Customer Reviews

What Not to Wear

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

With 160 photo-filled pages of Trinny and Susannah illustrating the dos and don'ts for each each of 10 common problem areas (ie. large bust, no bust, big arms, large bottom, no waist, short legs, flabby tummy, saddlebags, short neck, and thick ankles & calves), this is the sort that will be quickly and enjoyably devoured the moment you pick it up. Certainly, these are among the most common concerns for those with less-than-perfect physiques (although it is not an exhaustive list). Nevertheless, this is a helpful little book, the purpose of which is to teach women how to dress to minimize flaws while tastefully accentuating the assets.

Because they deal with problem areas rather than body types, however, one could end up with a situation where one has two problem areas for which the solutions are (in some cases) contradictory. The book really is, therefore, only a guide to get you thinking about your shape and experimenting with clothing styles. One still has to make adjustments for one's own particular combinations of flaws and assets.

The book begins with a very interesting and informative introduction. Having enjoyed the BBC television series "What Not to Wear," I was surprised to find that Susannah and, in particular, Trinny have problem areas that I certainly would never have guessed had they been less than forthright in revealing them, and they are very frank indeed in illustrating their problem areas.

Because this is the sort of book that teaches through illustration, there is little in the way of text--a description of the problem area being dealt with, examples of the best and worst clothing choices, and the reasons why that choice is particularly fatal or favourable. Though sparse on text, the book still manages to be packed with information (not to mention being very funny--I found myself chuckling throughout).

There is also a shopping guide (which is, alas, strictly limited to UK shops). Nevertheless, in the case of boutiques it is well annotated with the lines of clothing carried and the type of clientele (and in some cases body type!) they cater to. A very helpful section for those living in or planning a visit to the UK.

In conclusion, if you have at least one of the problem areas discussed (and who doesn't!) and are looking to develop a dress sense that tastefully flatters your assets while hiding your flaws, you might want to check this book out. Certainly, if you've seen and enjoyed Trinny and Susannah's entertaining and informative BBC television series, you'll enjoy this book.

I am probably the only person in all of Britain who has bought this book without watching the series, so it has had to stand on the book alone for me. In this book two women, Trinny and Susannah, give tips on what type of clothes suit or are to be avoided for various body parts (e.g. big bust, small bust, fat tummy etc). They themselves feature modelling the clothes in question, and then list shops (British) where you can buy what suits you. These pictures can sometimes be like corny `before and after' shots - `bad' clothes modelling with frowns and slouching, `good' outfits with a smile and great posture - but they are effective at showing you what the authors are trying to explain. The main point any reader would get from this book is dressing well is not rocket science. Every point made in this book is obvious - e.g. wearing a sleeveless top when you have big arms is only going to accentuate your big arms, not camouflage them. But seeing what some people are getting around in, obvious points obviously need reinforcing now and then.

This book has its faults - it manages to contradict itself in places. For example, Trinny (I think) is shown in an A-line skirt and this is sited as an example of `bad' dressing' for her body type, but later in the A-line skirt is there again, this time as a `good' example. Depends what you want to highlight or camouflage when you get out of bed in the morning I guess. And while some people might find the language a laugh (all talk of boobs and jugs and such) I found it a bit contrived. Again, I never saw the TV show, so I will admit that maybe I am missing something.

You don't *need* this book - surely most people could figure it all out for themselves by actually looking at themselves in the mirror before they leave the house in the morning. But perhaps it will be the nudge in the right direction for some, and reassurance for others that yes, they are doing it right.

I love the show on BBC America. This is the reason I got the book. It's nice to have a reference for the tips they give since I can't seem to remember them all. The pictures really help visualize the worst vs the best look.

A plus that I found helpful is that they list multiple options to correct problems. Who wants to feel like they only can wear one type of clothing!?!?! Another great feature is the list of shops to find the clothes you want. Fab idea!!! Lastly, the book is thin enough to tuck away and take with you to the stores.

The reason I didn't give this a five is albeit, some picky things. First, patterns weren't realy discussed at length. It would have been nice if they addressed things like stipes (horizontal & vertical), plaids, geometrics, paisley, etc. Also they could have grouped the worsts together to show how to cover multiple issues. Like a big butt and a big bust. Instead they are in individualized sections. Plus color combinations would have been helpful. They have an eye for colors that I wouldn't necessarily think to put together.

Here's the way to think about this book: it casts aside your personal preferences and ingrained habits, and takes emotions out of the equation. It turns clothes selection into an analytical design problem -- a problem that can be solved.

An earlier reviewer said "You can do more for yourself by being critical in the dressing room mirror." No, I don't think you can...not unless you're able to take a random cross-section of the store into the dressing room and look at yourself completely objectively. In the real world, by the time you get to the dressing room you've already narrowed down your selections to "your" kind of clothes, and it's too late. I'm cursed with a truly gigantic chest, and always tried to avoid clothes that called attention to that part of my body. The result, I now realize, was turning my whole torso into a vast undifferentiated blob. At the urging of this book, I walked into a store and tried on a deep v-neck t-shirt. Amazing! The effect was completely transforming...I looked better and more confident, and the cursed boobs simply weren't an issue.

For those who grouse that the author/models are too tall and thin, just think of the pictures as cartoons. The real value is the text, which gives you useful principles to guide your shopping. An interesting result -- men are amazed at this book. They say "finally, I think I *get* clothes!" Then they wish for a menswear version...

I'm a fan of the U.S. version of WNTW (never had BBC America to see the Brit version). I really like the concept of eliminating certain clothing types and shapes based on what you want to conceal and emphasize. And I enjoyed leafing through this book (which took maybe 45 min. to an hour for the whole thing). But it is not exactly packed with ah-ha moments. Much of it is common sense. In a couple of instances (such as Susannah wearing the black halter dress) I felt the "bad" picture was better than the "best" one (in that case, she had a jarringly ugly orange patterned dress on in the "best" page). The best advice is to listen to the rules, review your own wardrobe for what works and what doesn't and then break the rules, where it makes sense. One potentially serious flaw here: They have no advice for how to coordinate dressing for a number of different trouble spots, such as short neck *and* big breasts *and* big arms. It's hard to decipher how to merge all the advice into a flattering outfit.

I watch Trinny and Susannah's show and love their frank, hearty style - they tell it like it is! In this book, they highlight different problem areas (large behind, no boobs, short legs, flabby tummy, etc.)and show you how to maximize the body parts that your assets and minimize those that are not - that is their fashion philospohy. I wanted to find a tee shirt recently that did not make me look like Dolly Parton. By following the suggestions in the book, I was able to find a more flattering style which compliments my ample bosom yet does not make me look "huge". Thanks Trinny and Susannah!

Trinny and Susannah are like those mean girls in high school who made your life hell only this time they're on YOUR side. This book is terrific. It illustrates in photos--not arty drawings what looks bad and what looks good are certain figure problems. Big behinds, short necks, flat chests, flabby guts, thick calves, no waists and more are all discussed. If you like watching them on BBC then you'll love the book.

I am a big fan of Trinny and Susannah's show on BBC, but I was a little disappointed with this book. While [$$] is not a fortune to pay for a book, I was expecting something more substantial than the free advice they shell out on the show. For instance, I wish they spent some time on how to diagnose your figure problems, explaining what the ideal proportions are and what proportions therefore qualify as short-legged or short-torsoed. Instead, they launch directly into a magazine-style photo spread of dos and don'ts for different figure types, which is useful as a visual reference when planning your wardrobe but is no more informative than their television show.

The whole book seemed like it was written and produced in a matter of days. If you are an observant viewer of the TV show, you already know everything they cover in the book, so it really isn't worth the cover price.

P.S. Sorry, but to say that Trinny suffers from having a big butt is almost absurd enough to be funny.

If you stand in front of your closet thinking "I have NOTHING to wear", this book may be just right for you.

Or, if you stand in front of your closet, and end up dressing in outfits that make you feel frumpy, dumpy, and uncomfortable, this book may also help you.

Also, if you think you dress pretty well, but are unhapy with how some parts of your body look in certain clothes that you own, this book can guide you to a better look.

Overall, the book doesn't offer any really new ideas (you can find guidelines like these in the pages of most fashion magazines), but the plus side is, this book puts all the basic information together in one place.

Another plus to this guide is that the authors try to use humor (not that they always succeed) to help you deal with perceived body flaws.

The final good point about this book --most of the ideas are affordable, and may even be do-able with clothes you already own.

I'd have liked to have given this guide a higher number of stars, but the lack of new or exciting information kept it a three stars for me.

Still, it's a good place to start if you don't know where to begin your wardrobe makeover.

Reviewer: Linda Painchaud

while i truly enjoy their tv show, and their appearances on oprah, trinny and susannah miss the mark when it comes to their book. some of their advice is helpful, but it would have been better had they used models other than themselves. i appreciate the message they are trying to send (no one is perfect, not even them) i just find it hard to believe that between them they have all the figure flaws that women have. it would have definitely translated better with a more diverse selection of models.