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The Goddess Guide
Gisèle Scanlon has picked out the best bits from her personal diary, address book and fashion contacts to reveal insider information, glamour secrets and a multitude of heavenly recommendations to allow every woman to find her inner goddess – whether it’s the earth goddess or the urban.
The life-enhancing content includes: what you should have in your make-up bag to tackle every problem; how to sell your clothes on eBay; the dos and don'ts of shoes according to Christian Louboutin; the best way to get value out of that little black dress; plucking the neatest eyebrows; getting extra legroom when booking a flight; planning a divine date; booking a hotel with the comfiest bed; entertaining with champagne; looking after cashmere; de-cluttering your home; buying jeans to lengthen your legs; finding gifts for the trickiest people and instructions from Linda Evangelista's trainer on honing a small behind.
Sumptuous, approachable and friendly, this gorgeous style-bible is both fixer and facilitator – destined to be your new best friend, personal, trend-setting concierge and ultimate Goddess Guide.
The life-enhancing content includes: what you should have in your make-up bag to tackle every problem; how to sell your clothes on eBay; the dos and don'ts of shoes according to Christian Louboutin; the best way to get value out of that little black dress; plucking the neatest eyebrows; getting extra legroom when booking a flight; planning a divine date; booking a hotel with the comfiest bed; entertaining with champagne; looking after cashmere; de-cluttering your home; buying jeans to lengthen your legs; finding gifts for the trickiest people and instructions from Linda Evangelista's trainer on honing a small behind.
Sumptuous, approachable and friendly, this gorgeous style-bible is both fixer and facilitator – destined to be your new best friend, personal, trend-setting concierge and ultimate Goddess Guide.
296 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2006
23 people are currently reading
684 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 22, 2015
I came across this amazing series a while ago and it's taken me quite a long time to work my way through them. The books aren't ordinary advice books or novels - they are a collection of information about all of the finest things in life. That may sound very vague but it's kind of hard to describe these books, however, I'll give it my best shot!
There are three books in the series:
The Goddess Guide (Gold and black cover)
The Goddess Experience - Goddess Guide II (Pink and black cover)
The Goddess Experience (White and gold cover)
Written by Gisèle Scanlon, a "writer, illustrator and seeker of all things stylish and eclectic, has exhausted her passport and gathered together the best of her findings into one unique collection." From interviews with Vivienne Westwood, to her top home decor tips and advice for building the perfect peaceful bathroom, these books are perfect for anybody hoping to learn more about life. The theme running through all three books is that experiences are what matter the most, and she tries her best to inspire the readers on every page. Gisèle completes this collection with addresses and phone numbers of the places she mentions, to help you find your way there should you ever visit Paris, or New York, or any of the other cities explored in this series.
These books inspired me to make the most of my life and my surroundings, to create fabulous experiences for myself. It also inspired me to travel more! There are places I've visited so far but not really appreciated, so I would love to return to them, with the knowledge collected from this book! I will keep these books for a long time - as they are great to refer back to whenever you need some inspiration or advice on where to get the best cup of tea!
There are three books in the series:
The Goddess Guide (Gold and black cover)
The Goddess Experience - Goddess Guide II (Pink and black cover)
The Goddess Experience (White and gold cover)
Written by Gisèle Scanlon, a "writer, illustrator and seeker of all things stylish and eclectic, has exhausted her passport and gathered together the best of her findings into one unique collection." From interviews with Vivienne Westwood, to her top home decor tips and advice for building the perfect peaceful bathroom, these books are perfect for anybody hoping to learn more about life. The theme running through all three books is that experiences are what matter the most, and she tries her best to inspire the readers on every page. Gisèle completes this collection with addresses and phone numbers of the places she mentions, to help you find your way there should you ever visit Paris, or New York, or any of the other cities explored in this series.
These books inspired me to make the most of my life and my surroundings, to create fabulous experiences for myself. It also inspired me to travel more! There are places I've visited so far but not really appreciated, so I would love to return to them, with the knowledge collected from this book! I will keep these books for a long time - as they are great to refer back to whenever you need some inspiration or advice on where to get the best cup of tea!
August 27, 2018
Unless you’re uber into fashion and a chic girl, probably not going to enjoy this. A lot of the shops referenced are in Europe, so lost on an American like me with no hopes of walking into those stores. I did enjoy the guest articles, but they were too few. I feel like the author can be interesting but there’s just too much droning on about her awesome life. I completely read the first third of the book and then my patience would only tolerate flipping through the rest. Clearly a book I should not have picked for myself.
January 18, 2008
at last, a book by an irish woman with similar tastes and experiences to me. i loved it. i am going to utilise her shopping guide on my trip to paris for my birthday this year.
October 1, 2020
This book is creatively amazing.
Given a scrapbook-ish feel, the author has composed a very awesome compilation of necessary tidbits of information that every girl should know to become a goddess. The author has had the opportunity to travel many places and gain insight into places we (as normal working girls) dream and hope to see. She refers to this book as a collection of her notes and "nuggets of knowledge" she's gained over her years with her usual artistic approach.
The information I thought was definitely useful and appealed to all ages. The author incorporates websites for everything, making the information and items mentioned in this book very attainable. I found a lot of information that assisted in my first year in college and my mom also found interesting tidbits of information that were relevant to her life in the house that she hadn't learn or been taught.
* clubbing
* traveling (cure for jet lag, how to pack, etc.)
* ins and outs of hosiery
* guide to giving gifts
* guide to New York, Barcelona, Paris (including restaurants, shops, places to visit off the road, and very insightful tidbits of the culture and style of the city itself)
* interview with Christian Louboutin (shoe designer)
* commenting on her decide to get veneers (like Sarah Michelle Gellar)
* how to make money off of your unused clothes
I read through this book once and felt as if I needed to keep reading through it until the information sunk in. And I definitely felt this book was a very strong resource to continue to refer back to when necessary (one of the only books I brought to my dorm).
I definitely recommend this to any girl wanting to round out their knowledge of the world (not just womanly tasks, and not just things related to beauty and fashion).
Given a scrapbook-ish feel, the author has composed a very awesome compilation of necessary tidbits of information that every girl should know to become a goddess. The author has had the opportunity to travel many places and gain insight into places we (as normal working girls) dream and hope to see. She refers to this book as a collection of her notes and "nuggets of knowledge" she's gained over her years with her usual artistic approach.
The information I thought was definitely useful and appealed to all ages. The author incorporates websites for everything, making the information and items mentioned in this book very attainable. I found a lot of information that assisted in my first year in college and my mom also found interesting tidbits of information that were relevant to her life in the house that she hadn't learn or been taught.
* clubbing
* traveling (cure for jet lag, how to pack, etc.)
* ins and outs of hosiery
* guide to giving gifts
* guide to New York, Barcelona, Paris (including restaurants, shops, places to visit off the road, and very insightful tidbits of the culture and style of the city itself)
* interview with Christian Louboutin (shoe designer)
* commenting on her decide to get veneers (like Sarah Michelle Gellar)
* how to make money off of your unused clothes
I read through this book once and felt as if I needed to keep reading through it until the information sunk in. And I definitely felt this book was a very strong resource to continue to refer back to when necessary (one of the only books I brought to my dorm).
I definitely recommend this to any girl wanting to round out their knowledge of the world (not just womanly tasks, and not just things related to beauty and fashion).
May 3, 2019
This book is such a guideline for lady on so many things from shopping list in different places in Dublin, London, New York to how to get rid of the fishy smell on your things. Very useful on some circumstances and I really like the book cover but still can't handle the design inside, it was maybe a bit too much for me. Also, this book was from 2007 so a lot of mentioned places are permanently closed but I did not mind anyway, still a lot of things to take note :)
February 6, 2017
Messy in that specific scrapbook way, filled with advice and recomendations. Not bad. just didn't feel like it was aimed at me - I have no need for Gucci bags for instance. The cover is fairly unique with a velvet-like wallpaper motif. Must have been the reason I bought it (something I don't remember doing at all. Possible impulse buy ahoy!) because I cannot think of any other...
March 2, 2019
This is ok if you think handbags are very important
June 27, 2021
Self indulgent, posh nonsense. I’d rather re-read That Extra Half an Inch by VB.
July 3, 2021
outdated, very posh
July 25, 2022
Unless you commute between homes to Europe and back on the regular and are married to a Trump or Vanderbilt, this book isn’t for you.
Read
January 13, 2023More a guide on places to go and things to buy but not sure how up-to-date it is
October 14, 2024
2.5
This was a reread for me, I read it the first time when it originally came out… I’m not sure some of it aged very well, or I've changed?
This was a reread for me, I read it the first time when it originally came out… I’m not sure some of it aged very well, or I've changed?
January 3, 2025
cute nostalgic little handbook on style, travel, gardening, fashion and life advice, love it
November 22, 2016
This little volume is a pleasure to hold. On picking it up I fell in love. Its textural, black velvet flocking against the bright pink cover is a visual thrill. Published in Great Britain, its thick glossy pages go beyond your expectations.
This luxurious book, is filled with tips, tricks and inspiration. (It’s a cross between an aspirin and a bubble bath between hard covers!) Truly I wish I had a book like this in my 20’s! Here are her chapter headings:
Style, Beauty, Travel, Home, Garden, Food, Having Fun, Joie de Vivre, Pillow Talk and G spots.
I immediately found myself jotting notes about things I wanted to check into further.
A snippet of my list:
Pg 16 Internet shoe shops
Pg 23 Top Totes
Pg 71 Vintage Online
Other reading: Cheap Chic, Audrey Hepburn and Elegant Spirit, 1001 Bag Portraits by Miss Lecroc
I didn't read straight through it, but have skipped around and know it is something I'll keep referring back to.
This luxurious book, is filled with tips, tricks and inspiration. (It’s a cross between an aspirin and a bubble bath between hard covers!) Truly I wish I had a book like this in my 20’s! Here are her chapter headings:
Style, Beauty, Travel, Home, Garden, Food, Having Fun, Joie de Vivre, Pillow Talk and G spots.
I immediately found myself jotting notes about things I wanted to check into further.
A snippet of my list:
Pg 16 Internet shoe shops
Pg 23 Top Totes
Pg 71 Vintage Online
Other reading: Cheap Chic, Audrey Hepburn and Elegant Spirit, 1001 Bag Portraits by Miss Lecroc
I didn't read straight through it, but have skipped around and know it is something I'll keep referring back to.
December 6, 2008
This book discusses fashion, beauty, traveling, and a variety of other areas. The book itself is gorgeous. The cover is flocked with a wallpaper print. The pages inside are equally beautiful (though I didn't really care for the 'goddesses' that show up here and there). My biggest problem with the book: nearly everything is geared toward the British and European. Not that I mind, but it would be very difficult to track down some of the stuff she talks about here in the U.S. and if you can't find the stuff what's the use in reading about it. My other big complaint is that it's really just this woman's opinion on what other women 'must have', 'must do', and 'must see'. I pretty much ended up skimming through several parts of the book. A little disappointing.
April 29, 2012
2.5 stars
The book is beautifully presented, but I remember having this book when I was younger and being disappointed that a lot of the book advertises products (and I didn't really have any proper money of my own at the time, so that aspect was pointless for me)Also, as another reader has pointed out, there were a lot of American products advertised which would have been difficult for me to get my hands on even if I had the money. It had some good tips in it however and was well presented. Just not exactly what I was expecting and was of limited use at times.
The book is beautifully presented, but I remember having this book when I was younger and being disappointed that a lot of the book advertises products (and I didn't really have any proper money of my own at the time, so that aspect was pointless for me)Also, as another reader has pointed out, there were a lot of American products advertised which would have been difficult for me to get my hands on even if I had the money. It had some good tips in it however and was well presented. Just not exactly what I was expecting and was of limited use at times.
January 31, 2013
I would give this book 3 stars if it weren't for the creative way that it was created. I thought that it was a great fun read that brought m to understand the life of a person that I wouldn't otherwise be able to understand. For that it was like a fairy tale. Gisele was a fascinating person to see the worlds eyes from and brought the artistic spirit back into the fashion industry. I would recommend this for any girl that's looking for a new light on the definition of modern glamour. Enjoy!
September 2, 2007
The most amazing book ever! Every single fashionista goddess should have this on their shelf. The cover alone is amazing. The black outlines on the book are made of felt and feels so luxurious. It covers everything from how to get that red wine stain out of your dress, to the best vintage shops, to how to pack for a flight and everything in between!
March 19, 2013
A really fun book with a great looking cover. A guide of everything you could ever need to know, everything from style and beauty to travel and dining out.
Review of other fashion coffee table books and pictures of the books:
http://happycompletehome.blogspot.dk/...
Review of other fashion coffee table books and pictures of the books:
http://happycompletehome.blogspot.dk/...
August 31, 2014
My favourite girly coffee table book.
Contains everything from beauty to lifestyle to recipes. Gisele certainly has pulled together a collection of all things goddess and the illustration in this book is totally beautiful.
Each page is adorned with drawings, illustrations, notes and stories and has fast become a favourite book of mine.
Contains everything from beauty to lifestyle to recipes. Gisele certainly has pulled together a collection of all things goddess and the illustration in this book is totally beautiful.
Each page is adorned with drawings, illustrations, notes and stories and has fast become a favourite book of mine.
September 23, 2007
yet another recent book purchase of mine.
This book is just eye candy and full of good info for every woman out there... lots of great tips and info in here This one is a book I will turn to, again and again, plus the pink and velvet cover is lovely!
This book is just eye candy and full of good info for every woman out there... lots of great tips and info in here This one is a book I will turn to, again and again, plus the pink and velvet cover is lovely!
April 17, 2009
This is a must for every would-be Goddess. Full of interesting and informative tips covering any eventualities a Goddess might find herself dealing with. Notes on the best boutiques, cosmetics, must see places and a plethora of other completely useless but entertaining information.
November 29, 2015
I would never usually read anything like 'The Goddess Guide', but it was given to me as a present. I was pleasantly surprised with how informative some of the articles were, and I especially loved the bits about travel!
September 29, 2012
This book is for anyone who is into fashion, beauty & the like. It really is a 'Goddess Guide' and I feel you can dip into this maybe a few pages at a time. Definitely a coffee table read.
The illustrations, cover and inside of this book are absolutely stunning.
The illustrations, cover and inside of this book are absolutely stunning.
October 12, 2007
This is one of the coolest books ever and will remain close at hand on my bookshelf. Tips on fashion, travel, packing, beauty and more -- every goddess needs a copy!
November 18, 2007
This is my guidebook!
I've learnt so many things from this book.
It has pages on everything imaginable, and it has that delectable cover.
Yum!
I've learnt so many things from this book.
It has pages on everything imaginable, and it has that delectable cover.
Yum!
January 5, 2008
First of all the layout of the book is just an art piece. I loved keeping this wonderfully decorative on my bedside. Although there weren't much to learn from it, it was fun too look at it.
January 16, 2008
This has to be the most interesting looking book ever. All the pages are very pretty, original, creative and colourful. lots of good advice inside too.
April 28, 2008
What every girl needs!!!
July 31, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. I found it useful and amusing and think every woman should have a copy in her bookcase
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews