Customer Reviews

Target Underwear and a Vera Wang Gown: Notes from a Single Girl's Closet

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Halpern will win you over if you give her a chance. From the title and the cover art, I wasn't sure if this book would be my cup of tea. The opening chapter is a grandiose attempt to define an entire life by formative childhood experiences in elegant downtown department stores. It's a forced thesis about an entire life via a shopping metaphor, but, fortunately, it is the weakest link to the whole book. The following essays really pick up and let the reader bond with Halpern.

Bonding is precisely what this book is about. I bonded with Halpern on her specific body flaws, her ridiculous attempts to compensate for her height with platform shoes and hooker heels all throughout her adult life, her female friendships, her off-the-wall dot com job, and her relationship struggles. Despite the cover and the subtitle, don't expect this to be a whiny female rant about personal flaws and interpersonal drama. It's a witty, over-the-top, self-satire that any modern gal will relate to. Halpern writes with the wisdom that comes from experience, so she is able to analyze the flaws in her logic during her younger years.

One of the turning points in the essay collection (which follows Halpern's life in a chronological fashion)
is her long-term relationship with a down-to-earth, fun-loving guy. Obsessed with presenting a perfect image for him and meeting his every need (or her imagined version of his needs), Halpern buries her true self so deep that the perfect man breaks up with her due to her superficiality. After a year of depression and unemployment, Halpern picks herself up and makes positive changes. Upon reading about this period in her life, I thought, a-ha! Creating that perfect image was exactly what Halpern tried and failed to do in her opening essay. She's not cured, after all, and I'm even more endeared to her as a result.

Halpern writes about depression with wit and candor, and not a trace of self-pity. In fact, she never uses the word depression, and it was only in writing this review that I realized there was no other word to describe that period in her life.

The collection concludes with Halpern's marriage to a high-profile film industry member. One could take away the message that single-life is full of trials and tribulations, and all your problems are solved if you just snag Mr. Right, but I'm hoping that Halpern just found that to be a convenient stopping place for volume one of her life story. Adena, I'll be here, waiting to hear more.

When I picked up this book, I honestly had no idea what to expect. I pretty much went into it with no expectations; however, as soon as I started reading it I found that I couldn't put it down. It's a very easy, entertaining, true to life read. I think that it really shows what life is like for women living and growing up in a world obsessed with looks and material things and how this affects the way we feel about ourselves and our bodies. I recommend this book to any woman who's ever felt insecure about the way she looks or dresses.

This was one of the most enjoyable memoirs I've ever read. Ms. Halpern is a fantastic writer and memoirist, humorous, self-depracating, knowing, insightful, and brave.

I reveled in all the '80s-decade fashion and pop culture references, and could really relate to her mishaps in school, as most will. Her family descriptions were utterly delightful, heartwarming and memorable. The chapters that she shared her experience with her powerful producer boyfriend/fiance were super-brave. He definitely did not appreciate fully what he let go.

The chapter/essay about fragrances and how certain scents remind her of certain people were really relevant to me. I will forever think of my Grandma when I catch a whiff of Downy and White Shoulders.

I can't wait to see what Ms. Halpern does for an encore. I look forward to it expectantly.

I thought this book was "okay." Very simple writing and easy to read. The content (to me) wasn't all that interesting. I was surprised that this book actually "made it" to become a book. However, I read it for my book club and I would say 1/2 of the group (12 of us) really enjoyed it. So, it's really a matter of taste.

This book is a series of short stories that highlight anecdotes from the author's life -- largely revolving around her fashion choices that were going on during that period of her life.

Now, I'm the same age as Ms. Halpern, so I've been through the same fashions as her -- though from the XY side of the gene pool instead of the XX.

Still I can contribute my own fashion faux pas to the time (pegged Jeans and torn knees anyone? MC Hammer pants?) and expected this to be a fun light hearted read. And for the most point it was light.

The important thing for me, thoguh is to get some sympathy/empathy/caring for the author and those around her. In this book, I didn't. The early part of the book, where she discusses her childhood was OK, but as the book wore on, especially the episodes set in and after LA, I found myself skimming more and more trying to get to the end.

There are some amusing pieces in the book, and if you have one afternoon to skim the book and focus on these its not a bad read, but there were more misses than hits. 2&1/2 stars.

I couldn't believe it, some of my favorite items of clothing growing up described better than I could have ever dreamed up. I loved this book! I found the author very funny in her stories of fashion through the years. I found myself fondly remembering many of the items that Adena writes about, and also wondering why I did not hang onto those items myself. This is a great book for anyone in their 30's, since they too will be able to relate to the many adventures that Adena goes through. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!!!

In "Target Underwear and a Vera Wang Gown: Notes from a Single Girl's Closet," Adena Halpern wrote about her relationship with fashion ever since she was a young girl, very much influenced by her mother. She wrote about spending time in the shopping malls with her mother, trying to stand out in high school by wearing trendy clothes and "Madonna" was her idol in terms of dressing uniquely. Adena was able to relate fashion to her life and she wrote about how fashion was very much part of her life; be in in terms of dating, jobs and friendships.

This was a fun and witty book to read. It was also unusual to read about someone's life in regards to fashion. I wouldn't call this a memoir but it certainly read like one. I highly recommend this book for those who are into fashion or those who just feel like reading a relaxing and fun book.

I thought this was a really fun book to read. It was great remembering all of the horrible and not-so-horrible outfits that made the '80's so memorable. It was fun to go back down memory lane with Ms. Halpern -- realizing that all of us girls from that era were having the same issues no matter where we lived. I also appreciated how she deals with clothes issues right now. I've often looked at girls younger than me with the same thoughts (hello - belly over the jean look) and laughed when I read that Ms. Halpern did too. If you relate to clothes - you'll love this book.

In the lunchroom at work, people often leave magazines and books for others to enjoy when they are finished with them. That's how I can across this book. I found it to be full of amusing stories about how the author's life led to her fashion choices. I actually almost felt that the book was written for me. It's lighthearted and fun, a nod to how sometimes we women can (and will) revolve their life around their closet...

Best book I've read since I don't even know when. I laughed and cried. I love that she wore her Vera Wang gown forever to get over a guy. Sometimes you just do what you need to do, to feel better while your getting past stuff. It was a truly touching and funny book. I want to read it again!! You felt like you became apart of the group of friends, ones I'd hang with. (Sorry, this isn't the best review right now as I read this months ago, but had to let everyone know it is a MUST READ if you're a Girlie Fashionista at all!)

I suspect the unfavorable reviews may stem from those that either don't appreciate fashion or aren't a girlie-girl and understands both the anxieties and thrills you experience while attempting to putting your best face forward and being true to yourself all the while. Case in point, have a S-I-L that thinks she loves fashion but it's for 'image' sake, not because she simply 'loves' it and how it makes her feel. And I know someone like her would be miserable reading this book. This book has a lot of heart and makes you smile while taking you down memory lane.