The Pocket Stylist: Behind-the-Scenes Expertise from a Fashion Pro on Creating Your Own Look

Great Book

I really enjoyed learning about how important it is to buy things that represent who you are and not what the fashion industry thinks you should be. After I read this book, I cleaned out my closet and now when I shop, I can easily tell what items of clothes are right for me from head to toe without even trying them on! My closet has never looked better and I love shopping more than ever!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Too much of this, not enough of that...

This book isn't a bad start, but it's not that great. Fit is important, but this book focuses on it as if it's the only thing. I didn't understand a lot of the terms used either. Plus, it focused only on top-heavy, bottom-heavy, and evenly proportioned, completely leaving out the straight body type, long-waisted, and short-waisted, among others. I don't feel that it gave me anything that I hadn't already gotten from other, more comprehensive books.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

glossary would be nice

I found this book only marginally helpful because there wasn't a glossary to describe the lingo. For instance there are 6 skirt types listed in my body type: pencil, trouser, circle, bias, a-line, and tiered. Well, I know what an a-line is and I think I can guess what a pencil is, but what's the rest. I would suggest a sketch glossary.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The author dresses Diane Sawyer, Sigourney Weaver and now, Me!

I'm a forty-six year old woman returning to the work world. This book has saved me a lot of time and a lot of money. Ms. Farr is very specific in her recommendations. She lists brand names, stores and catalogs and what they have to offer women of each size and shape. Even shoes are judged based on their ability to flatter a particular body type. The Pocket Stylist really does reveal insider secrets. (The clothes on catalog models will NEVER look the same to me.) Thanks to The Pocket Stylist I will never again waste money on clothes that don't flatter me. The book IS my clothes shopping list.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

It helps!

I own half a dozen style books, and I consider The Pocket Stylist probably the best of the lot. If you can only buy one style book, make it this one. As previous reviewers have noted, it divides women into one of three body types (the other three are really just plus-sized versions of the original three). It then addresses the lines of garments and how those lines will interface with your body type. This approach has helped me avoid a lot of mistakes (and wasting money!). There's also advice on accessories, etc. The author helps you keep your total look in mind when you're out shopping. No glossy photos of celebrities here, but lots of sound, timeless advice!

Not For All Women.

I feel if you're a normal-sized woman, this might be a very good book for you- but for someone who isn't a perfect size and has a weight problem this doesn't help much. It starts with just 3 body types (A, B, & C) for what the author must consider normal-sized women. I assume these are sizes 8, 10, & 12. Then for what the author considers "full-figured women" you have (D, E, & F) body types. But these are only for sizes 14, 16, & 18 missy-sized women. What about smaller women? What about we plus-sized women? Or women that are on the border between normal and full-figured? And how did she determine what's normal and what's full-figured? I consider myself on the border between normal and plus-sized but no matter my size- I've always thought of myself as "full-figured".

Once you've determined your body type, you go to that section. At this point it told me to avoid elastic waist pants and tapered legs. That's exactly what I do look for because I can't fit in the waist of the pants that fit my thin legs without an elastic waist. If I buy slacks that fit my waist I've got elephant legs. And it goes on from there. Most of the "do's" advice and "things to avoid" were either, "Duh! Everyone knows that",.... or totally wrong for me. It said to wear large sleeves like Dolman or raglan. I don't have fat arms, and I think they make a heavy woman look heavier, like a 'fat bat'. It said to wear pencil skirts or pleats for my body type. There's no such thing as as pencil skirts in plus sizes and have you ever seen pleats on a heavy woman? Not a pretty sight. And the looks (pictures) for my body type would just make me look dumpy and frumpy. I think a couple of the other body types "Looks" would be much more appropriate for me and my body type, but it doesn't say, "this particular style would look good on multiple body types". And no, I did not misjudge my body type. According to the definition of each type in this book, I am sure I made the correct choice according to the author's descriptions. Also it says that petites are 5'4" and under. I've been 5'4" for many years and I've never been able to wear a petite-sized outfit, ever. They are always too short on me.

So if you're what this author considers an average-sized woman, and an average height- buy this book. It might be great- I wouldn't know. But if not, and you're not an exact size- this book probably won't help you. I know it didn't help me.

Wow,nice book

I love this book because it shows people that they don't have to follow every single trend. They can make their own style... and they can set a trend.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

a great resource

This is a great, very helpful book. I have yet to find a style manual that seems to cover all of the bases well, but I would recommend this in combination with one of Woodall & Constantine's books listed below and The Lucky Shopping Manual. These three books should cover all the bases. Yes, I agree that a glossary would be helpful, but that is one of the strengths of the Lucky Shopping Manual. The body type reference isn't as comprehensive as it could be, but I think that Woodall & Constantine's books are great for figuring out what to (and what not to) wear based on your body type. This book really concentrates on fit and accessories. I thought the list of good places to shop by body type was especially helpful.

dianneJ

LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH, I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE THAT WANTS TO BE FASHIONABLE LIKE ME!

The Pocket Stylist

This book has totally changed the way I dress and shop. Now I wear outfits that are totally unique to me and that fit my body well. I love it and take it shopping to help me decide what kind of clothes to look at. I recommend this book to all girls!

EXCEPTIONALLY AWESOME!

There are three reasons I love this book: 1. Kendall individualizes with detail what will look good on your own body. The guidelines are simple and the book is easy to go shopping with. I love the summary of wardrobe indispensables- it's my shopping list! 2. There are suggestions for the stores one should try shopping at (especially helpful when she outlines the best jeans for each body type- that saved me lots of shopping time and energy and I really do have great fitting jeans now!). 3. She not only gives you a handful of major basic tenets to follow (which work) but she also gives you some brief fashion history which is really fascinating. I can read the section on handbags and shoes over and over again! Kendall, my very own personal stylist, if you are out there and you ever read this- thank you, thank you, thank you!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Smart, funny, the bomb!

I recently read about this book in Oprah magazine, got it, and it's just like having my own stylist. The author has dressed actresses for the Academy awards as well as Star Jones- no matter your body type (I'm not built like a model!) you have to take this book shopping with you.

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