Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Sunday, August 2, 2009

A book worth writing about

Males, Nails, and Sample Sales by Stephanie Pierson...

is by far the worst advice book I have ever read.

I'm normally fond of advice books that entail fashion along with the other tribulations of daily life, so when I found this at Anthropologie, I thought it would be worth a look. I had nothing to lose except $7. Looking back, that could've bought me a sandwich.

Having read many books like this, I can say that the one thing that irritates me about it the most is it's structure - or lack there of. I was only able to get through the first three chapters before I found myself looking for the receipt so I could return it.

Introductions generally are short, a little vague, but engaging enough to where you're left with questions and you want to read more of the book until those questions are answered. So I read the introduction "I'll tell you why you should do X. I'll tell you why you shouldn't do Y."

Essentially, the first few chapters read like an introduction in conjunction with a mothers nagging. She told you that "you shouldn't do X" with reasoning as simple as something like "because it makes you look like a snob." End of question. She just goes on to another topic. It was all very non sequitur while maintaining that same structure. And it never seemed to end. I'm quite glad that I was able to return it. I got a sandwich with the money after wards.

For one thing, I don't like books bluntly saying what you should or shouldn't do. Another thing is that if a book is going to do that, they better have some well researched reasons why other than an illogical partial sentence.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Book Resources

It's been a while again, longer than I would've liked before my next blog. What can I do? Make time pass by slower? - That would involve launching myself into a pit of boredom, I can't, I just can't.

Efficiency is the key here. Usually when I peruse the fashion book section at half price books, I look for good advice on caring for clothes, what makes a good wardrobe, and the ever elusive advice on how to dress a short stubby body - yes, I know Stacy and Clinton's version of the book cover all the body types, but I just don't like the format of that book. While I might change in my lifetime, I doubt I'll go from short and petite with big thighs to average or tall height anything.

I started this around age 18-19 when I realized that I was growing up, but a wardrobe of little boys shirts and ill fitting jeans just wasn't going to cut it. It was an even bigger wake up call when I went to my sister's college graduation awkwardly dressed looking more overtly unfeminine than I find desirable.

I knew I needed a change, but I didn't know how to go about building a wardrobe - so I went through phases of dedication to buying certain articles - strappy shoes, A-Line skirts, purple - with phases you find that you're still ill equipped to deal with the trouble of dressing everyday.

I wish back in those days I had this:

It really describes what you need to have a functional wardrobe, at least for a woman. It really hit the spot for me since it was exactly what I was looking for.

I'd say, the Lucky Shopping Guide and What Not To Wear (Trinny, Susannah) are probably the two main resources you need