Tomboy Style: Beyond the Boundaries of Fashion [Hardcover]

Lizzie Garrett Mettler (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 3, 2012

Tomboys are confident, rebellious, and adventurous. They are bold, brazen, fierce—and sexy. They aren’t known for following rules, they are known for doing—and wearing—whatever they want. 

Tomboy captures the tomboy’s style, her je ne sais quoi, her wardrobe, and most importantly, her spirit. Throughout the twentieth century, the mass marketing of gender stereotypes meant tomboys cropped up against the odds, trends, and ads. As menswear-inspired fashions for women have exploded into the mainstream under the helm of designers and stylists ranging from J.Crew to Rag & Bone to Boy by Band of Outsiders, acceptance of both the word tomboy and the women associated with its edge has been set into play. But a tomboy is not just about style—tomboys are measured in equal parts wardrobe and spirit.

A visual history that chronicles the past eighty years of women who blur the line between masculinity and femininity, Tomboy explores the evolution of the style and its icons. Vivid commentary illuminates the tomboy’s history and captures a diversity of women who are bound together by their inherent ability to seamlessly blend a rugged sensibility with classic, understated elegance.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"So, we're tickled pink to see an entire tome dedicated to the brazen gals throughout the ages — and their rebellious regalia." ~Refinery29.com

"Brings the history of the tomboy to life by fully celebrating what it means to be a tomboy and carry the inherent ability to blend a rugged sensibility with classic, understated elegance."~Runningwithheels.com

"Filled with shots of classically stylish female archetypes from all walks of life, this one’s just as good a coffee table pick up for the guys as it is for the ladies."~GQ

About the Author

Lizzie Garrett Mettler is a freelance journalist. She is a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Times, where she writes features on architecture and design for the paper’s Home section. She is the author of the blog TomboyStyle. 

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli; 1st edition (April 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847838420
• ISBN-13: 978-0847838424
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.9 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #268,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish this book had been around when I was growing up. April 10, 2012

By esa chica

Format:Hardcover

Ok, so, for starters the book is an aesthetic masterpiece of incredibly cool tomboy style. I can't get enough of it. It's extremely well curated and written, no doubts about it. I loved that the intro and various written snippets in the book let me into the world of the author. And I felt like I had known her my entire life. It was one of those "ah ha" moments. "She really gets it." Growing up a total tomboy and still embracing my tomboy style has certainly been a big part of my life and self expression. It even impacts many of the choices I make. I also developed my feminine side along the way and I'm comfortable in my shoes. I think the author illustrates that, by showing how Tomboy Style isn't just a way of dressing but, rather, a certain, special spirit is what elevates this book from fashion to culture, in a much broader sense of the term. I frequent the author's blog, so I know about her close relationship to her father. As an only daughter I experienced the same kind of relationship. But what I found most interesting about this book and the blog, is that it brought me closer to my mother in new ways. I realized how, too, she had fabulous tomboy style, and she influenced me in ways that made me comfortable and confident. I gleaned from her style and then made it my own. That is what Tomboy Style is all about. It's nice to finally have it gorgeous book form, and to recognize how tomboy style has influenced culture in far more ways, shapes and forms than one might first realize. I know a lot of other women will feel the same sentiments and have that "ah ha" moment too when they read this book. Tomboy Style is out there, in various manifestations of reality and pages, and, in my opinion, there is nothing cooler.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming, Unexpected, Amazing Resource for Style Inspiration and History April 6, 2012

By Becca D

Format:Hardcover

This little gem of a book is a pleasure to look through from beginning to end. It's chock full of rare photos of some of the most stylish women of the last century, from Cat Power to Katherine Hepburn. The author has a singular eye and a captivating voice--you really get the sense that she doesn't just *love* Tomboy Style, she *lives* Tomboy Style. It's produced beautifully, especially given its reasonable price. Would make a fabulous gift. Highly recommended.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Evocative, Beautiful, Inspirational! April 8, 2012

By B. Logan

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book does a great job of carefully putting together all the mosaic tiles that form a picture of the quintessential tomboy. Whether that means clothes, a manual transmission, or just a defiant smile, the author goes far beyond fashion to define the term. It's a real piece of cultural reflection, disguised as a fun and evocative collection of photographs and musings. Superbly done!