Second City Style Fashion Blog - Style, Luxury, Beauty & Shopping

Book Review. The Chris Farley Show...A Comedy and Tragedy

I normally do not review anything other than fashion and beauty books on this blog, but that doesn't mean I don't read books other than fashion and beauty. In fact, sometimes I need a break! So while away on a trip to visit family last week, I read a book that interested me and thought I would share it with you because it was an interesting, yet tragic read. The Chris Farley Show A Biography in Three Acts by Tom Farley, Jr., and Tanner Colby is a recently published book on the sad life of the hysterical Chris Farley. Who doesn't remember his sweaty, swaggering Motivational Speaker (which always made the cast unable to keep a straight face) and his Chippendales dancer skits on Saturday Night Live? I laugh just thinking about them.

Sadly, after his star-making turn on Saturday Night Live and three straight number-one hit movies, Chris Farley's overdose at the age of thirty-three is how he will be remembered...just like his idol, John Belushi.

Farley died before I moved to Chicago, but I always think of him briefly whenever I'm at the John Hancock building (where he died). His family and friends knew him as a deeply spiritual, religious and earnest kid who never stopped trying to make people laugh. And I mean never. The book is arranged by exclusive heartfelt oral interviews with those who knew him best: David Spade, Tim Meadows, Chris Rock, Lorne Michaels, Al Frankin, Alec Baldwin, and other celebrity contemporaries; his brothers Tom, Kevin, and Johnny; and his closest childhood friends. Some of the memories were good and others were candidly not so positive. The result is a portrait, hilarious and heartbreaking, of a young man whose battle with addiction began long before he became famous.

I could not put the book down and feel I gained a better understanding of Farley's childlike need for acceptance yet compulsion for substance abuse that he was just unable to beat which ultimately became his undoing. Like the Titanic, you know how this is going to end, but the book sheds light on his journey from childhood, to success to tragedy. What you will discover is a man who despite outward appearances of being a lovable buffoon was more complex and tormented than one could ever imagine and yet, he was able to make everybody (and I mean everybody) laugh...which I found myself doing frequently while reading this book.

The Chris Farley Show - A Biography in Three Acts, by Tom Farley, Jr., and Tanner Colby

- Lauren Dimet Waters

Book Review. "The Japanese Skincare Revolution" Great Skin Is Now in Your Own Hands

Flawless skincare on any budget is possible, especially if you follow the techniques in the new guide, The Japanese Skincare Revolution:  How to Have the Most Beautiful Skin of Your Life – At Any Age by Japan’s top beauty consultant, Chizu Saeki.

In these trying economic times, women are constantly searching for a miracle beauty regimen that’s simple, quick and cost-effective. Expensive creams and treatments often don’t live up to their price tags and fail to beautify the skin;  however, there are tried and true Japanese methods that can be practiced on a shoestring budget and in the privacy of your own home.  

“I decided to become an aesthetician and consultant because I always dreamed
of teaching ordinary women how to make themselves look extraordinary. I wanted women to create beauty regimens that they were both comfortable performing and that didn’t put dents in their wallets,” said Chizu Saeki.

The Japanese Skincare Revolution:  How to Have the Most Beautiful Skin of Your Life – At Any Age offers insight into how Japanese women keep their skin looking young and is for women of all ages and races. With photos and easy to follow step-by-step instructions, the guide explains Saeki’s most essential tips and techniques – from forming a lotion mask to healing acne and blemishes. You will need a few tools, but the potential savings are huge.

About the author:

Born in 1943, Chizu Saeki is a practicing aesthetician and Japan’s most revered beauty advisor. She has worked all her life in the beauty industry. At 24 she joined the French cosmetics brand Guerlain. When her husband’s work took her to San Francisco in 1971, she continued her work in the cosmetics business by reporting to offices in Japan about new skincare products appearing in the United States.
At age 42, when her husband died of cancer, Saeki fell into a slump and soon she felt she looked 30 years older, so she set about remaking her life and rejuvenating her skin through a gentle routine she had devised over the years, and was phenomenally successful.

Three years later, Saeki joined Parfums Christian Dior as an international training manager. After her retirement from Dior in 2003, she published her first book Don’t Rely on Cosmetics in Japan and has gone on to write more than 30 skincare books, memoirs and self-help titles – all bestsellers.

Q&A with the author:

Why did you choose the skincare industry for your profession?

CS: When I was 13 years old, I saw Audrey Hepburn in a film catalog, and I was amazed that such a beautiful person could exist. This is what aroused my interest in beauty. I began imitating her looks, and gradually I realized what a wonderful thing it is to become beautiful. I quit the clerical job I had been working and enrolled in a beauty school to help others achieve beauty.

How are Japanese and American women different in their approaches to skincare?

CS: Japanese women generally want to whiten their skin. When I lived in the U.S., I got the impression that Americans are more interested in hair design and don’t get hung up on details—brown spots, open pores, and such. They look to a more holistic kind of beauty. There’s also a difference in perceptions of aging: the Japanese tend to take a back seat in everything as they grow older, but Americans think about wearing brighter colors, such as red, precisely because they’re getting older. I think they’re better at enjoying life; they’re the ones who believe in beauty that comes with age. That’s a wonderful thing, and we should follow their example.

Is there one beauty tool that every woman should have?

CS: Your will and your hands. It’s your own hands and the desire to be beautiful that will do the magic. Don’t think that simply using cosmetics will make you beautiful; be responsible for your own face, and use your hands to the fullest. How much value you draw out of a product is really up to you.

Any quick and easy tips on how to defy age?

CS: Well, always thinking “quick and easy” leaves everything half-baked. How you use your time is up to you, and it’s important to make skincare a part of your lifestyle. But when you only have so much time and can’t do everything, the most important thing is to eat—in a balanced manner. Your skin’s luster is dependent on your physical health. If your body isn’t well nourished, neither is your skin. Cosmetics help you take in from the surface what you can’t take in orally, but your beauty really comes from what you eat.

Eating only what you feel like eating can give you a lopsided diet, and your body, never mind your skin, will be a wreck. There’s a lot of information out there nowadays on healthy eating. The key is to be conscious of what and how you eat, and to continue eating in a balanced way. I always make an effort to eat moderately. I have yogurt, tomato juice, and fruit every morning, and I make a point of eating things in season. Small efforts like these go a long way.

Why is it important to massage and tone muscles in the face?
CS: Just as our bodies age internally over time, so does our skin—although of course there are factors other than age acting on the skin. The face is especially vulnerable because of all the muscles, as you can see from how wrinkles in the face run both vertically and horizontally. Massages help the muscles stay in shape, keeping your skin looking young and healthy.

Many women feel they need to spend a lot of money on expensive cosmetics. On the contrary, you encourage women not to spend a lot of money. What are some inexpensive but effective steps to maintaining beautiful skin?

CS: Rather than buying a variety of products, I recommend practicing these basic steps, with feeling.
1. Get to know your skin well.
2. Care about your skin.
3. Desire to be beautiful.
4. Put that feeling into your hands, and use those hands to touch and massage your face and warm up the skincare products you apply to it.
5. Thoroughly remove the makeup you’ve applied.
6. Frequently apply lotion masks.
7. Use serum.
8. Seal it off with cream.
9. Protect your skin year-round.
These points are always the same.

At what age should women begin to be concerned about aging? What basic steps should women take to protect themselves against the hands of time?

CS: Nowadays our skin is at higher risk of sunburn due to global warming and destruction of the ozone layer. Growth generally stops at around age 25, and if you want to stay there, you need to take proper care. If you so wish, you can keep from looking a day older even into your thirties and forties. Different people live in different environments, eat different foods, and live different lifestyles, but my advice to everyone is to take preventative measures. Protect your skin from the elements regardless of age and, when you’ve reached a certain age, give it nutrients by feeding it serum. There’s really no set age at which you should start caring for your skin. Know your skin and incorporate what you feel you need.
To young people, though, I’d like to warn against excessive use of skincare products. Your skin is still well balanced as it is, so don’t rely too much on cosmetics. Use lotion masks, protect your skin, and please do moisturize it.

The Japanese Skincare Revolution: How to Have the Most Beautiful Skin of Your Life--At Any Age $13.57

Book Review. "The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own" by Nina Garcia

Wow, until I looked back on the blog I didn't realize, it has been a long time since I have done a book review! Not that I have not been reading, just taking a break from the 'fashion' books in favor of chick lit I suppose. However, when I heard Nina Garcia was releasing a follow-up to her first book "The Little Black Book of Style" I of course had to drop everything and read it.

If you like lists then Nina's second book, "The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own" is the book for you. It's an A-Z list of one hundred fashion essential must-haves including everything from the a-line dress to the tuxedo jacket. As Nina would say "it is a tightly edited" list of her top 100 wardrobe, jewelry and accessory items she feels every woman should own. Nina covers couture and vintage, formal and casual, uptown and downtown, shoes and bags, jewelry and sunglasses. It's all in there.

Thankfully you probably already have much of the list in your closet and drawers, but who doesn't want to be reminded that they are already on the right path? Don't worry, you won't be made to feel you must immediately run out to Barneys and max out your credit cards, but you will learn that the basics are your foundation and you can build from there. The goal after all is to add timeless pieces to your wardrobe so you won't feel compelled to purchase every trend each season. You too can have a style editor's enviable and functional wardrobe.

Nina narrates through each item on the list, offering a brief history of its evolution, suggestions how to wear each piece and recommendations on editor favorite brands and in many cases, cheaper alternatives.

For those die-hard fashionistas, this book may seem a little sophomoric. Simple if you will. I tore through it in a couple of hours. The downside is that it is a little too basic and doesn't have enough meat. Additonally the fashion quotes (which we now see in every fashion book of late it would seem) are obvious space fillers and at times are annoying and misplaced.

The best part of the book? The utterly fabulous illustrations by the amazingly talented Ruben Toledo. I seriously can't stop looking at them. I want them hanging on my walls! However, leaving this book on my coffee table will have to do. Luckily, it can reside there awhile as this book is utterly timeless.

Order The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own (Hardcover) by Nina Garcia at Amazon for $13.97

- Lauren Dimet Waters

Illustrations by Rubin Toldeo, Copyright 2008, HarperCollins Publishers

Book Release. "Where to Buy the Best of Everything" by Suzy Gershman

Back in December I interviewed Suzy Gershman about her then soon to be published new book, "Where to Buy the Best of Everything." (Read Suzy's interview here) Well, it's available now and I have my hands on a copy. It's fabulous.

Want to know how to be a shopping God or Goddess online? Then this paperback book is for you! Listing and reviewing nearly 1,000 stores and brands, she doesn't neglect the famous designer brands everybody knows (Louis Vuitton, Saks & Ralph Lauren). Yet, she also reveals hundreds of lesser-known places and products that offer shoppers something different.

Broken into categories like, department store, designer boutiques, handbags, shoes, beauty departments, menswear, designer deals and work clothes (to name just a few), Suzy also provides web addresses whenever possible.

"Where to Buy the Best of Everything" $13.59 at Amazon

- Lauren Dimet Waters

Book Review, Interview & Giveaway. Model: A Memoir

MODEL: A MEMOIR By Cheryl Diamond

Some models can read. Some can even write. One would usually expect a memoir to be written by someone who is old enough to drink legally, have wrinkles around their eyes and some notches on their belt. However, Cheryl Diamond seems well beyond her twenty years. She has written a candid memoir about her life as a model which she began writing at the ripe old age of sixteen. She moved to New York at fourteen to pursue a career as a model and found herself fascinated by the colorful characters she met along the way. MODEL: A MEMOIR is a first-hand account of Cheryl’s gradual rise, fall, and successful comeback in one of the toughest industries in the world.

It's hard to muster any sympathy someone who is gorgeous and gets paid to walk and pose in designer clothes. Yet, somehow you keep reading. Every year hundreds of the most beautiful young girls in the world come to New York to become models and most come home with nothing to show for it. Many have crushed egos, drug problems and eating disorders. At age fourteen, Cheryl Diamond spent her days running around New York on go-sees, runways, and shoots. Alone and living on her own in a run-down apartment in New Jersey, she survived paycheck to paycheck, and like so many models, wanted it all – runway shows, magazine spreads, a coveted opportunity to walk in Fashion Week. That would scare off most girls, but Cheryl is wise beyond her years. A trait that has obviously carried her far. That she kept her head on straight is a minor miracle. But, she had a book to write to keep her in at night while her peers were out clubbing.

While soaking in everything she could about the competitive and deceitful modeling industry, she watched many other girls make mistakes which ended their modeling careers. Cheryl, however, was determined to avoid being a victim...until a career-altering event nearly ruined her shot at her dream.

Since I am well above the age limit for a career in modeling, it is nearly impossible to read this book without feeling old...or like my mother. I had to keep reminding myself this girl was only 16!

INTERVIEW: Today is the official release day and I had a chance to interview Cheryl about her book.

SCS: How did you get involved in modeling at the age of 14?
CD: I was intercepted on my way to dance class by a scout for a local agency and asked if I had ever thought about being a model. Instead of signing with the local agency I bypassed the middle man and went straight to New York, tagging along with my dad on a business trip. After going up and down a lot of stairs I was taken on by an agency that was very enthusiastic. Maybe even manic. That began my experiences with the larger than life characters in the modeling industry.

SCS: What inspired you to write your memoir at the age of 16?
CD: As a child my family did a tremendous amount of traveling and moving. I had a worry with moving so frequently that I would not leave a lasting impression on anyone and then, if they didn’t remember me, had I ever really been there at all? Before we left a place I often secretly got out a magic marker and wrote: ‘I was here!!!’ in a non-prominent place such as the closet. Writing something in ink has always satisfied me. I never liked pencils. Ink is not reversible, retractable or erasable. It is there – permanently. No wonder I grew up and began writing my memoir, in ink, at sixteen. It was inevitable. The old urge resurfaced and I spent three years writing a book that shouts ‘I was here!!!’

SCS: But why publish the book now when you are still so young?
CD: I thought the characters I met in the industry needed to be immortalized...immediately. Truth is, I also didn't want to forget and thought it was best to write while this was all still fresh in my mind. It would lose it's sense of urgency and excitement. I also wanted to do something that would set me apart, something other than modeling. It's so easy to be typecasted as a dumb model.

SCS: So what do you intend this book to accomplish?
CD: It was more a labor of love. I saw so many girls get eaten up by the industry. They didn't seem to see there was another way to go. Instead of clubbing I stayed in and wrote my book. I also want girls to know that they don't have to do anything they don't want to do. I was remembered because I stood up for myself.

I was surprised there is no inside scoop already published on the inner-workings of the industry. No guidebook for young girls just starting out. I am amazed that nobody else gave an overview. So I wrote this book to help young women and to make people laugh.

SCS: How is the book being received ? You call a lot of industry people out on their behavior and lack of character.
CD: I thought there might be a backlash, but amazingly, every designer and photographer I know laughs hysterically. I even asked...are you offended? "Of course not! We know we're all crazy!" In fact, many are recommending it to their friends.

SCS: What are your plans for the future?
CD: I am very focused on my book and promoting right now. I still plan to continue modeling because I enjoy it. I enjoy the gossip and camaraderie of shoots and the thrill of the runway. I will also give speeches and interviews as I am pretty good at pontificating. Recent media attention has made modeling a hot subject and I hope my book will make a substantial contribution. I will write another book for sure, but I want to balance both. I might write a novel next and then a follow-up to this book.

GIVEAWAY: I have one copy of MODEL: A MEMOIR By Cheryl Diamond to giveaway. Leave a comment that you would like the book and I will pick one lucky winner at random on Friday, May 30th.

Purchase "Model: A Memoir" for $9.99 at Amazon

- Lauren Dimet Waters

Book Review: Simon Doonan's Eccentric Glamour

As Second City Style already knows, Simon Doonan is brilliant and hilarious in person - and his latest book, Eccentric Glamour: Creating An Insanely More Fabulous You is equally creative and entertaining. Filled with clever bon mots, outlandish style advice, interviews with well-known glamorous eccentrics, and personal relevations, this book will have you running out to purchase something outrageous and uniquely "you", such as leopard print tango shoes or a deconstructed Comme des Garçons jacket. 

See, Simon's definition of glamour isn't quite the classic Old Hollywood model (although there is certainly room for it if it fits into your personal style); instead, he delineates three main categories of Glamorous Eccentrics - the Gypsies, the Existentialists, and the Socialites.

"The Gypsy is the ethereal, poetic, crafty, artsy, bohemian face of eccentric glamour. Though stylish, she privileges sensuality, freedom, and comfort over fashion. Think Julia Roberts in her current mom-living-at-the-beach mode.

The Existentialist is infinitely more severe, dramatic, graphic and intellectual than her wayward Gypsy sister. While the Gypsy is all about the flesh, the Existentialist is all about the mind. Think edgy. Think beatnik. Think Annie Lennox or Chrissie Hynde.

The Socialite is heavy on the gloss, light on the eccentricity.  She radiates old school glamour. She's laquered, designer clad, high heel addicted, manicured, elegant, and slightly bitchy. Though more normal in her appearance than both the Gypsy and the Existentialist, the Socialite compensates with an irreverent and sparkling wit. She is, in many ways, the conventional center of the spectrum, flanked on either side by the Gypsy and the Existentialist. Think Anna Wintour. Think Jackie O.

Of course, the book goes into much further detail and illustrates each type with many examples and stories from Simon's own life, and you're certainly allowed to flit between types - but like Simon says, most women will find they have a "home base" when it comes to fashion and their style identity.

Last but not least, the book does have one message that I personally hope is taken to heart by everyone who reads it - "say no to ho! and resist the tidal wave of porno chic that threatens to engulf Western civilization". I think that's a message we can all get behind.

- Jacqueline Zenn

Eco-Chic Book Review. "Green Chic - Saving the Earth in Style"

I know it's so PC to be green these days, especially with Earth Day looming. I'm down with that. I tried to go vegan last year (diet-wise, not fashion!) and that lasted about four months. That's when the burger craving really kicked in. Anyway, I was pretty non-pulsed about reading a tree-hugging book that was going to try and convince me vegan (aka plastic looking) shoes were cool. That was never going to happen.

I was in for a pleasant surprise reading the recently released Green Chic - Saving the Earth in Style by Christie Matheson. Immediately I related to her. She's a writer living in San Francisco and Boston. Her work has appeared in Body + Soul, Glamour, Shape and The Boston Globe Magazine. She is coauthor of The Confetti Cakes Cookbook, Vineyard Harvest: A Year of Good Food on Martha’s Vineyard and Tea Party. Christie is a fashionista (who loves good shoes) lifestyle writer who has decided to lead and live a greener life. In pursuit of learning more without being perceived freakish...she wrote a book.

In the ongoing fight against global warming, being green—thoughtfully, consciously ecofriendly—is no longer just a nice idea; it’s becoming a crucial necessity. These days, however, the idea of going green either conjures up burdensome images of giving up the luxuries you love, or makes you think you need to replace everything you own with green products. This book was written for those of us who are environmentally conflicted.

I recently had a chance to chat with Christie about her new book and being greener in general.

SCS: How and when did you get into this whole green living chicly bit?
CM: I had been a lifestyle writer for a long time and about two years ago saw the Al Gore documentary "An Inconvenient Truth." It made me think about trying to lead a greener life, but I couldn't find a book written by someone I could relate too. I wanted to know why I should live greener and not by an extremist. Anyway, I started researching and writing articles about green living from a lifestyle perspective and the book came a year later. I spent a year trying everything I preach.

SCS: You had me hooked with your anecdote about natural deodorant. I tried to switch to natural and couldn't either.
CM: Yes, they smell horribly and don't work. I get some flack for sticking to my Shower Fresh Mitchum, but so be it. I did try. It's not an all or nothing proposition. You can still be really green and make a huge impact, even if say, you were 75% greener.

SCS: How do you feel about being green becoming a marketing ploy for so many fashion labels? It seems everyone is jumping on the bandwagon for PR purposes.
CM: Well, I think it's great that being eco-friendly is getting so much attention. It's up to the consumer to make sure a label or manufacturer is really talking the talk. We can speak with our money. Don't buy something just because it's green, that's just as bad. Buy something because you love it. If you really think about it, it's about buying less. Ultimately being greener is a money saving proposition. Buy less, wear more.

SCS: Well that is sure to be good news for those of us looking to save a little during these rather harsh economic times. However, I find much of the eco-fashions kinda suck. I mean what's with those shoes? I'd rather buy a great leather bag and carry it to death and I am a firm believer in having your fabulous clothes reworked by a tailor.
CM: See? You are more eco-chic than you thought! The fashions are getting better and will continue to. If you bought a cashmere sweater 10 years ago, it was made from sustainable cashmere so you probably already have clothes in your closet that are sustainable. I'd like to say you should stay out of the H&M's, but Wal-Mart is really trying.

SCS: Do you think this is just a passing fad?
CM: I think we have reached the tipping point with green living. Green fashion has come a long way, but don't just buy something because it's labeled green. Again it doesn't have to be all or nothing. As you run out of stuff (products & clothing), replace them with eco-friendly options.

SCS: Well I don't know if I cam going to be able to totally jump on the bandwagon, but I will make a conscious effort now to do more. Anything else you would like to add?
CM: Let your readers know that 50% of the royalties from the sale of this book goes to environmental causes.

Green Chic offers dozens of tested, practical ideas that can help readers sustain the environment AND look gorgeous, travel in style, and feel amazing at the same time. Christie Matheson explains how readers can easily make a difference with realistic and accessible ways to be green:

•    Take shorter showers and let hair air dry before you blow dry: Save hundreds of pounds of carbon and get softer skin and silkier hair.
•    Sip water from a cool reusable bottle: Reduce waste, and score an accessory that looks so much sweeter than a disposable plastic thing.
•    Support sustainable restaurants: Opt for places that use local, organic ingredients—and offer a chic, intimate dining experience.
•    Go polish-free when you get a mani-pedi: Expose yourself and the planet to fewer toxins, and end up with a fabulous, long-lasting, chip-free look.
•    Get plenty of sleep! Look extra-gorgeous with a lot less effort (and fewer products).
•    Before you shop, edit your closet: Use this stylist-tested technique to get a wardrobe you love without buying anything new.
•    And much more…in her favorite things section of the book (includes websites)

Order Green Chic - Saving the Earth in Style $10.36 at Amazon.

Here are some sites to check out for 'green' shopping...the fashionista way.

Fashion:

4 March
Envi
Sodafine
Stewart + Brown
Sworn Virgins (fabulous, super soft, fashionable t's)

Beauty:

JuiceBeauty
Pangea Organics
Recycline - awesome razor
Farm Aesthetics

- Lauren Dimet Waters

NYC: The Fashion District Source Book

   

If you have have been to New York City’s legendary Fashion District you recognize the giant button and needle. Or maybe your recognize it from Project Runway. Now, with the help of a new guide, everyone from fashionistas to home sewers can find their way to the same materials used by the brand name designers and manufacturers.

Produced and published by the Fashion Center Business Improvement District, The Fashion District Source Book is the perfect guide for the home sewer, crafter, fashion student, decorator, stylist, or designer....and shopper.

Written by budding designers Jocelyn Simms and Victoria Somers, the book is organized into twelve sections, covering fabrics, leather, fur, home décor, lace, bridal, trim, patterns, beading, buttons, and notions, the source book is a great tool for uncovering the Fashion District’s unique deals and products. There are also sections on the best places to swatch fabric, fabric description breakdowns, tips,  directions and a map.

The Fashion District Source Book is available at the Fashion Center’s Information Kiosk on Seventh Avenue at 39th Street in Manhattan or online at www.fashioncenter.com/sourcebook.

Book Review. Paris Chic & Trendy

If only the mighty American dollar were not in the gutter right now. I need a vacation. My next trip is a shopping excursion to Paris! It wasn't until I read Adrienne Ribes-Tiphaine’s pocket-size shopping guidebook Paris Chic & Trendy (Parigramme, 2006). The book is chalk full of recommended designers' studios, hip boutiques and vintage shops. Arranged by Arrondissement, this beautifully photographed (by Sandrine Alouf) makes you feel like a seasoned veteran to Parisian shopping. 

From apparel to shoes to jewelry and vintage bags, the 54 stores chosen attracted Ribes-Tiphaine not only becuase they were unique, but for the stories behind them. “I put myself in the shoes of this urbane, stylish Parisienne who is looking for good deals, who wants to be ‘branchée’ and wants to have a style that not everyone else has,” says Ribes-Tiphaine             

“[The Parisian woman] doesn’t like to be too much of a show-off, too new, or too neat. There’s always a part of her past in her look. She’ll wear the family cashmere sweater that is handed down from mother to daughter."

Parisians are less likely to buy on impulse, they have to get used to the item, and to understand why they want to buy it, the story of the designer is important too. They want it to last and gain value, Ribes-Tiphaine explains.

Ribes-Tiphaine considers the following must-haves to pull off the Parisian look; slim jeans, a close-fitting button-down shirt from A.P.C., a pair of high heels or Repetto flats and a soft leather bag from Jérôme Dreyfuss.            

A sample of the shops mentioned;

Hoses for shoes and bags
41 rue de Poitou, 3e
01.42.78.80.62
Métro: Filles-du-Calvaire

A.P.C. for reasonably priced basics, especially the button-down shirts
112 rue Vieille-du-Temple, 3e
01.42.78.18.02
Métro: St-Sébastien-Froissart
www.apc.fr

Tsumori Chisato for playful designs
20 rue Barbette, 3e
01.42.78.18.88
Métro: St-Paul

Trésor by Bridgitte Mason for colorful non pre-fab silhouettes
6 rue du Trésor, 4e
01.42.72.54.92
Métro: St-Paul

L'Eclaireur for being ahead of the game
8 rue Boissy-d'Anglas, 8e
01.53.43.03.70
Métro: Concorde
www.leclaireur.com

Mamie for apparel finds with history
73 rue de Rochechouart, 9e
01.42.82.09.98
Métro: Anvers

Isabel Marant for amazing self-labeled designs
16 rue de Charonne, 11e
01.49.29.71.55
Métro: Ledru-Rollin or Bastille

Paris Chic & Trendy: Designers' Studios, Hip Boutiques, Vintage Shops $10.17

Book Review. Glamour Interrupted: How I Became the Best-Dressed Patient in Hollywood by Steven "Cojo" Cojocaru

Normally I try to stick to fashion and beauty books, however, since Louis Vuitton and Prada, not to mention eye cream and the red carpet are mentioned several times throughout ...I decided, why not? Truth be told, I picked up Glamour, Interrupted: How I Became the Best-Dressed Patient in Hollywood by Steven "Cojo" Cojocaru thinking I would read just a few pages since it's 'off-topic' from what I normally review. Yet, two pages, turned into ten and the next thing I knew...I read the entire book. It was a tragic yet darkly humorous read.

I have to admit, I only vaguely knew of Cojo as I am not an avid watcher of 'Entertainment Tonight' or the 'Today' show. However, I am a celebrity stalker when it comes to the red carpet which is where I recognized Cojo. I admired his banter, quick wit and sarcastic humor. Thankfully his book on very tough subject matter (his nightmare ordeal with polycystic kidney disease) is injected with massive doses of caustic and dark humor.

Steven chronicles his journey from celebrity elbow rubber, to his diagnosis with polycystic kidney disease, to his denial, to his kidney removal and replacement, to his rejection of his first kidney, to his dialysis and depression and back again full-circle, yet a forever changed person. Honestly, I don't think I could have handled the same circumstances nearly as well. Steven's ongoing struggle to stay upbeat in the horrid world of kidney transplants and dialysis was truly admirable.

Glamour, Interrupted is an inspiring memoir of Steven's struggles, triumphs, and eventually acceptance of a life that is less than perfect, but worth living. Having to give up his life of indulgence and obsession with all things cosmetic and size 0, Steven learned leaning on family, friends and fans for support does not make you weak, it makes you human. However, we all get by with a little help from our friends, a great concealer and sometimes...Spanx.

Glamour, Interrupted was just released by Harper Collins and is available for $16.29 at Amazon.