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The Truth About Style

3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 · rating details · 488 ratings · 134 reviews

The hilarious, beloved cohost of TLC’s What Not to Wear examines the universal obstacles all women—including herself—put in their way

With her unique talent for seeing past disastrous wardrobes to the core emotional issues that caused these sartorial crises, style savant Stacy London has transformed not only the looks but also the lives of hundreds of guests who have appea...more

Hardcover, 224 pages

Published October 2nd 2012 by Viking Adult

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May 01, 2013 Kay Hommedieu rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is easy to skim through and read and re-read favorite parts such as Stacy's own story of dealing with psoriasis as a child. The case studies of the nine women in the book are fun and interesting too. In this book, her second, Stacy uses a philosophy she describes as "Yes,....and?

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 27, 2012 Lynn Weber rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction

I read this through in one sitting last night after a friend gave me a copy for my birthday. I skimmed the style parts (because I'm a devoted watcher of her TV show already) but found her autobiographical tie-ins fascinating. A smart, humane book.

5 likes · like · see review

May 15, 2013 Cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, favorites

An absolutely glorious book with fantastic guidance on how to dress, and if you are a What Not to Wear Fan, it's like a personal visit with Stacy. I LOVE this book. Tracy helps 9 women with different wardrobe problems to remake themselves. The chapters are very diverse, and I feel that every woman will find help in one or more of them. Stacy is very encouraging and talks with these ladies about why they are having self image problems. There is so much positive information that can help us all.

I...more

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Mar 24, 2013 Clare rated it 5 of 5 stars

I never used to like the show "What Not to Wear" - First they (Clinton & Stacy) always seemed so mean to these women. And then they always put them in wrap dresses! Of course, I've now lost 48 pounds, and am nursing so I wear wrap dresses every other day. So maybe my perspective has changed.

And this book deals with Stacy London's serious health/medical issues, as well as being a primer for female self-esteem and style. I learned about Stacy's troubles, and struggles, and how she got that wh...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 16, 2012 Daree Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars

It goes into depth about some of the psychology of how we dress, indecisiveness, how the way we feel about ourselves and others' opinions and judgments of us influence how we dress, and why we choose (or refuse to choose) to give weight to those beliefs and opinions.

Stacy starts off spending time getting personal about her self-esteem issues and battles with weight and psoriasis as a girl, as well as her status as a never-married, childless woman in her 40s. I loved her candor and relatability....more

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 04, 2012 J rated it 5 of 5 stars

I could definitely hear Stacy London’s voice in this book. It also follows the “What Not to Wear” format. Women come in, talk about themselves and their style, and Stacy give them a “start-over” (i.e. makeover). During the makeover, Stacy gives out healthy doses of advice for anyone with a similar figure/problem about how to best dress their body.

The first chapter was a bit hard to read. Apparently, Stacy was a philosophy major is college and she uses the first chapter to flex these muscles. Non...more I could definitely hear Stacy London’s voice in this book. It also follows the “What Not to Wear” format. Women come in, talk about themselves and their style, and Stacy give them a “start-over” (i.e. makeover). During the makeover, Stacy gives out healthy doses of advice for anyone with a similar figure/problem about how to best dress their body.

The first chapter was a bit hard to read. Apparently, Stacy was a philosophy major is college and she uses the first chapter to flex these muscles. None of it made sense to me, but then I never got philosophy in college. Unless you are a philosophy major yourself, I’d recommend skipping the first chapter.

From the second chapter onward, the text focuses on actual people and becomes imminently readable and relatable. Stacy actually uses the second chapter to share some backstory on herself. I was surprised to learn about her medical issues as a child and her continued struggles with image. It made her more vulnerable and endearing to me. She doesn’t write in the whoa-is-me style of people seeking sympathy, but gives an unemotional assessment of her history and emotional conflicts to illuminate her style tendencies. It provoked me to think about the phycological reasons I dress the way I do.

The following chapters each focused on one woman. There was a “before” picture of them in a typical outfit. Then a discussion of their background and why they dress that way. Then Stacy gives her two sense of how she understands the problem. (Stacy shares more about her personal life in these sections, which was interesting to read. But it felt weird a few times, like she was using these women as a platform or excuse to talk about herself more.) Then were was a discussion on how they should dress, followed by an “after” picture. And some closing tips from Stacy.

I did notice that were weren’t many pictures of the younger/prettier women. Part of me felt that this was Stacy protecting herself from being photographed with them, especially after reading about her self-professed image struggles. It did have the effect though of making this more of an every-women book showcasing “regular” women.

Downsides: While I found Stacy very relatable and comfortable to read overall, modern morals crept into the book a bit. (Though not as much as some fashion books!) Stacy references “leaving a bad marriage and creating better one” as a positive possible effect of fashion. Marriages aren’t disposable in my book. She also later praises birth control and references the “childless by choice” movement. I can’t think of anything more depressingly selfish. She also references having sex "on the 3rd or 5th dates based on your rules for that”. Umm, how about the wedding night?

I will give Stacy props for recognizing the failed promises of the feminist movement through. She notes (and I agree) that women use to be expected to be Supermothers. Now we are expected to be Supermothers AND Superpeople (excelling at careers & every other area of life). The feminist movement just placed more expectations on us. How many women do I know that would love to be home with their kids, but their husband expect them to work (and raise the kids) -- thanks feminists. I may be taking her argument a bit farther than she did, but I find it refreshing when a celebrity is grounded. She seems to have a conservative bend that is best expressed in what she doesn’t say or endorse. Stacy also has a hardness to her that I admire. She seems to be able to pick up on things and isn’t afraid to call a spade a spade. Would you want fashion advice from anyone else?

Overall, I’d like to have Stacy London as an ally in my style corner. She relatable and reliable. There were many tips from this book that I found useful.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Apr 04, 2013 Rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars

I stumbled across this book at the library earlier this week and thought it might be a fun read; Stacy London delivered just what I was looking for. I have been a fan of What Not to Wear for years, and Stacy's narrative voice in her book was a kinder, gentler version of the tough love she and Clinton Kelly dispense on the show. I appreciated the insight into Stacy's own formative experiences and her diagnoses of the underlying obstacles to personal growth that manifested as style conundrums for...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Liz DeCoster rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

Interesting, but a strange mix of touching and narcissistic. Stacy shares the stores of a handful of women she's provided a makeover for in the process of writing the book, discussing issues that face women both practically (budget, size) and psychologically (past traumas and body dysmorphia) and ways to address them.
Much of the advice was about as down-to-earth as I've read in a fashion book, and encouraging women to embrace individuality, color/print, and the fun of fashion. I felt that London...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Zelda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another day, another style manifesto. Did I learn anything? Maybe not. Well, maybe. I learned more about Stacy London as it includes quite a bit of biographical information, none of which was boring. If you were new to style manifestos I bet you would have come away from this one better informed but I'd still steer you toward Tim Gunn's first book on style for some real basics.

This book philosophizes a bit more. It's chattier. Its "gals"-ier. It discusses the challenges of aging. Like the uncom...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 02, 2013 Tammy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fashion

I love Stacy London and after reading this book, I truly adore her. This book goes beyond a "how to" fashion book (she already co-authored one called "Dress Your Best") -- it is therapeutic. As a fashion expert who has had her own share of insecurities and physical challenges (including extensive scarring and extreme weight fluctuation), Stacy looks at nine different women and tries to help them overcome the underlying causes of their own fashion-related issues.

The nine women have nine very diff...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Colleen Wainwright rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: creativity, how-to, memoir, nonfiction, style, self-help

Come for the tips, stay for the self-actualization. Stacy London is smart, funny, and has a great eye, but she also has a kind heart that has been through the shit. My favorite parts of this book are the bits and essays of memoir strewn amongst the how-to stories: the alienation from others she felt as a pre-teen struck by severe psoriasis; the alienation from her own body that she felt through the binging and starvation that accompanied her dysmorphia in young adulthood. London's name is listed...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Brandy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked this up thinking that it would be a book full of tips telling me how to dress properly. Telling me how to have all my pants hemmed for my shoe height & that menswear is all the rage. It did include all of these great points and more. However I didn't expect that I was going to hear the amazingly personal story of the fabulous Stacy London and so many other amazing everyday women. I love how she was full disclosure on this and she wasn't holding anything back. Also the fact that she...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Colleen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

I've never watched "What Not To Wear" but I've also never met a fashion advice book I didn't like, so when I saw this one on the shelf at my library, I figured I might as well have a look. While Stacy's childhood experiences and professional development stories were interesting, I found the advice sections a bit lacking. I can understand wanting to get to the root of why people hide behind their clothes like armor, but the book needs to be more than that. There were surprisingly few pictures, ne...more

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Nov 13, 2012 AdultNonFiction Teton County Library rated it 4 of 5 stars

TCL Call#: 746.92 London S

Madeleine - 4-5 stars
Great book beginning with the very first chapter "What This Books is Not" which I (naturally) wanted to skip. But don't! It was great and fully laid the foundation that the book is built on. It is NOT simply a wear this with this and no white after Labor Day style book. It goes deep into what style can mean for women and what it can mean when you refuse to pay attention to your style. It was so well written that I found myself antsy to pick it back...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Cassie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, memoir-biography

A mixture of self-help and memoir, Stacy London makes the case for style as a mood and self-esteem booster as well as a way to telegraph our personalities to the outside world. There's not much focus on how to dress your body type here, but rather how our personal ruts and insecurities also create style ruts. London addresses the emotional and psychological issues that often stymie us and reveals ways that taking control of our style can help us feel better about ourselves and help us get out of...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book. I had no idea how much Stacy had gone through in life. She always just looks so perfect. I really liked how this book was more of the psychology of why women wear black and hope to blend in. There are a lot of reasons and it is good to examine your own. I found this book inspirational and makes me want to break out a red dress.

1 like · like · see review

Jan 05, 2013 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

I already loved Stacy London because of her contributions to What Not to Wear, but readers don't have to have any prior knowledge of her or the television show in order to enjoy this book. Yes, there are style transformations included, but the primary value of this text is the personal reasons for desiring transformation and the bravery of taking those first steps. She focuses on what works for each individual, includes a variety of sizes, body shapes and backgrounds, and takes into account pers...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Minna rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: disappointing, non-fiction

I get why Stacy London picked her "styleover" subjects, and I understand the impact they have for her. Unfortunately, there was only one subject I related to (the girl who was in a style rut). All the rest I skimmed through: most were significantly older, or had jobs or personal styles that resulted in styleovers that did not appeal to me. I guess that's the thing with style: it's in the eye of the beholder.
Anyways, the girl who was in a style rut got a styleover that I didn't particularly care...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Colleen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Read this book before going on a massive spring shopping trip. Let me be clear: I do not like shopping...and my best friend has threatened more than once to send me off to Stacy's show, What Not to Wear.

So - did it help? Yes. I found her advice to be of the tough love variety that I'm happy to dole out to others, and I didn't mind taking it either. It was straightforward, tuned to several different needs and ages, and made sense enough to stick in my subconscious while browsing the racks at our...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Heidi rated it 3 of 5 stars

I like this book because it talks about Stacy's life and her struggles. As a woman who religiously watches her show, you would never know that woman with the perfectly put together outfits and STUNNING shiny hair ever had an akward phase, or a period of time where she felt pretty bleak. HOwever, I guess in order to help people you have to know where they are coming from. Although this book was a case study of many different women with many different body issues, I would have rather had the book...more

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Feb 23, 2013 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction

I really liked this book. Ms London does a excellent job of boosting the women's self-esteem and giving them the direction to explore their personal style. This is something I struggle with too. I don't even know what my style is, since I just wear jeans and t-shirts all the time. I love her personal stories. I can completely relate since I also have a skin condition that freaks people out.

Bottom line: this book is not just a style how-to. It's about the psychology of style and how it can trans...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Alisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked this book up at the library (had to wait forever to get a turn) after coming across it online somewhere. I love WNTW, especially Stacy, so I was excited to read this. It did not disappoint. She goes over her own history of ups and downs as she takes 8 different women and helps them find their style. It was not a book about fashion (Stacy defines the difference between fashion and style). The women are all different--shape-wise and life story-wise-- and I related to quite a few of them....more

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Apr 22, 2013 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fashion-beauty, non-fiction

Reading about Stacy London's past struggles with disfiguring psoriasis & eating disorders made me appreciate her take on the psychology of style all the more. She does seem to have a genuine empathy for the women she works with in this book, as well as on What Not To Wear. It was also helpful to see "style-overs", as London calls them, for several women in the 45-60 year old range , as good style advice for those of us in that category is hard to find.
I did find the constant use of certain...more

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Nov 30, 2012 Sarah Fetterman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fashion, memoir, self-help

I picked this book up expecting it to simply be a how-to book for picking outfits, and was pleasantly surprised to find it is more of a memoir/self-help book. Stacy (From years of watching What Not to Wear, I feel like I can respectfually refer to her on a first name basis.) does give makeovers to 9 women, but it is less about getting new clothes and more about finding what is actually bothering them (distorted body image, etc.), the reason that they are hiding behind their current look. She say...more

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Jan 15, 2013 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

This was a fabulous read. Stacy London (host of TLC's What Not to Wear) took a handful of women and helped them "start-over." She picked them based on letters that they had written in, and the women she picked had a wide range of clothing challenges, but I found that every single woman had at least one aspect of her story that I related to. London did a fabulous job of picking problems that were somewhat universal so that many women could relate and find value in the suggestions she gave. I hope...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Beth Hatch rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book because it wasn't just another 'how to dress' book. Fashion changes but overcoming your fears and personal insecurities to develop your own personal style is what Stacy London is all about. Her confessions about her eating disorders and having severe psoriasis and how it affected her self-esteem resonated so strongly with me.

We all have things we want to cover up and hide, but here is a woman saying, 'You can be beautiful and stylish with the body and skin you have!" F- fashio...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. It's not about how to dress in the latest fashion trends. It's about style which is a reflection of who you are on the inside. Reading this book is like having a conversation with Stacy London. She shares experiences from her own life and relates it to the general reader. Lot's of truth in this book.

I do have to put one disclaimer out there with regards to language. I try to make sure that the majority of my books I read are clean. She occasionally uses a swear word--picture...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Aspasia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, fashion-style

Not your normal style manual...

Stacy London introduces us to nine "normal" women who having clothing issues due to various life experiences. Stacy looks into the psychology of why we hide behind our clothes, why we let ourselves go, etc. Sassy, sarcastic and non-judgmental, Stacy looks back on her childhood and college years- years that were filled with painful psoriasis and eating disorders. Recommended for all women in various stages of style in their life who need to be reminded how special a...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Not at all what I expected, but a generally enjoyable book. If you watch What Not to Wear, you will recognize Stacy London's signature voice of honest, tough critique combined with an authentic dose of empathy and caring. She is open about her own story and flaws, making her and her advice very relatable. Surprisingly I didn't find the style advice particularly interesting or relevant, save a few general tips. This likely is because she profiles a small group of women in depth and I didn't have...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Pamela rated it 2 of 5 stars

Two stars for the autobiographical tidbits, but the rehash of "style" has been done before, and I guess I don't really agree with a lot of it. London is unabashedly critical and judgmental of people just based on their clothes, which, although it may be the societal norm, doesn't make it right.

I don't know what's going on with the editing of books lately. Although this one is very pretty, there were some weird comma omissions (the bane of my LIFE), and, at one point, we have the phrase "quel sur...more

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About Stacy London

Stacy London is a fashion consultant and media personality known primarily for her role as co-host on What Not to Wear, a reality program that features makeovers. She shares on-air duties with Clinton Kelly. London started out as a fashion editor and stylist for several celebrities and designers. She has since moved into business consulting and fashion reporting.

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