Frumpy to Fabulous: Flaunting It. Your Ultimate Guide to Effortless Style by Natalie JobityMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I know the author of this book, and in addition to her success in the fields of image consulting and marketing, she is thoughtful and compassionate, personable and fun. So when I found out she was a published author, I was excited to check out her book. While I don't know how much of the material I'll be incorporating into my own life and wardrobe, this guide is accessible, with a breezy style, and helpful for women who feel like they are stuck in an image rut or just want tips on advancing their self-presentation.
I'll be honest, I can be somewhat conflicted when it comes to fashion. My girly, artsy side competes with my uber-low-maintenance, reluctant to sacrifice comfort side. The side of me that eschews vanity conflicts with the side of me that knows, as noted in the book, that first impressions count, and that actually does care about what people think of me. What's good about this book is that in addition to offering tips to spark the reader's creativity when it comes to clothing and accessories, it also stresses the importance of presenting an authentic version of oneself, of making sure what people are seeing is what we want to convey to the world.
I used to watch "What Not to Wear" (not as much a fan of Stacy London's new show), and I was always struck by the fact that there were real self-esteem transformations going on on the show. Or cases where a woman would undergo life changes but have a style that hadn't caught up. Natalie's book deals with the same thing. In fact, she has an entire chapter entitled "Beauty from the Inside Out" that addresses the self-esteem hurdles that she has assisted some of her former clients with.
Other personal takeaways from the book:
Color/Warm and Cool Tones
Natalie doesn't address the four color seasons here, but she does give an overview of warm and cool skin tones and the colors best-suited for each. I'm still a little confused as to which I am, honestly, although she does say that some people are a mix. And while there are some colors that I get complimented on wearing, there are few colors I feel look honestly bad on me. Not to brag or anything, haha. I tend to buy clothing based on colors I like, and since I like color in general I have a pretty big variety of colors in my wardrobe. I'd still be curious about one day having my colors "done," especially if it were broken down by season.
Body Type
Natalie goes into the basic body types (e.g. pear, hourglass, etc.) and discusses styles best suited for each. Here is another area where I've never felt I fit into a "mold." Thankfully she addresses "blended" body types too. I know I'm definitely not pear- or rectangle-shaped. I have a little bit of hourglass, apple (or round) and inverted-triangle going on, however. My weight concentrates at my breasts, stomach and back - or, as I like to say, "I'm all boobs and belly." And because I'm two completely different sizes on top and bottom, in addition to being a petite 5 foot 1, dresses are the most challenging thing for me to shop for.
Developing a Signature Style
This was one of the most interesting chapters. Natalie describes 7 core styles of "traditionalist" "outdoorsy," "sophisticate," "seductress," "romantic," "eclectic," and "diva," and gives examples of celebrities exemplifying each. It was fun figuring out which ones describe my style - she says most women blend these elements into their own personal look. I have described my style, real or ideal, as classic but low-maintenance, with subtle feminine touches. Using Natalie's labels, that would make me a blend of traditionalist, outdoorsy, and romantic. Incidentally, she describes Natalie Portman as a celebrity blending these three styles. Not a bad style role model, I don't think. :).
The Need for a Properly Fitting Bra as a Wardrobe Backbone
Whoops. I have a little bit of a problem here, as I don't own a single bra that fits me 100% perfectly. This book did reinforce my goal of having a professional bra fitting done, although I can't say it's the number one thing on my list of priorities. She also mentioned a bra brand called "Le Mystere" which I was unfamiliar with but as a busty gal now need to check out.
She talks about women who wear uniforms and face the challenge of figuring out what to wear when they are not in their uniform. I had to wear a uniform through middle and high school, and while that was a long time ago I could relate to that point.
I wish she had gone further to address issues of time and money. She touches upon how a put-together style doesn't have to be high-maintenance or impractical, and she makes the case that some items are investment pieces worth splurging on while some can be cheaper. I'm a thrift store junkie, so I've been able to add to my wardrobe while at times on an extremely tight budget. But that was always my biggest frustration with "What Not to Wear" - of course anyone could look put-together 24/7 if they were given $5,000 to spend on a new wardrobe.
As far as implementing things into my own wardrobe, this book was a case of "take what works for you and leave the rest." A lot of the material on color, body type, wardrobe background, etc. was fairly familiar. But where the book excels is in helping tie together style elements into a confident, authentic and positive self-presentation.
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