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A couple of books I read about clothes and what I got from them.

Sally

Veteran

I downloaded "the cool factor" onto my kindle. It is harder to see the pictures on my phone but I loved all the ideas. They are quite into their denim (which I love too) so I found it really inspiring as far as outfits go. The one thing I got out of it is I need to increase my Jean collection (need more indigo and white) and you truly can wear jeans just about anywhere.
I also picked up a book called "what to wear where". Picture of book below. It goes through the different occasions and gives ideas of what to wear there. The main thing i got out of it at the end is that it's a good idea to write an inventory of different places that you might need to go or different occasions and if you write down indigo jeans on several occasions but don't have any (like me) you know that that is a wardrobe hole.

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

Anonymous

I have a copy of "The Cool Factor." They really overrate the jeans. In my circles, jeans aren't worn to work or to departmental events except for outdoor ag stuff. For faculty dinners and what have you, women wear nice dresses and accessories. We do have some new young professors & wives in my DH's department who dress too casually compared to the older faculty & wives. I don't think they know anything about dress codes. This is more than likely what brought about the dress code that has been recently implemented and the emails that spell out what is acceptable to wear for various events. It's really a shame that this has had to be done, but I guess the Powers That Be had to do something.

I have nothing against jeans; I have several pairs. I just think they become an easy fall back for almost all occasions.

MovingFashionForward

Whilst I definitely don't share the American-centric all-denim all the time idea of style of the first book, I did discover a personal "style icon". I've never had any clue when questioned about who my "style icons" are, but I was very taken with the style of the woman who wears dresses over unexpected cropped trousers/gauchos (sorry -- forgotten her name -- the creator of Refinery29!).

Sarah

Anonymous

I really enjoyed Andrea Linnet's book and have lots of pages earmarked for reference !

Sally

Veteran

That's an interesting discussion BC and it isis something I have mixed feelings about. I agree some people look way too scruffy and there are some places jeans shouldn't go like a black tie event or fancy dinner, I still think I can dress up my dark wash jeans smarter than some people wear more traditionally worn pants etc. I have started a new job where nobody wears jeans as nearly everybody is older than me. So I am substituting my denim for black skinny pants these days.
MovingfashionF....I think that is Christine Barberich . Yeah there are some great style icons in that book.
Lisa I have also noted some pages for reference. I think the pictures are great.
The second book makes me want to go and buy a field jacket...I didn't know what it was called, but after reading the book I see the stylish international student staying in my house has one.

Anonymous

I guess what I was getting at is that in my little world, none of those looks would fly. I can dress up denim, too, and I don't like being told not to wear it, esp. when in my mind there's a big difference between dark jeans that have no holes or distressing and are styled like dress pants and the ripped, distressed, washed out jeans being featured now.

Last week our office hosted an ag event that included farm tours and a lunch. Yes, I showed up in jeans, as this was an outdoor event. I wore a sleeveless NYDJ top, dark wash denim legging-style jeans with zippers at the ankles, and Dansko platform cutout booties. I received lots of compliments, esp. on the shoes, yet was still comfortable in that midday heat & humidity (it rained later that afternoon), So even for an event this casual, I was presentable, as was everyone else. It was open to the public, and there were tons of people there.

For most events, however, jeans are not worn. The older ones like my DH are the ones who work to get grants, etc. and they are the ones who always dress nicely - no matter what. My DH doesn't even own a pair of jeans.

That said, I do like the book. There's still helpful information in there.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I downloaded the Linnet book on my Kindle, too, and sort of wished I'd been able to check it out from the library instead because I couldn't make out the print on the photos and that seemed to include good tips.

I have to say I have been quite disappointed in it otherwise so far. I am not sure what I was expecting. I already have a large denim collection and do wear jeans everywhere, but that makes sense given my casual, work-from-home life and my overall cool climate.

A lot of the looks are either too boho, too much work (i.e. super high heels) or too "tough" for my aspirational style. But I haven't finished the book yet and hope to pick up something useful.

Anonymous

Suz, BC - her particular style is not for everybody , that's for sure. Knowing her look and what her ideas are would help before buying the book, I agree. She's not trying to appeal to everyone, and it's not a look with mass appeal. I downloaded it too, and am glad I didn't spend the money on a hardcover, but I really liked it. I love that style , and also like getting "tips" on how it's achieved. The profession she is in, and the circles she works and travels in absolutely wear denim all the time. I think you have to consider the source when reading these books.

Anonymous

I do love these kinds of books! But!

One of the downsides with a book or fashion advice in general is that no matter how international it might seem, it is always, in fact, coming from a boundaried perspective.

Even though I completely agree with the theory that jeans should be appropriate everywhere, that is just not the cultural reality in many settings.

People who work in fashion will often be treated with more tolerance for their eccentricities ( smiley face emoticon) but other people might be considered disrespectful, attention seeking, pretentious, etc., for being dressed too far outside the norm for the context. Unless you want your presence to be about that, you might want to wear something else.

And it's kind of the same thing to say it's okay to wear jeans, but only particular ones, like dark wash.

Gigi

Veteran

The What to Wear Where book sounds fun! I think I will check that one out. Thanks for the reviews.

rachylou

Veteran

Didn't know the Who What Wear site put out a book. (I stopped going to the site because it's clunky and slow loading.) Jeans, you say? I find that slightly fascinating. I think of the site as pumps and ankle socks. Did you guys look at it on a bigger tablet like the iPad? Maybe the pics are easier to see on a tablet? I do love books about fashion...

Anonymous

When I bought the book, I did it for fun, and I pretty much knew that the style tips would not be useful to me. Still, I enjoy the book for what it is. Like I said, there's still some helpful information in it.

Staysfit

Veteran

Suz, if you have a kindle app on a touch screen tablet, you can enlarge the pictures. An iPad will allow it. You can click on them, then pinch and open to enlarge them.

Summer

Veteran

Sally, I haven't read these books, but if they resonate with your own style preferences and lifestyle, then that is all to the good, I think.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Staysfit. I only have the Kindle -- not an ipad.

LisaP, yes, you're right. It's funny because this was a purchase that was similar to all those "lemming" purchases on here...you and others really liked the book so I just went ahead and hit "buy." DUH. You'd think I'd have learned by now.

Adelfa

Veteran

I bought and read the Cool book after seeing this thread. I pretty much couldn't put it down, but I too found it disappointing. I think she and her friends have a style that's very specific to NYC. It actually reminded me of all the style books I used to read 30 years ago. I'd read them then go out and buy some expensive item that actually didn't work at all for my California lifestyle.

Andrea's ideas on how to mix casual and dressy were frustratingly off point for me. If I followed her tips on how to dress down a suit, I'd be laughed out of my office. Or even if I wore a suit at all. Where I am the only uses for a suit are interviews, or to be worn by VPs at big meetings when they're breaking unpleasant news:-)

I actually like the NYC style a lot. It's just so different in Los Angeles. I'm sure I'll benefit from some of what she wrote. But this book is a fantastic reminder to me not to look for fashion answers from NYC fashion editors.

Sally

Veteran

I would haver to adapt a lot of the clothes too. I like these kinds of books because the outfits are more accessible than what I see in fashion magazines. Alot of what is shown i already have. I have never been able to wear jeans with heels like that though.

Lisa

Veteran

How fun! And great insight too.