What You Wear Can Change Your Life

by Susannah Constantine

Trinny & Susannah have advised and dressed more than 3,000 women. They know instinctively the finer points and secrets of looking good. All their advice is presented in this book, whether it is something simple like knowing when to add a touch of blusher to a winter face or something more dramatic like changing the colour of your hair. They show how to choose the colours that suit you best, what underwear to buy, how to store clothes and how to revamp your wardrobe at no cost. They recommend beauty and makeup products and cover dressing for pregnancy. They give valuable hints on choosing accessories (handbags, shoes, belts, hats, jewellery) and travelling, including how to pose to best advantage in those holiday photographs.

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Self Help, Reference, Lifestyle, Womens

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

English fashion journalist, advisor, television presenter, author and designer.

Reviews

[RH Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of me is a perennial unkempt adolescent who can never imagine using fancy make-up or foundation garments, but I love Trinny and Susannah and the carefree happiness they promise from sound wardrobe decisions and sitting properly for photographs. One favorite line from the book -- "there is never an occasion to wear a baseball cap." Everyone needs smart girlfriends.

[Sharon Huether · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that tells you all you need to know to dress your best.

What are your best colors.
What colors should you avoid.
What colors go together with other complimentary colors to make the best combination.

What is the best bag for the occasion.
Choosing the best under ware.
Choosing the best jewelry for your body structure.
How to pack a suitcase.

This book is like a dictionary of what your closet and you can be.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to care. I just don't. That being said, it's an entertaining and informative book for those willing to follow the advice and make changes.

[e.c.h.a · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samapi sekarang gw masih takjub sama buku ini serta penulisnya Trinny & Susannah. Gw pertama lihat ini buku waktu Oprah dan pengen banget baca. Beruntung lha gw punya Bos yang hobi banget baca buku. Nah pas dia punya nih buku....langsung dech tanpa pikir panjang, gw baca. Dugaan gw bener, buku ini bener-bener gk neko-neko. Dalam merubah penampilan tuh gk perlu biaya mahal, apalagi operasi palstik. Cukup mengenali bentuk tubuh kita terus tau bagaimana menutupi kekurang dan menonjolkan kelebihan.

Satu hal..ternyata underwear tuh bener-bener penunjang penampilan. Kalau kita bener pilih underwear, gk perlu nge-gym, badan kita pasti jadi langsing dan shape-nya kaya rajin nge-gym.

Bener banget dech..What You Wear Can Change Your Life

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and real, with good advice on dressing the best for your body type. This book *did* change the way I dress: rereading it now, I realize that being a busty girl I did take their advice and ban all crew-necked sweaters from my closet and make sure my bras were fitting me properly. It has also dated pretty well for being 6 years old. The advice on wardrobe swapping with girlfriends and clearing out what doesn't work for you is brilliant. The colour advice was terrific for me, but would be useless if you're not Caucasian. This book will also be useless to you if you don't get deadpan British humour (hint to a previous reviewer: the hideous outfits are *supposed* to look hideous - read the captions).

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Trinny and Susanna's straight talking style, but this book was not my favorite. The color section wasn't useful because it only had little paint chip-like samples of color and no real clothing examples. Also, I think that they are starting to be a little too extreme, don't leave the hose with out make-up and a considerable amount of spandex in your undergarments. Really!?! There was some interesting info, but you've gotta dig to get to it.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. When I'm feeling frumpy, I lug this out & re-read to get fresh ideas to update my look.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read / skimmed the first 6 chapters (the ones about clothing selection).

This book has the same strengths as the others by the same authors -- and also the same weaknesses.

Pros: The illustrations clearly demonstrate flattering vs. unflattering looks. The writing is funny and blunt ("Never wear lots of old chains together unless you are a rap star." "Big boobs can carry off a delicate droplet necklace that ends just at the top of the cleavage. Never allow a pendant to disappear into a cleavage ravine.")

Cons: On pp. 60-93, the book assumes you can figure out which shade of, say, beige suits you. Based on that, it offers suggestions on beautiful coordinate and accent colors -- but all of this is useless unless you know which of the four beige colors suits you. And because the book has already made perfectly clear that picking the wrong one will "highlight[] the black circles" under your eyes or "deaden[] the shine" in your hair, I feel averse to trying any shade of beige (or green, or light blue, etc.) at all, for fear that I won't pick the right one! Giving some guidance in choosing these colors would seem to be easy enough, because on the pages leading up to this section, the authors already had the reader determine which category (e.g. Cool and bright) best suits her. Why not just say, "Cool and bright people should consider Beige X, while Warm people should consider Beige Y"?

I had si

[Vesna]

Entertaining read full of home truths, 7 Oct 2004
By A Customer

This review is from: What You Wear Can Change Your Life (Hardcover)
Curious about the title, I ordered this book. The style is informal and funny. I think every working Mum juggling their domestic roles will recognize themselves here...particularly our refusal to throw away underwear that is in an awful condition..hardly flattering..and to clear out a wardrobe full of clothes that you cannot wear. Particularly, trousers that refuse to accept your growing thighs, t-shirts that seem to creep up your front as your midrift grows. All in hope of the day when we will get back into a size 12...no chance. So why not make the most of the "here and now" regardles of shape or size?
I was entertained by the read and have paid considerable thought about being more adventurous with colours, shoes and styles on my next shopping trip. The authors provide lists of places to get fitted out and these are classified by cost so technically even the humblest of pockets should be able to do something.

[Merrilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book for boosting your confidence and making you feel that clothes can be worth the effort. This book by T&S is packed with great advice, from defining your good points to what shoes look best on you. Covering colours, clothes, make-up, shoes, looking good while travelling and a fantastic chapter on pregnancy, this book is packed with advice that will make you think that looking good is easier than you thought.

Plenty of sections could easily have been expanded, but I believe that is what they have done in some of their other titles, e.g. The Body-shape Bible.

Well worth the money if you are feeling at all frumpy and dissatisfied with yourself, or just need a lift.

[Cindy Dyson Eitelman · Rating 3 out of 5]

They nearly had me convinced on that. Fun, funny book by a pair of fashion favored Brits; full of tips on what to wear and, more importantly, what not to wear. It also includes makeup and miscellany, such as how to shape your eyebrows and pose for photographs.

I enjoyed it thoroughly and probably won't take one wink of their advice.
But it's worth reading for the chapter on vacation photography alone. Bad vacation photos can sour a memory, they say--do what you must to ensure good ones. Their tips may not change the positions in which I, myself, might pose, but they'll certainly be considered when I photograph my friends.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a wholesome book. The language and some pictures (underwear chapter) bother me, but I'm trying to glean what I can from it. For someone with no sense of style (that's me), these authors have a lot to offer. They have chapters specifically for mommy's of two toddlers (and every other stage of life) and for building a wardrobe on a low budget.

I've been changing sizes constantly for three years (two babies, hello!), my closet is a mess, I'm sure I look like a mess sometimes. This is just the prep I need before I do a shopping spree. Yay!

[MB (What she read) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oops! I realized that I had already read this one. But still fun to review. This is a very good fashion advice book and Trinni and Susannah's photos really illustrate the points that they are making in a humorous and understandable way. Some of the stylings are pretty out-there for Americans, and I wonder how well this book will date. But it's worth getting your hands on a copy because it is so entertaining and accessible!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

maybe the title is a wee bit dramatic but a fun read. There's a chapter on how to pose for pictures so you don't cringe when your photos are developed after a vacation. Tips on proper underwear to hide those things you want to hide. I couldn't figure out what colors they thought my complexion necessitated however, not enough information for me. easy to pick up and put down.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar to their other books but expanded to include pregnancy and other stages of life. It seemed a little more realistic, they acknowledged that women might not have unlimited time and resources to spend on fashion. But they stressed how looking good can give you a boost and be empowering in tough or busy times.

[Kortni Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all of the fashion advice books that I've read, I treasure this one for its color advice. If I feel bored with my wardrobe or think I don't have anything to wear I check out the color combo suggestions and come up with something surprising and great. There's also a lot of basic tips for the fashion-impaired. Always a funny read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love these ladies! Lots of useful advice and realistic pictures of what does and does not work for their body types. I especially liked their color palate options. I never would have paired some of the colors they suggest, but they look great. My plan is to go though my wardrobe and see what combinations will work. I really need to get out of the khakis go with everything rut...

[Marnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

These ladies are European - and have no shame. They are pretty realistic about their bodies. The information about color categories, defining your body and tricks to accentuate assests and hide the things you don't like were amazing. Other chapters weren't relevant in my life... but it was great. LOVED IT!

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was much more helpful than the other one. It covered a broader range of problem areas and offered much more advice. However, I still think it would have helped to see other women than the authors in the clothes they were suggesting. They are both so much more stylish and into accessories than I am, but I hope to put into practice some of the things I learned.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's nice to see pictures of real people in unflattering clothes with an explanation of just what makes them look so bad, and what they can do to fix it. However, I'm pretty sure that these two women look exactly alike, no matter how much they try to say that they represent a variety of body types.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this book because I enjoy the original British version of the show. I can't say that I learned a ton from this book that I didn't already know. However, I did decide to display my scarves in a visually appealing and more accessible fashion in my closet.

This is a library book - not a purchase book.

[Elia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never would have put green and blue together before I read this book. The BBC show, in combination with this book, really helped me to dress better to flatter the body that I have. Confidence boosting!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two girls are nuts!! But they have really good advice. They show you how to find the color that looks best on you and how to wear clothes that bring out your best features. I actually used it as a guide for an Enrichment Night. It went over well. Everyone wants to know "What to Wear"

[Rochelle]

I've started sewing more of my own clothing, so I figured that when I put a lot of effort into a garment, I should make something that looks good on me. I liked the section on color and am inspired to wear more interesting color combinations and more colors that look good on me.

[Jayna Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a "hoot" ! The authors say it like it is while givng good advice!! Keeping it real! Couldn't help but to giggle quite a few times. I really enjoyed it and still refer back to it from time to time.

[Robin Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I read this back in 06 and obviously it didn't change a thing about how I dress, but here is what I said then "recommended by my sister Jane. Love it, honest, real people, real bodies how to. After reading I don't know quite how to dress but I'm getting there. Easy read."

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was alright but I wouldn't call it fabulous or great. I did get a couple of ideas from the book there was a lot of it that did pertain to me at this time in my life. Trinny & Susannah are an interesting pair.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

They are occasionally way too prescriptive, and some of their colour combinations make my eyes water, but I learn something new every time I think through some of what they describe. I'll take the advice that I like and cheerfully ignore the rest, like I always do.

[CP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of this advice is still pretty relevant 10 years after publication. And the photography tips were also helpful for my boyfriend - if you want to take my picture than you better make it flattering! :)

Now I just need the money to start making changes...

[Breanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this book I love. Good advice, good pictures, not too complicated or over the top. Just sound advice that every women should know