A Guide to Elegance: For Every Woman Who Wants to Be Well and Properly Dressed on All Occasions,   ISBN:9780060757342

Customer Rating: 

Bluntly put, this is a very hoity-toity book written by a woman who really knew her stuff around the 1960s. The average woman back then was generally better dressed than today's woman, and I believe it's because they understood the concept of "appropriateness" better....before the baby-boomers decided to throw the idea away and forget to tell their daughters about it.

Some of her advise is a bit outdated, but the general concepts certainly apply today. For instance, though I don't think it's appropriate for slightly plump women to *only* wear fabric that drapes away from from the body in triangle styles, I do think she's right that truly elegant women do not wear black in the morning. (After all, who wants to see heavy darkness at the start of a new day?)

Additionally, I think she's dead-on about accessories. Crocodile accessories are only chic on luggage and day-time items. And, older women and multiple strands of pearls do seem to complement one another.

Since I live in Florida, I notice that some women wear dark, heavy leather handbags even when the humid weather makes them seem drab and misplaced. Fortunately, she offers some chic advice on this as well.
"For the summer, a beige straw handbag, which can be of a rather coarse weave if you spend your summers in the country, or of a finer texture, such as Panama, if you stay in town. In any case, a straw handbag is an indispensable accessory to summery cotton and linen dresses."

Customer Rating: 

Spending all day indoors because of the snow, I read half of the book skipping some parts that I really didn't need to read. I found A Guide to Elegance a great read because it makes one think twice about how much money they spend on clothes that are rarely, if ever, worn. The author comes across a point when it comes to spending money on clothing. If you are going to spend money on clothes, spend it on items that are timeless classics and what is more appropriate to wear as oppose to buying it because it is on sale. More than likely, you are spending money on a sale item that is going to be put away and never, if ever, get worn. That is where the buyer is actually wasting money. I got some useful information out of this book when it comes to shopping for the right garnments and accessories and hope to put it to good use on my next shopping trip.

Customer Rating: 

This is a neat little book . And I actually enjoyed reading it quite a bit. some practical advise and some fluff a nice mix when one is reading about dresses. but then again I like classic dressing simple styles. if you love colors and trends and lots of poof and feathers this is not a book you will enjoy.. I would have loved to read this book when I was 15.. but it is just as applicable no matter the age .. a nice present for someone who needs an excuse to redo her wardrobe.
since reading I have emptied the closet a bit more .. donated various piles of clothing I truly never wear .. ( and maybe some I never did wear... who knows maybe it will encourage you to shop less impulsively. After all how many black dresses do we really need !!!! last I counted I had about 30 !!!

Customer Rating: 

This is a fantastic volume! The author combines practical advice, amusing anecdotes and a no-nonsense tone in equal proportion. Ranks among the best of the many style / etiquette guides on the market today.

Customer Rating: 

I loved the book and have been very inspired to give more attention to what I wear - it's fun! :)