How to Dress for Success /anglais

by HEAD EDITH, Joe Hyams

Would you like to look younger, prettier, slimmer? Would you like to attract a new man, hold on to the current one? Would you like to get a better job, earn more money? Would you like your husband to move up the ladder of success, attract more friends? Then this is your book. Edith Head, Hollywood designer to the stars, offers no-nonsense, and often hilarious, fashion advice straight from the 1960s. There is still much to learn today from Head's witty style tips and delightful drawings.

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Business, Classics, Self Help

180 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going to put this in the “humor” section, with the hopes that Edith Head had her tongue firmly in her cheek while writing this. My favorite line? “What you can’t do about your figure through starvation and exercise can certainly be improved through wearing the right foundation garment.”

[Sunny P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the information is a bit dated and a tad, shall we say, sexist, but a lot of the information still holds up.

[Romany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up in the op shop and didn’t realize it was from the 1950s until the first oddly sexist sentence. I don’t think the cute, retro feel can make up for the fact that standards for women at the time were bullshit. Anyway, before I could finish the last chapter, the cat threw up on it, and it had to go in the bin.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have read in a long time. It was meant as a how-to, but it is quite humorous. Part of the humor is intentional, and part is due to it having been written in 1967.

I picked it up out of curiosity, and read a few lines, like "Many women wear pants for marketing, very few should" and "Hats are flatterers" so I decided to read it & was surprised to find that some of the tips are actually still applicable & helpful.

I loved reading about fashion from 40 years ago from a book that was written at the time, by an educated, working woman. I am still trying to figure out what "hostess pajamas" are and if the women I know who remember 1967 really wore hats & gloves as frequently as Edith Head recommends. I also wonder what she would think of the Uggs & Juicy sweatsuit craze.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a selected reprint (not the complete edition) of a landmark book by one of my favourite studio designers (I’d love to own the original!)
It’s very much of its time, and you must read it in that spirit -but there are still some delightful titbits for looking stylish.
A fun read.

[Reene Lim · Rating 2 out of 5]

there were some interesting points that edith brought up, but for the most part i kind of already know them. i also feel that this book was a little sexist and out dated. and then i realised the date of her birth 😅 overall, it wasn’t very absorbing or informational for me but maybe that’s just for me.
2/5 ⭐️

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like it. I know it was written long time ago, but I was already put off by the "if you want to get a job read papers to learn about the topic". Yeah, well, some of us had to endure 6 years of the Spirit-draining university to even be in the pile, but hey - how nice it would be to read few papers and get a job? Despite that, it's a fashion book. But it was taking about gloves and hats and I got none and need none. Overall, I must have been really the opposite of the target audience. Eh.

[Liselotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book! Definitely one for the more vintage loving people on the planet, but it has given me great advice on how to expand my wardrobe. I highly recommend it if you are into the vintage fashion lifestyle!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quite wonderful, even if it is quite old. Father than feeling dated, it made me long for the days where women wore hats and gloves! It also is very compeling in getting your fashion together! I want to go home and pull everything out of my drawers and closet and create a beautiful wardrobe that works for me.

[The Boston Fashionista · Rating 5 out of 5]

While a lot of this book is quite outdated, but the amazing Ms. Head has some advice that is still quite on pointe (i.e. shopping with a plan). Plus, it's just fun to read the work of such a celebrated stylist!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although antiquated in ideology now, this book does offer great advice on how to dress oneself with dignity. As an added the treat, the illustrations, provided by Head, are themselves worthy of being framed and hung in a well-cultivated closet.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd throwback book that will make you laugh a bit at the outdated advice. The chapters at the end about colors and what to buy are helpful though.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just can't get enough of vintage guides to fashion and style and this book, by the greatest costume designer in Hollywood history, is one of the best.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timeless advice on how to select the right colors, patterns and cuts in clothing and dress properly for any occasion. Probably buying this for my hand library for future reference.

[Lore De Silvestri R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book is so full of tips an easy to read. I highly recommended it for people who love styling, fashion and beauty.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading fashion books for inspiration as I update my spring/summer wardrobe...

I didn't realize this was originally published back in 1967. Initially, it was a fun look at fashion advice in the past. The first chapter is for "business women" seeking a career as a secretary. The second chapter was how to attract a husband.

It was interesting as a physiological study to see which messages are still repeated by feminists today (ie you must adhere to fashion's dictates) and others do a complete 180 turn (ie you must keep your husband happy to men are inferior). Both sides contained oppressive messaging and missed the mark for understanding and appreciating the true genius of women as the Catholic Church does.

The 60's secular feminist felt very oppressive. I realized around page 100 that I was physically angry from reading the book and had to take a break. When I picked the book back up, I read just to finish it. I did not enjoy it.

The fashion advice is so dated, that it is irrelevant today. I found no classic advice that transcended time. However, I was not in the most receptive mood, reading the book actually make me agitated.

I did love the physical feel of the book. It had a linen cover and thick pages. It felt like a classy old-school handbook.

[Andrew Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a guy, I’m acknowledging this book has a lot of outdated advice for woman and some of it didn’t apply to me, but I did find a lot of useful principles in the book! The chapters i found most helpful were “How to Build a Successful Wardrobe,” “How to Use Color Successfully,” and “How to Shop for Success.” I’m not sure it’s worth buying the whole book for those chapters tho…

[Kelli J]

Don't think I can really rate it due to it's having been published so long ago, and our intentions and ideas of "success" with fashion have changed (nope not everyone wants to dress to get and keep a man), but I think this was a book that walked so other more comprehensive style books over the years could run

[Laura Ostermeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for fans of the remarkable Edith Head. This book came out in 1967 so some of it will feel a bit odd and dated but, with that in mind, it's a wonderful fashion history lesson. Still, much of her advice rings true. Well worth reading!

[Duchess_Nimue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Propaganda! So much stuff written here should raise eyebrows. But, there are some wonderful tips on building a wardrobe for yourself. If you could muster up strength to go through a lot of "date-of-publishing age appropriate tips," there are interesting tidbits.

[Talia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it would have more illustrations. Of course the book was written long ago, so it's very outdated advice.

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Very fun and some good advice. Some advice is outdated (not everything I wear needs to make me look "thin") but I enjoyed it overall.

[Chris Haigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historic how-to guides and thus one from eight-time Oscar winner and costume designing royalty Edith Head was a real treat to read and consider.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a funny little read! Style from the 1940s-1960s by one of the most influential fashion dressers ever. I loved it!

[Erin Mahdi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for the brilliant, timeless advice Edith served alongside the negative 2 stars worth of shameless sexism she will force you to endure with it.

[NoBeatenPath · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hilariously out-of-date guide to fashion and how a woman should dress. With sections exhorting women to dress properly to get and keep a man, and other such priceless advice, this book is really more of a historical curiosity than a guide for contemporary women. That said, it is a lot of fun to read, and my copy was a lovely object, covered in lavender cloth with silver tooled lettering on the cover and spine.