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To Hell in High Heels
Sooner or later, it happens to everyone: getting older. Some do it gracefully, others less so, but no one is immune to wrinkles and grey hair creeping up, seemingly overnight. And once they're there, they're hard to shift.
Helena Frith Powell, fashion and lifestyle journalist extraordinaire, didn't even want to think about surrender. Surely, something could be done about advancing age? Armed with potions, lotions and pills (as well as resorting to a few much more extreme measures), she sets out to investigate any and all anti-aging tricks out there. From green tea and botox to yoga and exfoliating masks, To Hell in High Heels is the hilariously funny tale of one woman taking on the body clock, giving you a tried-and-tested survival guide for that ill-fated moment when the first wrinkle dares show its face.
Helena Frith Powell, fashion and lifestyle journalist extraordinaire, didn't even want to think about surrender. Surely, something could be done about advancing age? Armed with potions, lotions and pills (as well as resorting to a few much more extreme measures), she sets out to investigate any and all anti-aging tricks out there. From green tea and botox to yoga and exfoliating masks, To Hell in High Heels is the hilariously funny tale of one woman taking on the body clock, giving you a tried-and-tested survival guide for that ill-fated moment when the first wrinkle dares show its face.
- GenresNonfiction
416 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2008
10 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Helena Frith Powell
25 books32 followersHelena Frith Powell used to write the French Mistress column in The Sunday Times about living in France. She has also been a regular contributor to the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Daily Telegraph, the Sunday Telegraph, Tatler Magazine and Harper’s Bazaar.
Helena is the author of More France Please, we’re British, a book published in November 2004 by Gibson Square Books about her experiences in France. She is also the author of a book about French women called Two Lipsticks and a Lover published in October 2005 by Gibson Square Books. The paperback was published by Penguin in the US in December 2006 under the title All You Need to be Impossibly French. The paperback in the UK was published by Arrow in February 2007. It was also published in Russia, Thailand and China during 2007. It was published in France in March 2008 under the title So Chic! Two Lipsticks was also translated into Russian, Chinese and Thai.
She is also the author of a memoir called Ciao Bella, published by Gibson Square in October 2006 and re-released in 2012. Her book about ageing called To Hell in High Heels was published by Arrow in April 2008, which has been translated into several languages.
Her diet book, The Viva Mayr Diet, was published by Harper Collins in May 2009. Her latest book is a novel set in France about the French art of having affairs called Love in a Warm Climate, which was published in March 2011 by Gibson Square.
Helena was educated at Durham University and lived in the Languedoc region of France for eight years. She now lives in Abu Dhabi with her husband Rupert and their three children Olivia, Bea and Leonardo. She is editorial director of a high-end fashion glossy called Masquerade magazine. Her latest novel, which is about first love and set in London, will be out in the spring of 2013.
Helena is the author of More France Please, we’re British, a book published in November 2004 by Gibson Square Books about her experiences in France. She is also the author of a book about French women called Two Lipsticks and a Lover published in October 2005 by Gibson Square Books. The paperback was published by Penguin in the US in December 2006 under the title All You Need to be Impossibly French. The paperback in the UK was published by Arrow in February 2007. It was also published in Russia, Thailand and China during 2007. It was published in France in March 2008 under the title So Chic! Two Lipsticks was also translated into Russian, Chinese and Thai.
She is also the author of a memoir called Ciao Bella, published by Gibson Square in October 2006 and re-released in 2012. Her book about ageing called To Hell in High Heels was published by Arrow in April 2008, which has been translated into several languages.
Her diet book, The Viva Mayr Diet, was published by Harper Collins in May 2009. Her latest book is a novel set in France about the French art of having affairs called Love in a Warm Climate, which was published in March 2011 by Gibson Square.
Helena was educated at Durham University and lived in the Languedoc region of France for eight years. She now lives in Abu Dhabi with her husband Rupert and their three children Olivia, Bea and Leonardo. She is editorial director of a high-end fashion glossy called Masquerade magazine. Her latest novel, which is about first love and set in London, will be out in the spring of 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 27, 2013
The book blurb gave all indications of a chick lit story, the cover picture even more so. In the rush to grab as many books as I could on the last day of the epic 80% off sale at Reliance Time-Out a few months back, I failed to notice that the heroin’s name was the same as that of the author. Not that I am complaining. It took a few pages before it dawned that this is a true story – of Helena’s research to find a cure for the wrinkle on her forehead , the thin lips, small chest, a microscopically large tummy, limp hair and what not.
Her journey starts from the perfectly round, full and pert bottom of her hairdresser. The first stop is at the world renowned Clinique La Prairie in Switzerland, supposedly the best and naturally one of the costliest anti ageing clinics in the world. An experiemnt in 1931 to save the life of a patient who was suffering from the after effects of a thyroid removal surgeries led Dr. Paul Niehans, the fouder of the clinic into some more research on cell therapy. A successful treatment on similar lines for Pope Pius XII in 1953, firmly established the clinic as one of the pioneers and leaders in ‘ cell regenaration’ therapy. And the main ingedient in the ‘CLP Cell Extract’, a revitalising agent the clinic is most famous for? Hold your breath – the liver of unborn lambs. Are you wondering how on earth they extract it? Simple, kill the mother when the foetus is almost fully grown. Yes, the clinic has its own sheep farm as well.
In the course of her research, Helena meets a yogi Frenchman, gets herself treated at the spa in The Ritz Paris (whose clientele boasts of Liz Hurley, Sharon Stone and Jodi Foster), visits the small village of Limone in northern Italy where the people have a genetic abnormality that causes them to live longer, spends a relaxing week of stress releievng treatments at ‘Golden Eye’, Ian Fleming’s old house on the Jamaican Coast, gets younger and younger in New York, meets some typical LA women and even spends a few mornings in Laughter on Laguna Beach.
The book provides an overwhelming amount of data on the deep ocean that the search for eternal youth is. When you remember that she has covered only a small part of this business, and that too the legitimate side, your eyes and mouth might open wide at the billions that women and more increasingly men spend in search for an elixir of life. What did not really surprise me was something that most of us alerady know in our heart of hearts. Acording to one of well known doctors in this business,
“What cream you use doesn’t really make a difference, the main thing is that you moisturize.”
And you thought, the higher the cost, better the product? Here is one for you,
“the only difference between, for example, Nivea and La Prairie is in the packaging. They are even made in the same laboratory. Just like Lancome and L’Oreal.”
Intesesting, isn’t it?
Helena’s experience is an example of how one gets pulled into this maze from which one may never come out. You start with a basic spa treatment, the ‘consultant’ there talks you into that ‘wonderful’ treatment that can oh so subtly change the look of the tiny wrinkle at the corner of your eyes, then another one tells you about the miraculous tummy tuck that can be done during your lunch hour and you get sucked into the cess pool. There is no end, and that is the brilliance of this business. No treatment promises permanent results. You do a lip filling, it needs to be refilled every 3 months, you get a botox done, that has to be redone every 6-9 months, you get a hair infusion, that has to be redone every 6 months, it goes on and on. Once you get into a new look, it is as if you can never be your old self again.
Her narration of the ‘lollipop’ girls with anoerxic figures that are so disproportinately thin as compared to the seemingly large heads, restuarnts with faces that are all lips and the 1661 women – who looks 16 from behind and 61 from the front – are hilarious at first, and patehtically sad once you actually start thinking about it. It is as of you have enetered a mass production factory that churns out women of the same size and features and all of them endowed with luscious hair. By the way, your loved one may never run his fingers lovingly through your tressses anymore, it is all glue in there.
The most ironic fact is what almost each of these specialists recommend for a permanent change – good diet, no sugars, lots of water and sun screen, exercise, stress free life and minimizing enviornmental factors. Now, you tell me who is having the last laugh all the way to their Swiss banks.
The author quotes the palstic surgeon Mr. Ghengis in Fay Weldon’s ‘The Life and Loves of a She Devil’ and this one sentences summarizes it all,
“I can stop you looking old, but you will be old”
Verdict – I would still categorize this as a chick lit, a very interesting one at that.
3.5/5
You can read my other reviews at http://wanderlustathome.wordpress.com/
Her journey starts from the perfectly round, full and pert bottom of her hairdresser. The first stop is at the world renowned Clinique La Prairie in Switzerland, supposedly the best and naturally one of the costliest anti ageing clinics in the world. An experiemnt in 1931 to save the life of a patient who was suffering from the after effects of a thyroid removal surgeries led Dr. Paul Niehans, the fouder of the clinic into some more research on cell therapy. A successful treatment on similar lines for Pope Pius XII in 1953, firmly established the clinic as one of the pioneers and leaders in ‘ cell regenaration’ therapy. And the main ingedient in the ‘CLP Cell Extract’, a revitalising agent the clinic is most famous for? Hold your breath – the liver of unborn lambs. Are you wondering how on earth they extract it? Simple, kill the mother when the foetus is almost fully grown. Yes, the clinic has its own sheep farm as well.
In the course of her research, Helena meets a yogi Frenchman, gets herself treated at the spa in The Ritz Paris (whose clientele boasts of Liz Hurley, Sharon Stone and Jodi Foster), visits the small village of Limone in northern Italy where the people have a genetic abnormality that causes them to live longer, spends a relaxing week of stress releievng treatments at ‘Golden Eye’, Ian Fleming’s old house on the Jamaican Coast, gets younger and younger in New York, meets some typical LA women and even spends a few mornings in Laughter on Laguna Beach.
The book provides an overwhelming amount of data on the deep ocean that the search for eternal youth is. When you remember that she has covered only a small part of this business, and that too the legitimate side, your eyes and mouth might open wide at the billions that women and more increasingly men spend in search for an elixir of life. What did not really surprise me was something that most of us alerady know in our heart of hearts. Acording to one of well known doctors in this business,
“What cream you use doesn’t really make a difference, the main thing is that you moisturize.”
And you thought, the higher the cost, better the product? Here is one for you,
“the only difference between, for example, Nivea and La Prairie is in the packaging. They are even made in the same laboratory. Just like Lancome and L’Oreal.”
Intesesting, isn’t it?
Helena’s experience is an example of how one gets pulled into this maze from which one may never come out. You start with a basic spa treatment, the ‘consultant’ there talks you into that ‘wonderful’ treatment that can oh so subtly change the look of the tiny wrinkle at the corner of your eyes, then another one tells you about the miraculous tummy tuck that can be done during your lunch hour and you get sucked into the cess pool. There is no end, and that is the brilliance of this business. No treatment promises permanent results. You do a lip filling, it needs to be refilled every 3 months, you get a botox done, that has to be redone every 6-9 months, you get a hair infusion, that has to be redone every 6 months, it goes on and on. Once you get into a new look, it is as if you can never be your old self again.
Her narration of the ‘lollipop’ girls with anoerxic figures that are so disproportinately thin as compared to the seemingly large heads, restuarnts with faces that are all lips and the 1661 women – who looks 16 from behind and 61 from the front – are hilarious at first, and patehtically sad once you actually start thinking about it. It is as of you have enetered a mass production factory that churns out women of the same size and features and all of them endowed with luscious hair. By the way, your loved one may never run his fingers lovingly through your tressses anymore, it is all glue in there.
The most ironic fact is what almost each of these specialists recommend for a permanent change – good diet, no sugars, lots of water and sun screen, exercise, stress free life and minimizing enviornmental factors. Now, you tell me who is having the last laugh all the way to their Swiss banks.
The author quotes the palstic surgeon Mr. Ghengis in Fay Weldon’s ‘The Life and Loves of a She Devil’ and this one sentences summarizes it all,
“I can stop you looking old, but you will be old”
Verdict – I would still categorize this as a chick lit, a very interesting one at that.
3.5/5
You can read my other reviews at http://wanderlustathome.wordpress.com/
October 30, 2019
Well, I have to say that this isn’t the sort of book I normally go for, but I found it on my niece’s bookshelf while I was looking for something to read on holiday. It turned out to be an intriguing and humorous insight into the world of cosmetic surgery, beauty treatments and boob jobs. I was rather relieved by the author’s conclusions at the end of this fascinating read.
June 22, 2020
It was an enjoyable read. I could relate to quite a few moments and feelings in the book. I liked the well researched information on all the anti-aging methods available.
July 20, 2022
Interesting read - funny in bits - learned some interesting tips on how to age gracefully - but was not gripping enough to finish quick - took time. Not really my kind of book.
May 22, 2011
A pretty decent book and perfect dose on anti-ageing... I guess i should say i have read it at the right time too!
Well, the book covers I guess almost everything that a woman might need when worrying about her looks and atleast one of them would definately come across as a solution you might consider for yourself. So from that context it is a good feeler to get an idea of what a botox, lipo, lip job or even hair extensions might involve.
The author has put herself in the shoes to experiment with these and hence the thought process, reactions, emotions (own, family and friends)feel honest. Thus the books turns out not only informative but on a lighter side of growing old thus not as apalling as they might actually be!
What i also liked about the book is that it covers the ivasive and anti-ivasive techniques... thus the specifics around healthy living is good to know, pretty believable and easy to adopt.
Well, the book covers I guess almost everything that a woman might need when worrying about her looks and atleast one of them would definately come across as a solution you might consider for yourself. So from that context it is a good feeler to get an idea of what a botox, lipo, lip job or even hair extensions might involve.
The author has put herself in the shoes to experiment with these and hence the thought process, reactions, emotions (own, family and friends)feel honest. Thus the books turns out not only informative but on a lighter side of growing old thus not as apalling as they might actually be!
What i also liked about the book is that it covers the ivasive and anti-ivasive techniques... thus the specifics around healthy living is good to know, pretty believable and easy to adopt.
April 21, 2009
This was ok, but a bit disappointing really. I think I was expecting it to be funnier.
June 27, 2009
Hilarious and insightful
March 30, 2013
After a while - the search for anti-aging becomes REALLY boring! Initially pages are a good and fun read though ... key message: 'live today as it is!!!"
February 3, 2021
An interesting insight into the industry of anti-ageing, originally part of my shelf of guilty pleasures project but a refreshing chick nonfictional one.
September 8, 2008
just go for it and have a good time!
February 1, 2012
Informative in a funny way, learned a lot about beauty business while having fun reading it.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews