Title: The Fashion File: Advice, Tips, and Inspiration from the Costume Designer of Mad Men
Author: Janie Bryant
Publisher: Grand Central Life & Style
Publication Date: November 4, 2010
Hardcover: 192 pages
ISBN: 978-0446572712
Genre: Fashion
From the Publisher:
From Joanie’s Marilyn Monroe-esque pencil skirts to Betty’s classic Grace Kelly cupcake dresses, the clothes worn by the characters of the phenomenal Mad Men have captivated fans everywhere. Now, women are trading in their khakis for couture and their pumas for pumps. Finally, it’s hip to dress well again. Emmy-Award winning costume designer Janie Bryant offers readers a peek into the dressing room of Mad Men, revealing the design process behind the various characters’ looks and showing every woman how to find her own leading lady style–whether it’s vintage, modern, or bohemian.
Bryant’s book will peek into the dressing room of Mad Men and reveal the design process behind the various characters’ looks. But it will also help women learn how fashion can help convey their personality. She will help them cultivate their style, including all the details that make a big difference.
Bryant offers advice to ensure that a woman’s clothes convey her personality. She covers everything from where to find incredible vintage clothing and accessories to how to pair those authentic pieces with modern shoes and jeans. Readers will learn how to find their perfect bra size, use color to convey a mood, and invest in the ten essentials every woman should own. And just so the ladies don’t leave their men behind, there’s even a section on making them look a little more Don Draper-dashing.
My Review:
The Fashion File: Advice, Tips, and Inspiration from the Costume Designer of Mad Men by Janie Bryant is quite an intriguing look at fashions dating back to the 1920s. I had never even heard of the show Mad Men, presumably a television show, but I did find the book interesting. Did I find the book helpful to my every day life? Not in the least. However, I enjoyed reading about the history behind the various looks and trends through the decades and the sketches are stunningly beautiful. Would I choose this book for advise on what to choose to wear? No, I am afraid the styles are far too dressy for me or for my husband, and while a tuxedo may make him appear younger and more distinguished, he would also look rather silly unless he was in a wedding. Bryant does offer up a lot of advice on accessories, which I did find rather interesting. If one is a fan of Mad Men, fashion and design, or one who dresses up on a daily basis, The Fashion File: Advice, Tips, and Inspiration from the Costume Designer of Mad Men may indeed be of interest.
Emmy-winning costume designer Janie Bry ant creates all of the looks seen on TV’s Mad Men. She has worked on numerous films and TV shows. In 2005, she won an Emmy for her period costumes on HBO’s Deadwood and this year, she took home the prestigious Outstanding Costume Design award from the Costume Designers Guild. Monica Corcoran Harel is a style and culture writer who has reported on fashion, beauty, and celebrity for InStyle, Variety, Forbes, and other magazines, and is a contributor to the Style section of the New York Times and of the Los Angeles Times magazine.
I received a complimentary copy of The Fashion File by Janie Bryant from Hachette to review. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.
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