Đừng Chỉ Mặc Màu Đen

by Anna Murphy, Cẩm Nhung (Translator)

ĐỪNG CHỈ MẶC MÀU ĐEN là cuốn sách thời trang được viết nên bởi Giám đốc chuyên mục Thời trang thuộc tạp chí The Times (Anh Quốc) – Anna Murphy. Anna viết nên cuốn sách này chỉ nhằm một mục đích duy nhất, cung cấp cho người phụ nữ một nguồn tài liệu tham khảo từ cơ bản đến nâng cao, nhằm đưa họ dấn thân vào hành trình nâng cấp bản thân thành một phiên bản tinh tế, thú vị và mang đậm dấu ấn cá nhân.

Cuốn sách tập hợp những bài học thời trang hết sức cụ thể: từ những kiến thức cơ bản như việc định hình vóc dáng và khắc phục nhược điểm (chương I); kiến tạo một “tủ đồ trường tồn” và nâng tầm đồ cơ bản (chương II và III); những bài học vỡ lòng về màu sắc và họa tiết (chương IV)… đến những kiến thức nâng cao và đặc thù như làm thế nào để tỏa sáng tại các bữa tiệc (chương XV), làm thế nào để thông qua trang phục mà gây được ấn tượng trong công việc (chương XII), làm thế nào để trở nên trẻ trung và hiện đại hơn (chương VII)

Genres: Nonfiction, Fashion

288 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Shouty]

LIKE READING AN INSTYLE ARTICLE THAT JUST KEEPS GOING

[Bel · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a book about fashion tips there was a serious lack of pictures. This book feels like I am reading a thesis about fashion with a lot of name-dropping and quotes from other people. I almost expected to see footnotes. There were a handful of good advice, I liked the 666 rule to help weed out clothes to get rid but overall the fashion advice did not seem anything that is especially ground-breaking. I would recommend this to fashionable readers older than 40, I don't think the tips will fit a younger group.

[mackdaddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

would have gotten 3 stars except for the multiple digs about avoiding certain clothes and lipstick colors so one doesn't look like a librarian. unfortunately, anna, this reader is a librarian and does not appreciate your outdated stereotypes! also, don't get me started on the chapter about how women need to "dress like women" and embrace our womenness at work. yikes.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

It needed a lot more pictures to illustrate her points. And some of the suggestions would look so out of place in my small country town i.e. they're more suitable for big city life.

[Marie Mimosa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some elements of this book were okay. I especially liked the “if you don’t feel like yourself wearing x item, don’t wear it”.

But some parts were really bad and it ruined the reading experience for me. This part is awful: “in order to look our best we should all be engaged in what I call operation hourglass. This is the most in-proportion look of all”

Um??! This is the opposite of what we should do actually. Instead of all trying to have the “neat hourglass shape” we should embrace our quirks and differences. What makes us unique. Why do so many books about fashion play on women’s insecurities?

[Deborah Makarios · Rating 2 out of 5]

Less about how not to wear black or how to find your own style, and more about how to look young/cool/modern/contemporary/fashionable. (Must have shearling gilet.)
Ironically, detailed instructions are provided on what to wear to look like an "original dresser, original thinker."

[Marles Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have re-read this hardcover advice from the illustrious @annagmurphy to keep me on the straight and narrow for two key reasons:
1) to keep on increasing colour in winter
2) to keep working at decreasing the clothing clutter!

It is all about letting go of what I don't need and investing in quality as well. I recycle a lot of my wardrobe, some things are very treasured and some are just fun for a season. But it really makes me wonder whether we need all this "stuff". And I loved that it was more writing less photos - use your imagination to dress, don't rely on the looks of others to get you going!! Re-wearing a coat or dress across seasons isn't bad or a faux pas. Learning how to mix and match is half the fun. Take the challenge!

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice guide and reference of dressing.

However, it provided a half page on panties and bras. Even though they aren't visible and come in multiple colors and styles it would be a nice topic to cover since they may affect the final appearance of how you look.

[Francesca Farina · Rating 3 out of 5]

BASIC

It won’t change your life. Still a not boring reading for people interested in fashion. If you are starting this topic, it is good.

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Skimmed this in the Dr.’s waiting room. Would have benefitted from more pictures.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The print edition is titled "How to Not Wear Black."

[Cherop · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful reference book on fashion and style. I borrowed it from the library and would like to renew the loan but there are others who also want to read it.

[Addie Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot of good ideas in this book, but there aren't many visuals to assist with the ideas brought forward by Anna Murphy.

[Rosie Bloomfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually really like wearing black...
Maybe more pictures in the book would have helped a bit.

[Hạ Phạm Hồ Trúc · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expect even more but it turns out just kind of collective magazine articles

[Lê Nguyễn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Haiza, không như kì vọng chút nào.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely felt like some of the references were-- perhaps unintentionally-- offensive.

[Marie-Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part manual, part manifesto, a stylish and beautiful take on what works right now.

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real treasure trove of very follow-able fashion advice - fresh and up to date - with a smattering of sustainability values. Also an easy good read.

[Irene Adler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has something new to say about fashion and style and that's a good thing. Even if you've read a lot of these type of books, give this one a go.

The good bits start with the title - so many women default to black and it's boring, depressing even. But check out the photo on page 8 of Anna Murphy - that is how it is done! Then, this appears to be written for women over the age of 35 who wear clothes - who knew they even existed right? There are references to Elena Ferrante, Iris Apfel, Maya Angelou and others instead of just overly recycled quotes by Coco Chanel. Not all the advice is stock standard (I'll quibble with some later) but the standard rules and wardrobe staples are mostly avoided. There's snippets of new info and common sense eg 'Find Your Food Happy Place' or don't wear belts if they don't suit you (gasp!). The photos are good and illustrative of the points being made. There's a chapter on Sustainable Fashion that provides a decent overview of the issues. There's a chapter about flourish.

So, the quibbles. The Sunday supplement phrase 'bang up to date' or similar was irritating from its very first appearance. And it was repeated. A lot. The 'Doyenne's Dozen' has been replicated a billion times and no-one needs to talk about Breton tops et al ever again. Most people do not need a shearling gilet nor will they look good in it. And trainers (sneakers / running shoes) always, always, make an outfit casual bordering on unimaginative / sloppy. Wear them to a special event if you want to offend the hosts / are young enough for it to be still cute you don't have a clue. Otherwise wear shoes (if you don't believe me, flick through all the photos in this book where white trainers appear = proof positive they downgrade an outfit).

Overall - worth a read in preference to 90% of books on this subject.