As most of you probably know from this post, I am a huge HUGE fan of Mad Men. While I love the plot lines and the characters (Don Draper will be mine!), it is the costumes which I spend most of the show ogling.
So, you can imagine my delight (I think I actually squealed a little bit!) when I realised that the show's costume designer, Janie Bryant, has released "The Fashion File" - her guide to dressing well and looking effortlessly glam.
You only need to look at these pics of the show's female icons, Joan Holloway and Betty Draper, to see just how talented Janie is. Wouldn't we all look better in a sexy, figure-hugging pencil skirt, or a pretty prom dress? Or perhaps you'd like a gorgeous, fitted dress or tight capri pants? I think I was born in the wrong era!
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Anyway, you don't need to be a fan of Mad Men to buy this book, but there is a foreword by January Jones, and sections by Christina Hendricks and Elisabeth Moss. Enough to placate any Mad Men fanatics like myself!
The book is jam-packed with brilliants tips on how to make yourself both look and feel better (One helpful hint is to stand tall. Or rather: "Don't be a comma, be an exclamation point!") There are also plenty of hints on how to dress to flatter not only your shape (are you a pear, an apple, a ruler, or an hour glass?), but also your style, whether you happen to be a Betty or a Joan...
For those who are always unsure of what colours suit them, there are gorgeous colour charts so that you can help work out which shades match your colouring (I'm an "autumn" type, apparently!), while there's also a section on how to dress androgynously, without looking like a bloke...
As if that wasn't enough, there are helpful hints on adding a bit of "oomph" to any outfit (think a glam hairdo, a killer bag or statement jewels), a whole section on how to define your silhouette, the best vintage items decade-by-decade, plus a list of wardrobe must-haves for any stylish woman.
All in all, this is a lovely book to read and is crammed with inspirational photographs, but my favourite bit of all has to be the illustrations! They make this book a pleasure to read - and it sits looking very pretty on my coffee table. What's not to love?
Sam x
