Best Dressed: The Born to Shop Lady's Secrets for Building a Wardrobe

by Suzy Gershman

Book Overview

Cultivating a distinctive style that expresses your personality and tells the world how you want to be perceived doesn't have to break the bank. InBest Dressed, Suzy Gershman--internationally recognized for her retail acumen--offers a comprehensive guide, from bargain bins to haute couture, to building a wardrobe that not only works for you, but rewards you with a personal style that ensures you always feel comfortable in your clothing. Her insider...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0609602187
• ISBN13: 9780609602188
• Release Date: April 1999
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter Publishers
• Length: 222 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.6" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Educational

I love this book! I bought it used some time ago and return to it periodically to remind myself of the workings of the retail world. The behind the scenes information about how clothes pass through the retail system is fascinating and educational for the true super shopper. I'm not particularly bothered by the style faux pas other reviewers have commented on--all style books will eventually go out of style and this one is a decade old--but I love the solid information here and the smart tone--no talking down to the audience.

One of the most informative books on fashion.

I have read several books on fashion in the past few months and find this to be one of the best. The reason is that it contains lots of information on the business of fashion that I have not seen in any other of the perhaps dozen books I have read recently. I'm afraid that I have to agree with the many reviewers that are not impressed with the ensembles that the author is wearing on the cover of her book. However, this doesn't really affect the information in the book. The author is telling you how to get what you want, not necessarily how to get what she wants. This woman is a real professional and her book is full of a ton of information and practical advice. This book does not include avice on how to dress for your particular body type, information that is available in other books.

I Loved this Book!

I loved this Book! There were no glossy pictures of the latest fashions but that turned out to be a good thing because the advice becomes timeless. I now know how to tell a quality item from a cheap item and have been able to go into stores and disregard a lable and discern an item of true quality from an item poorly made. This alone was worth its weight in gold. I am an avid thrift store shopper and cannot believe the beautiful items I have found there. Yesterday I pulled an Armani dress out of a jumble of clothing merely because I examined the stitching and fabric and knew I had a quality item. The lable was the last thing I looked at. However, it was no surprise that it turned out to be an Armani because the structure of the garment told me it was quality first. My copy is quickly becoming dog eared. If you do not have unlimited funds to spend on clothing do yourself a favor and buy this book so you can make the most of the money you do have available.

An excellent book with plenty of useful advice.

I went shopping today and came back with fabulous stuff that suits me, that I can use, and that was on second markdown -- the ultimate test of this book's usefulness. Gershman obviously has her own sense of style, but I think that the basic principles of her approach to shopping and to creating a wardrobe are applicable (with a little tweaking to account for personal style) to everyone. I liked the fact that she holds unusual vintage items in high regard (I do, too). I just finished Leah Feldon's "Does This Make Me Look Fat?" and liked this book, with its breezy, girlfriend-y tone, much better. And I didn't even notice the cussing.

Excellent Guide

I found Suzy Gershman's book very informative and enlightening in the ways of the fashion industry. Some of her advice is excellent: trying on a collection of clothing BEFORE it goes on sale to see what pieces look good and would be worth buying - tbis is exactly the time-saving advice I need. Other pointers are geared less toward the typical reader - for example, buying incredibly expensive handbags and then never using them, so they remain in pristine condition, is just not an option for many women. But no "How-to" guide is meant to be followed to the letter, and many of the author's tips and fashion "musts" are going to find a way into my wardrobe. After reading this book I feel that I a) know what to look for in clothes in terms of both quality and style, and b) can make informed choices to spend my money more wisely. I liked this book so much, I have recommended it to my style-conscious friends and plan on buying my own copy. (Note to disgruntled reviewers: there's always the library!)