How to Dress for Every Occasion by the Pope

by Daniel Handler, Sarah Bennett (Illustrator)

Want to dress like the Pope? Well, why not? After all, the Pope is one of the most important people in the world, and gets invited to state dinners and stuff like that, and lives in an ornate place called the Vatican. You, meanwhile, are often dressed like a slob, and spend your days serving coleslaw. (Note: the last part of the preceding sentence applies only to coleslaw servers.) At long last, the Pope presents a book teaching you how to dress for every occasion, called How To Dress For Every Occasion. Get ready, get set, get into snappy dressing!

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Comedy, American

36 pages, Hardcover

First published November 3, 2005

About the author

Daniel Handler is the author of seven novels, including Why We Broke Up, We Are Pirates, All The Dirty Parts and, most recently, Bottle Grove.

As Lemony Snicket, he is responsible for numerous books for children, including the thirteen-volume A Series of Unfortunate Events, the four-volume All the Wrong Questions, and The Dark, which won the Charlotte Zolotow Award. 

Mr. Snicket’s first book for readers of all ages, Poison for Breakfast, will be published by Liveright/W.W. Norton on August 31, 2021.

Handler has received commissions from the San Francisco Symphony, Berkeley Repertory Theater and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and has collaborated with artist Maira Kalman on a series of books for the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and with musicians Stephin Merritt (of the Magnetic Fields), Benjamin Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie), Colin Meloy (of the Decemberists) and Torquil Campbell (of Stars).

His books have sold more than 70 million copies and have been translated into 40 languages, and have been adapted for film, stage and television, including the recent adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events for which he was awarded both the Peabody and the Writers Guild of America awards.

He lives in San Francisco with the illustrator Lisa Brown, to whom he is married and with whom he has collaborated on several books and one son.

Reviews

[Dana Larose · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I found the Pope's dressing tips fairly simple to remember, I had to knock off a star because he didn't cover especially cold climates like Winnipeg. Also, I'm uncomfortable with his constant bashing of sandals.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indispensable tips from that foremost of sartorial experts, The Pope! I would literally recommend this book to anyone, especially if they're wearing sandals.

[Popebrak · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard work dressing like a Pope. Best not to go it alone.

[Joseph Hamm · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, satiric little read

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend Gord gets me a book every year for my birthday and Christmas, and they are usually silly and awesome. This was one of the first. Essentially, the pope explains appropriate attire for different things, like going to the beach, out to dinner, etc. Usually large rings, a staff, and other regalia are required. Absolutely hilarious. At least go to the bookstore and read it there since it's so short. Complete with illustrations!

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing that made me smile is that it is bound in almost precisely the same way as my copy of Easter Vigil and other Poems by the late Karol Wotyla. Once inside I continued to chuckle. I think it is fortunate it is a slim volume, for the fabric was beginning to wear a bit thin by the end with the same motifs being repeated ... argh! now I'm getting caught up in it.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This nigh-unto-pamphlet of a book is very nicely bound and -printed, with charming illustrations by Sarah "Pinkie" Bennett, yet the humor may work best for those who fall into the lapsed or possibly even excommunicated Catholic categories. Those folks will find this pretty little book epically hilarious, while everyone else will most likely either wonder what the hell is so damned funny or feel deeply offended.

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I should have known based on Watch your mouth that Handler's work can defy categorization or explanation...but once again, whaa?!? How to Dress for Every Occasion by the Pope, "the Pope" explains to the rest of us slobs how to dress for any occasion. As I read this book I thought, who would buy this book?? Me! I would! How can an author survive with such a small and quirky audience? I'm not sure, but lucky for me Handler does not seem too concerned with that question :)

[Scarlett Sims · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't really give this one more than three stars because while it is funny and achieves what it is trying to, it is just a bit of a silly book and nothing more. It's nicely bound and I liked the illustrations; it's a fun kind of thing to show people or look at but that's about it. Good for like a gift or sitting on your end table or something.

[Hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bottom line, if you're looking for the right outfit: rings - lots!, sandals - NO!, and you should put more money into the robe than the tunic. Thanks to the Pope, you can look good whether you are eating gelato, performing a wedding ceremony, or watching a private screening of a movie! This is important stuff, people. Looking good has never been so easy.

[Aubrie Mabe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't what I was expecting at all, but it was a fun little read. I thought it was going to be a humor book by the author but it was more of a children's book about how to dress like the pope. It was silly but not laugh out loud funny.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad I started this new year with these great tips on how to dress snappy by the Pope. Definitely going to stock up on some quality rings and a nice stick/sceptre. Definitely going to throw out all my sandals too. Such a fashion no-no! You always need to look your best.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the funniest book i have ever read in my whole entire life. the pope is my hero.

[Billy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book sets out to tell you how to dress for just about any situation, from the perspective of the pope. Very informative and insightful.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me laughing on just about every page. That Pope is one fashionable guy!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have this book. I think it is amusing but I felt that they could have gone farther than they did. It wasn't quite ridiculous enough.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's only got one joke -- the Pope thinks you should dress just like him for every occasion -- but it's a pretty good joke and the pictures are funny.

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really a one-joke kind of thing, but pretty funny, nonetheless.

[Chris Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the POPE tips! Evevy time I seee this book on my night stand I laugh!!

Used it to dress for my VALENTINES date!!!

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious. I love Daniel Handler.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's short, amusing-- almost a sketch.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

i'll say it again: with lots of rings you CANNOT LOSE!

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable. This sort of humor could only come from Daniel Handler.

[Logospilgrim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whimsical fun.