrific advice on closets, storage and clothing care. Also how to mix all your black clothes with other items instead of wearing fashion-editor uniform. I am going to buy 3 copies today!!!

I have read several books on fashion recently. This one is enjoyable reading and contains good advice. It does not include information designed on how to make the most of your particular body shape, which is information available in several other books. If you haven't already read several similar books, this is one of the better ones. I don't think I read much that I didn't already know. One thing about the book was very odd. There were little blurbs praising the author on almost every page. I don't doubt that the author is extremely good at what she does and if nothing else, the book made me want to go to her for fashion advice. So, as an advertisement for her services, it works very well. But, for those of us that don't live in Manhattan, it is all fairly irrelevant and ..... odd.

I was excited about reading this book because the cover and table of contents looked so interesting. However, upon reading it, I'm not sure exactly what it was about. It was boring, disorganized, and the author's overwhelming sense of snobbery was quite a turnoff! (Not to mention the blurbs on nearly every page singing her praises. Weird.) If you can check it our from the library, it's a quick read, but don't waste your money.

I found this book browsing through a bookstore a few years back. It was one of the first books I'd ever purchased on clothing and personal style ... and it remains one of my favourites. Since then, I've read a multitude of 'what to wear'and 'how to wear' books. None of them have the same objective recommendations. Most of them somehow imply the author's subjective preferences which completely defeats the purpose of a book on developing 'personal' style.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in expressing themselves through the clothes they wear.

I would have given this book four stars. Every few pages there is a giant side note from celebraties praising the author... and most of them time, it has little related to fashion. It was hard to ignore this since it occured so often. Annoying, to say the least. I was, however, quite please with the rest of the book, despite her stale sense of humor. She did give some good fashion advice, that's undeniable.

After reading all the great pre-release press, I assumed this book would be full of useful and new ideas. Wrong. While the author sounds like someone you'd love to have for a friend and shopping buddy, the book itself is largely content free.

Your request is quite a surprise and I'd love to review "Secrets of a Fashion Therapist"--however, if you would note-- I wrote the book!!!

Ok, I give this book 5 stars for the contents. But a resounding thumbs down for Harper Collins publishing for it's rip off kindle price.

The gorgeous line art is missing, the cover art is missing and while these are gone, the publisher feels like setting the price at $14.23. CHEEKY!!!!!!!!!!! They aren't making ANY money on the out of print paper copies any more, nor do they go to any expense putting this out in kindle, in fact they can continue to milk the market. I feel ripped off. I will keep the book due to my reasons below.

I think they should be selling it in the 6 to 10 dollar range. This book IS out of print for goodness sake. Somebody should tell them they will sell far more copies at $6 than even at $10, and quite honestly, I don't think they'll sell that many at #14.23 except to a few die hard fans of Betty HAlbreich like me.

I checked, fortunately they DID include the side bars which are quite valuable. I have this book in paper, having bought it when it came out in trade paperback. Loved it. The paper they used is the good kind, the print is great and the content is something I like having with me.

I literally bought the kindle copy so I could cart around one of my favourite fashion advisors when I travel, or when I go clothes shopping.

About that content now:

Betty goes into how to revamp a wardrobe. Not one of these list books that advise you to "invest" in a set list, she helps you think thru your lifestyle. What do you need those clothes for anyway? She doesn't want you to build it in a day either. That way lies expensive mistakes. She teaches you how to balance the neutral classic base with trendy colourful bits and accessories.

Starting with what you have and what your life calls for, she walks you thru the classics, and then moves into making the most of the basic neutral classic foundations by accessorizing strategically. Care and maintenance of your new purchases, learning to not put yourself down, but accept yourself, then dress well and feel good.

She covers date nights, casual fridays, weddings and other events fraught with concern. Organizing the closet for ease of use is another wonderful chapter, and she delves into underwear of all sorts. Hair and makeup are touched upon briefly, more as a friendly coach encouraging an update to go with those new clothes and to make you feel good. She gives some serious tips on navigating the store while shopping, and using any help the store may offer.

This isn't the sort of book that a young teenager would like. It isn't trendy. It has a classics emphasis, and explains how to shop for accessories and update a look. She is the head of the personal shopper dept at Bergdorf Goodman and it shows. If you ever dreamed of having one shop for you, this is the next best thing. Where I live they don't have such a service!

This book is more for the woman who is entering the work force out of college and needs a guide to clean classics that play well in the workplace, or for a woman who has neglected herself and her closet for a while and needs some hand holding as she cleans things up a bit. It is for the stay at home mother as she goes back into the workplace without breaking her already tight budget.

It is for anyone who wants to save money on a minimalist wardrobe that functions for every occasion, and won't break the budget.

Wonderful guide to maintaining your clothes, your closet and save money!