The Triumph of Individual Style : A Guide to Dressing Your Body, Your Beauty, Your Self [Paperback]

Carla Mason Mathis (Author), Helen Villa Connor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002 | ISBN-10: 1563672693 | ISBN-13: 978-1563672699

This text aims to teach the reader how to assess her body type and then choose clothing that looks good on her. The process involves what the authors call an individual s design pattern. This pattern is made up of lines, shapes, proportions, body particulars, scale, colors, and textures. How they fit together in harmony and how an individual infuses them with her innate creativity is what authors call style.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

From co-author Carla Mathis:

Dear readers,

I would like to personally invite you to visit BodyBeautiful.net to find additional resources related to the principles covered in "The Triumph of Individual Style." You can also learn about our Personal Stylist services around the world, career opportunities as a Personal Stylist, and the Body Beautiful Institute Training schedule.

Best wishes,
Carla Mathis

...................................................

From co-author Helen Villa Connor:

Because of my desire to continually provide new and exciting information, my website is still under construction. If anyone has questions about the book, my personal design services, and/or speaking and teaching availability, please email messages to me at: [e-mail]

Thank you!

Helen Villa Connor- coauthor and creator of The Body's Design Pattern paradigm --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Carla Mason Mathis has been hailed as the world's leading visionary on color, image, and the psychology of style. She has been the keynote and guest speaker for seminars and workshops, including the Harvard Summer Design School, Stanford University, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue.


Helen Villa Connor is the information designer, writer and creative force of "The Triumph of Individual Style." A developer of educational materials since the 1970's, Helen Originated the Body's Design Pattern paradigm, the foundation of this landmark book, in the 1980's. With it, she brought sweeping changes to the knowledge base on color, style, beauty and personal image. Her scholarship ad artist's vision further led to timeless concepts including her breakthrough theory on proportion, her unique discussion on creativity and style, and her treatment of color usage and terminology which prompted one book critic to write, "This chapter alone is worth the price of the book." An authority on individual style, Helen has been a keynote and popular speaker for the American Sewing Guild, Penn State's "Women's Day", the University of California at San Francisco's Women Leaders Symposium, and Authors and Critics on PBS. She has received design awards for innovation and excellence including the Association of Image Consultants International's IMMIE (Image Makers Merit of Industry Excellence) for Education. Helen is currently writing a second book inspired by her past college lectures and published articles including See your Beauty and Change Your World. You may e-mail Helen at [e-mail]

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Fairchild Pubns (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563672693
• ISBN-13: 978-1563672699
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.4 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #766,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, Affirming, Awesome - Triumphant! December 2, 2003

By Dianne M. Daniels

Format:Paperback

I was privileged to take a workshop with Carla Mathis in Massachusetts as part of the Assoc. of Image Consultants International (AICI) and was absolutely blown away by the depth of her knowledge and her expertise.

She gave me wonderful information, and I couldn't wait to buy this book. I waited for the second printing and was not disappointed. The chapter on 'Body Particulars' answered a lot of questions for me both as a woman (whose body is changing and maturing) and as an Image Consultant who works with women of all shapes, sizes and forms.

Basic shape, length proportion, bone structure and the important concept of apparent body size are all essential knowledge for developing your Individual Style. I devoured the book in one sitting, and am now working through it in depth to refine both my image and those of my clients. I highly recommend that anyone considering the profession of Image Consulting get this book and the Instructor's guide, and then get yourself to one of Carla or Helen's live workshops.

The specific information on page 153 on finding a Color Consultant is invaluable, as are the color charts, worksheet pages for individual study and the examples of wardrobe adjustments that can be made based on facial feature size and scale.

All in all, a wonderful book that will serve you well for years to come. Definately one to keep on a shelf, and refer to often.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars We are all beautiful July 13, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This is a book that overcomes the present restrictive steroetypes that tell us we must be young, thin and symmetrical to be beautiful. We can all find our shape and colouring lovingly recreated by a great artist. In a time when so many women have learned to hate their bodies this wonderful book is a gift to us all.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful and Illuminating Book May 17, 2005

By Lucy

Format:Paperback

The Triumph of Individual Style is a triumph for women everywhere! Whether you are an image consultant (style or color), an art student, a clothesaholic, or just generally interested in what type of pants might look good on your body.....this is the book for you! When I first bought this book, I was a woman who just wanted to find a pair of pants that fit! I was so inspired by its content that I have become a serious student of style and color. I have had the fortune of taking a number of wonderful style and color classes from one of the authors, Carla Mathis, and have been trained with her new Body Beautiful Profile System. I can't recommend the book or her new system highly enough! Enjoy!