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The Science of Sexy: Dress to Fit Your Unique Figure with the Style System that Works for Every Shapeand Size
A celebrity fashion designer gives every woman the red-carpet treatment in this foolproof guide to choosing clothes that make you look fabulous�with tailor-made tips for forty-eight body types.
The average American woman is 5"4' tall, weighs 160 pounds, wears a size 14, and bears no resemblance to the typical runway model. Yet the runway model sets the standard for �ideal
...moreHardcover, 304 pages
Published
December 28th 2006
by Gotham
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This book was interesting, though it didn't tell me anything I didn't know already know. I'm a short, hourglass of sometimes medium weight, though that fluctates. I know to wear things that show how small my waist as compared to my hips. I realize I possess the magical hip/waist ratio and everyone should bow down and worship my ample bottom and curvy thighs.
I also know to avoid tapered pants, calf length dresses and anything with shoulder pads.
The great thing about this book is it tells you exa...more
I also know to avoid tapered pants, calf length dresses and anything with shoulder pads.
The great thing about this book is it tells you exa...more
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I liked the book a lot, and this may have to do with the fact that I bought it used. It does show you how to find your body shape, (by measuring your shoulders, chest, waist, and hips) in case you were not of what your shape is. I have found that most women either a straight-up hourglass or a variation of an hourglass and another shape.
While other sources use fruit to describe your shape and tell you what you should wear; apple, pear, and the infamous hourglass, this book uses shapes. Triangle,...more
While other sources use fruit to describe your shape and tell you what you should wear; apple, pear, and the infamous hourglass, this book uses shapes. Triangle,...more
My admiration for this book is inversely proportionate to my skepticism upon hearing of it. I’ve seen books with the same concept, but this one is superior in that it helps you determine your particular body type, which will be one of 48 shapes. Determining your shape is easy using the charts and illustrations, although I was able to pick mine out without a tape measure. Bayou then proceeds to point out blessings and curses for each shape along with what styles of dresses, tops, skirts, pants &...more
The author, a stylist for Hollywood stars of all shapes and sizes, presents a theory of attractive dressing based on a scale and a tape measure. He separates women into three height categories (short, average or tall), four weight categories (height, slender, average, full, or plus-sized), and four shape categories (inverted triangle, rectangle, triangle, hourglass), for a total of 48 different body types, and gives illustrated, targeted advice for each group, focusing on minimizing figure flaws...more
Yes I guess I am unique since according to the book I am a mixture of rectangle and hourglass, although I don't ever recall Bayou ever suggesting that this could be possible.
A very small portion of this book is actually applicable to one person, since I'm pretty sure one person cannot physically encompass 48 body shapes (the number he identifies) at the same time. And what about people with shorter legs? Long torsos? Short necks? "Apples"? I suppose those attributes are not part of your "figure...more
A very small portion of this book is actually applicable to one person, since I'm pretty sure one person cannot physically encompass 48 body shapes (the number he identifies) at the same time. And what about people with shorter legs? Long torsos? Short necks? "Apples"? I suppose those attributes are not part of your "figure...more
Jun 22, 2010
Lana.
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Women interested in being fashionable, but haven't quite found what works with their body types
It takes a while for Bradley Bayou to get to the science part to his style system. The first chapters focus on basic "if you want to hide this, then consider these styles and these fabrics...", with a strong leaning towards EVERYONE wearing V-necks. He also does a fun comparison between how "sexy" you want to gear your look and then pointing to the SATC ladies to help you visualise.
This first part is a colourful, photo heavy section, that kept me turning the pages despite not really learning an...more
This first part is a colourful, photo heavy section, that kept me turning the pages despite not really learning an...more
This book clearly laid out the silhouettes that flatter my body. I am a hard-to-fit tall hourglass that wavers through different weight categories, and I came away with a fair amount of insight into how to use shape and line to balance my figure. I agree with other reviewers that the amount of information specific to each body type is skimpy, but I was impressed with the author's comprehensive understanding of proportion and fit. I really did feel like he understood the challenges of dressing my...more
you know those dates when you agree to go out with someone and they spend the first three to seven hours convincing you that they are awesome. you were ready for a little action anyway, and were going to fuck them just because it's a day ending in Y, but maybe there's something charming in the seduction. oh wait, no, it's just grating at this point! and finally they shut up enough to get it on, and then the sex is just kind of "passable." okay, it can't just be me that has dealt with this....
any...more
any...more
Bayou's scientific approach to dressing a person was simple and easy to follow. He seemed to show an understanding of how differently women's bodies are made and how we can make the best of what shapes and features we have. You do have to measure yourself to do this, though, so it's definitely interactive. Once you figure out what type of body size and proportion you are, you just follow his table of contents to the pages that describe what you should and shouldn't wear. He also includes a gloss...more
The book is based on an idea with lots of potential: give each reader a personalized recommendation of the kinds of clothing and accessories that will set off her individual figure, along with a warning of what to avoid. I very much appreciate the explanation of "the theory of sexiness" (also understandable as a "theory of visual beauty") that Bayou gives in the front pages, as this is necessary to inform readers how to understand the individual recommendations, and also the visual glossary of c...more
This was such an informative book. I loved learning about my body type, and how to disguise my flaws and emphasize my assets. I certainly do not buy into everything the author was touting in this book. The author talks alot about how , like it or not, our clothes are speaking for us, and we can either begrudge this, and deny this, or use our clothing to reflect our hobbies, habits, priorities, interests and style. This last one was hard for me, as I so often think of clothing as a drain on my fi...more
Bradley Bayou, a big man himself, has really become an advocate for real-sized and plus-sized women in the fashion world. Using a simple formula of measurments, Bradley proves that women can look good at any size in well-fitting clothes. He believes that hotness does not stop at a size six. His tips, which I have adopted, are spot on. His eponymous for QVC is extension of his belief that fashion is for everyone!
Primarily driven by body type, this is full of solid information to help select the clothes that look best on you. I loved the drawings showing "me" with an outfit that flattered, followed by another drawing of "me" with an outfit similar in color, but completely unflattering due to the cut or style of the top, skirt, etc. Some general information that applies to "everyone" was also helpful - "Though shalt wear the V-neck, it is flattering on all women."
The great thing about this book is that it's not about changing your body type. It's about know what body type you are and how to wear more flattering clothes to your body type. He has you measure yourself. Then he helps you figure out what your body type is (hourglass, triangle, rectangle or inverted triangle.) Then based on your height and weight he assigns you a color. Then you find the fitting room for your body type and color. He has three pages of what you should wear and one page of what...more
An interesting way to work out your figure-type and worth a read. Not sure I agree with everything he states certain figures can wear but that's the same with any book dealing with styling the human body. We are unique and don't fit comfortably into little boxes all the same.
I think that it could have been better organized by putting all the shapes together (i.e. all the hour-glasses) so that you could see more examples for your general shape.
I bought this book because I wanted to learn more about how to dress right for my body type. This is the only book of its type (that I have seen) that gives a precise way of determining exactly what body type you are. Most other books that I have seen just divide women into three or four basic body types and then you are left to guess which category fits you best. The author gives a celebrity who matches each body type, but I would have liked it if he had included a photo of each celebrity menti...more
not really a book-book, but it changed my fashion-challenged life. Not worth buying, though, if you can get it from the library and photocopy the relevant pages.
This book might not help your to dress "sexy" but it may help you to find fashions that are most flattering to your silhouette and body type. The book is divided into sections based on height, weight and body style (rectangle, hourglass, triangle and inverted triangle). So, for example, if you are 5'2" and weigh 200lbs with a triangle build you would be a short plus triangle. Bayou then offers some tips on what types of skirts and pants would be most flattering and suggests a celebrity style twi...more
An easy guide for dressing for your shape! Now I know what to look for...
Very helpful in understanding how to dress your body type
Feb 24, 2009
Kate
marked it as to-read
ML and Sarah said it was a great, fun read.
Meh.
Okay I can't really give rave reviews of such a superficial book, but this was fun. It will take you ten minutes tops to get through. You measure yourself, figure out your shape and then find the "fitting room" that matches your measurements and shape to find out what to wear and what not to wear. It's nice to hear some recommendations and he's very flattering of each shape, pointing out your blessings, then your curses, so it's a feel good about your body kind of book.
This is a good reference book to have lying around when your girlfriends are at a loss about what to wear and what styles fit them. If you ever have to go out shopping with a friend for something (and what woman doesn't), this book is good. That said, there are only about 4-6 pages in here that are really relevant (barring the general section in front), since Bayou divides women into 48 "types" and then talks about do's and don'ts for each type. Good, fun book.
This is a great book for people that want to feel good about their shape (whatever it may be) and be able to dress your best no matter what. I almost cried when I read it because of the positive way that he talks about each body type.
My only qualm with this book is this: do you dress for your measurements or what you look like? For example I measure as one shape but visually I am another. I am going with the visual.
My only qualm with this book is this: do you dress for your measurements or what you look like? For example I measure as one shape but visually I am another. I am going with the visual.
Okay so I usually get books on fashion that say "to minimize this area do this" and so forth. But I could never follow the advice because I wanted to minimize everything. This book goes about it differently. It classifies your shape and tells you what to enhance and what to hide. I love it. I don't have the money for new clothes at the moment, but now I know what to buy when I do. Highly recommended!!!
Had some good generic style advice that I liked, but there were so many "body types" that each one only got four pages. It was kind of pathetic.
OK my mom sent this book to me AT WORK right after my big multi year break up (I guess to help me.) Despite that, it is awesome and made the rounds at work with folks xeroxing pages. It is written by a celebrity stylist who give you a profile (specifically your presice heigh and weight and "shape" and exactly what you should wear.) It is actually awesome!
This book fits every shape and size. Find your own unique figure and closet and get started looking sexier! This book sits on my dresser as a reminder to flatter my figure. From the right underclothes and jewelery down to the shoes and everything in between. Don't skip the section what every closet should have. Enjoy!
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