the Book Brothel

Archive for the ‘Fashion / Beauty’ Category

Allure: Confessions of a Beauty Editor by Linda Wells

Wednesday, November 29th, 2006

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Hardcover, 192 pages, 2006

Rating: 8/10

Reason for Reading: Like many women, make-up and hair-care products tend to be one of my favourite cheerful (but usually cheap) pick-me-up purchases. It’s fun, but good advice from actual pros is always welcome.

Synopsis: Every woman deserves to feel like she looks good, or has a certain ‘allure’ to her, even if we can’t all be supermodels. Working with the editors of Allure magazine, Wells, the founding editor-in-chief of the publication, walks readers through head-to-toe beauty and makeup tips (and basics) that are broken down into ten chapters: skin care; skin problems; face; eyes; lips; nails; haircut & color; hair care & style; salons & spas; and body.

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Posted in Non-Fiction, Fashion / Beauty | No Comments »

Cary Grant: A Celebration of Style by Richard Torregrossa

Monday, October 9th, 2006

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Hardcover, 218 pages, 2006

Rating: 9/10

Reason for Reading: I’ve seen, and loved, quite a few of Grant’s movies, such as To Catch a Thief and The Philadelphia Story, and Grant himself was usually the biggest draw.

Synopsis: He made dozens of movies in thirty-plus years of acting, starring with some of the most beautiful women in the world, and no matter the circumstances, Cary Grant always looked impeccable, somehow both a sex symbol and a gentleman. In Cary Grant: A Celebration of Style, Torregrossa, a fashion journalist, presents us with an unusual biography, one that focuses on Grant’s development of his classic style with the backdrop being his movies and personal life. Features a foreword by Giorgio Armani and an afterword by Michael Kors.

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Posted in Non-Fiction, Fashion / Beauty, Biography, Film | No Comments »

A Virgin’s Guide to Everything by Lauren McCutcheon

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2006

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Trade, 376 pages, 2005

Rating: 8/10

Reason for Reading: Like most people, there are always things I’m putting off doing ‘until I know enough to do it right.’

Synopsis: Has there ever been something you wanted to do - eating sushi, getting a massage, going to a foreign country - but you pushed the idea aside for fear of looking stupid? McCutcheon has assembled a group of women that are experts in their fields to play big sister and talk you through ten areas of life (entertaining; health & fitness; spirits & sustenance; dating; travel; work; the great outdoors; art & culture; fashion; money) where you might want a little help.

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Posted in Non-Fiction, Etiquette, Fashion / Beauty, Culture, Self-Help, Fitness | No Comments »

Better Than Beauty by Helen Valentine and Alice Thompson

Monday, November 22nd, 2004

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Trade, 164 pages, 1938

Rating: 7/10

Reason for Reading: It’s always fun to see what standards previous generations had to live up to in comparison to today. I think I heard about the book on BookCrazy.

Synopsis: Better Than Beauty is just what the subtitle says, a guide to charm. It begins with personal hygiene (you have to start somewhere, right?), and strolls through exercise, diet, and fashion before moving into the more obvious areas of social interaction - meeting people, parties, and awkward situations, for example.

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Posted in Non-Fiction, Etiquette, Fashion / Beauty, Self-Help | Comments Off

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy by Ted Allen, Kyan Douglas, Thom Filicia, Carson Kressley, and Jai Rodriguez

Monday, March 1st, 2004

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Hardcover (available in trade), 256 pages, 2004

Rating: 7/10

Reason for Reading: I think the tv show is hilarious.

Synopsis: Television’s Fab Five continue their quest to improve straight men, this time in book form. Each expert focuses on their area of expertise in an individual section: food and wine (Ted); grooming (Kyan); interior design (Thom); fashion (Carson); and culture (Jai).

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Posted in Non-Fiction, Etiquette, Humour, Fashion / Beauty, Television, Culture, Self-Help, Cooking, Interior Design | No Comments »

Sex and the City: Kiss and Tell by Amy Sohn

Tuesday, August 5th, 2003

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Hardcover (available in trade - updated with season six), 160 pages, 2002

Rating: 9/10

Reason for Reading: All hail Sex and the City! Especially Kim Cattrall.

Synopsis: A behind the scenes look at the making of hit HBO show Sex and the City. Includes an episode guide to the first four seasons, character backgrounds, actor backgrounds, and most importantly, a look into the four girls’ wardrobes.

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Posted in Non-Fiction, Fashion / Beauty, Television | No Comments »

Archive for the ‘Fashion / Beauty’ Category

Allure: Confessions of a Beauty Editor by Linda Wells

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Hardcover, 192 pages, 2006

Rating: 8/10

Cary Grant: A Celebration of Style by Richard Torregrossa

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Hardcover, 218 pages, 2006

Rating: 9/10

A Virgin’s Guide to Everything by Lauren McCutcheon

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Trade, 376 pages, 2005

Rating: 8/10

Better Than Beauty by Helen Valentine and Alice Thompson

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Trade, 164 pages, 1938

Rating: 7/10

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy by Ted Allen, Kyan Douglas, Thom Filicia, Carson Kressley, and Jai Rodriguez

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Hardcover (available in trade), 256 pages, 2004

Rating: 7/10

Sex and the City: Kiss and Tell by Amy Sohn

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Hardcover (available in trade - updated with season six), 160 pages, 2002

Rating: 9/10

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