Style Rx Shows How to Dress
& Flatter Woman Body Types
Woman body types is treated clearly and concisely in Style Rx by Bridgette Raes. The book covers two dozen diagnoses and prescriptions for short and long necks, narrow and broad shoulder, chests, arms, waists, fannies, thighs, legs, tummies and even feet. This is almost the perfect companion book to Mary Lou Andres’ Ready to Wear. Andres writes that we must try on every outfit in our closet – in a three-way mirror – to see what looks best. Raes focuses on the guidelines for making decisions about what works by effectively explaining how to draw attention away from body type problems and focus on assets. This book is lavishly illustrated with photographs of ordinary women that compare and contrast outfits that flatter and detract from appearance.
Intensity Enhances Color Compatability
A shorter but fascinating part of the book discusses four elements of “Balance and Harmony: intensity, texture, movement and necklines.” I doubt that most of us make much effort to consider intensity – the quality of our skin tone, hair color, and eye color. Photos reveal how colors that are too bold can wash out the appearance of a woman with low intensity, lighter features or darker features that are low intensity because they are too similar. I am not sure that I fully agree with Raes’ suggestions in every instance. In one case, for example, I thought that the dark suit and white shirt was more flattering on a dark-haired, African-American female than a suit and lighter, grayed-out suit and blouse.
Three Reasons to Like Style Rx
I recommend this book for three reasons. First, Raes and Berkowitz use ordinary women. This provides more realistic images of how these style suggestions will look on us. Second, the section about color intensity provides a fresh perspective when building a wardrobe. This book exemplifies the philosophy of Fashion after 50: Every woman can look her best with a bit of effort and imagination.Style Rx: Dressing the Body You Have to Create the Body You Want by Bridgette Raes. Perigree Books, 2008. Photographs by Lori Berkowitz.
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