The Fabulous Girl's Guide to Decorum

by Kim Izzo, Ceri Marsh

Good manners will make you fabulous. Good manners will make you sexy. The well-mannered get invited to more dinner parties, see their career aspirations blossom, and have a wider array of friends and eligible suitors. So if you want to become your most fabulous self, read on– The Fabulous Girl’s Guide to Decorum is your ticket to becoming the girl you want to be.

Authors Kim Izzo and Ceri Marsh know first-hand that today’s young women require etiquette advice that speaks to their modern sensibilities. Yes, we girls need to know how to write a perfect thank-you note and set a proper table–but we also need to know how to handle a one-night stand, how to ask for a promotion, what to wear at an art opening, and when a budding romance should move from supper to sex.

With The Fabulous Girl’s Guide to Decorum , Izzo and Marsh have written the etiquette guide for the new millennium and created the ultimate icon of style for the 21st The Fabulous Girl. She’s liberated but chic, impeccably mannered but never a snob, confident but compassionate, full of verve instead of vanity. She’s the epitome of Audrey Hepburn-esque style and savoire faire at the workplace, at a dinner party, and even in the bedroom.

The Fabulous Girl’s Guide to Decorum addresses all aspects of urban life, including careers, friendships, families, entertaining, socializing, romance, and sex (these days they don’t necessarily go hand in hand!) and provides invaluable advice on how to navigate these tricky waters with unfailing grace. From what to wear at a power lunch to how to behave at a film premier, Izzo and Marsh address topics such
·Coping with an office backstabber
·Taxi and door-holding protocol on dates
·How to handle an affair with the boss
·Hosting the perfect dinner party
·How to handle fair weather friends
·Protocol for first-night sex
·The 10 things an FG will always have in her handbag
·Saving face when a male buddy has become too attached
Charming, witty and eminently practical, The Fabulous Girl’s Guide to Decorum is as essential as the little black dress and a must for every young woman’s bookshelf.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Reference, Fashion, Lifestyle, Chick Lit, Humor

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 24, 2001

About the author

Kim Izzo is an author, screenwriter and journalist. She is the 2016 winner of the prestigious HUMANITAS Prize: New Voices and the 2016 Telefilm Canada New Voices Award. Izzo is the author of two romantic comedy novels, the best-selling The Jane Austen Marriage Manual, which has been optioned for film, and My Life in Black and White. She is also the co-author of two etiquette books, the international bestseller The Fabulous Girl’s Guide to Decorum and The Fabulous Girl’s Guide to Grace Under Pressure. As an etiquette expert, Izzo has made numerous television appearances, including Oprah! and The Today Show. She has been a magazine editor and journalist for more than fifteen years. Seven Days in May is her third novel.

Reviews

[Daniela (Only If For A Page) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as a teenager when it had the appeal of a "big girl in a big city", I guess, and for some reason I still own it (not for long, though) so I was curious what I would think about it now. Considering that this was written in 2001, it could have been worse. The book is non-fiction with a fictional story in it about a "fabulous girl".

A lot of things are (still) valid and solid advice: be polite, tip at restaurants, don't assume everybody is straight, don't leave all of your friends and hobbies for someone and don't let people pressure you into big steps like marriage or kids if you don't want to do them. But obviously, there are also parts that are silly, out-dated or cringeworthy. Girls should always wear lipstick when they go outside? Yeah, sure. What exactly should be in my fridge and bar again? And please don't tell people how often they should have sex to have a healthy relationship or what they should do during the act. The list goes on but I'm going to stop here. Generally speaking, I usually find "etiquette experts" annoying and I think they should check the audacity and ignorance in their advice more.

So yeah, it was like a rollercoaster between "this is actually good advice" and "this is absolute garbage". If you take it with a huge grain of salt, it was actually quite a fun read thanks to the fiction story included in it (nostalgy also played its part). I'm finally going to unhaul it and I think that in 2018, you only want to read it if you're really interested in this topic from a historical or sociological aspect or something.
(read in the Czech translation)

[Jaymi Boswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will help a hip chick in any situation. I have to say it's for the younger and more single crowd, but manners are manners!

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of a fun, fluffy read, but it didn't have as much good stuff to add to the discussion of manners as I would have liked. I did find the work-related section at the beginning interesting (though there was little new information to be gleaned) and the dating section was informative (though a bit outdated, it's not nearly as outdated as *I* am ;) ). The biggest reason for 2 stars is that the authors contradicted themselves throughout (i.e. "don't use bad language" followed by an entire section wherein the f-bomb is dropped approximately 10 times; "don't assume someone is straight" while throughout the book only one very brief paragraph is dedicated to decorum regarding same-sex attraction; and the list goes on). I think the big disparity is that I feel true decorum and good manners stem from concern for the comfort of those around you while the authors' catty tone made it clear they consider manners simply a tool to getting what you want from those around you.

[Els · Rating 2 out of 5]

Het staat gecatalogeerd als een non-fictie boek en dat is het in grote lijnen ook wel. Er komt een heel stukje fictie tussen, wat ik persoonlijk het beste deel van het boek vind. Je ziet het al aankomen. Geen groot succes, dus. Ik vond het wel leuk om een de tips die lezen waardoor je dan uiteindelijk een 'fabulous girl' (FG) gaat worden, maar ik ben toch een stiekem gaan kijken naar het jaar dat het boek werd uitgegeven. Ik vreesde even dat het over de Middeleeuwen ging.
Ik zeg niet dat er niets instaat dat niet handig kan zijn, maar ik kreeg vaak het gevoel dat ze de lezer een beetje als iemand beschouwen die eigenlijk onder een steen leeft.
Als ik zo moet gaan leven om een FG te worden ... nee, dank u. Laat dan maar. Dan blijf ik wel een NSFG ( Not So Fabulous Girl)
Nu ja, ik heb het uitgelezen en het viel tegen. Jammer, maar helaas. Op naar een volgend (en hopelijk) beter boek.

[Mkb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend bought me this book in my early 20s. And it did help me and my friends navigate life. Of course, the only specific piece of advice I remember from it, is to only buy jeans if they “give good a**”—because if you don’t like the way your behind looks in a pair of jeans, you’re not gonna wear them.

I’d forgotten all about this book until I picked up a novel this week at the library that was written by one of the authors!

[Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read and reread innumerable books on style and etiquette. This one always comes to mind when I think of inspirational and actionably instructive. When I first read it I really liked the interwoven "chick-lit" but now I wish it had replaced that with more info.

[Holly Anne Smith Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Donna Paulsen meets the Pink Bible. A handbook to be a fabulous girl in the early aughts.
Funny, glitzy, nuggets of good advice, whole swaths of dreadful relationship advice.
Fun to see into the world of glamorous city girls. Sadly not wholesome.

[Kaitlyn MacNeill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent advice. Anticlimactic ending. READY asf to host a dinner party.

[Amanda Hannaford · Rating 1 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from Lisa Daly (thanks, miss!) and thought that, even if not insightful, it would at least be interesting. I didn't really find it either.

The Good:
It inspired me to want to host more dinner parties and I did learn a few etiquette rules regarding entertaining. YAY! Expect more dinner parties to come, gals!

The Bad:
It was obviously quite tailored to 'high society' and written by people that are snooty about others being married and having children. The marriage section was only 10 pages long and started with:

"Despite all logical arguments to the contrary, some FGs [Fabulous Girls] decide that they have found their one true love and decide to make a splashy, lifetime commitment to them in public. Perhaps she had a lot to drink just before he asked her."

Further, there were no sections about children. The only mention of children at all in the book was a section about entertaining and how a couple unexpectedly brought their terror-of-a-child. Hmmm...

Not to say that this book had to be mostly about marriage and children and all that jazz but it's intended audience could have been more clear in the title (which, by the way, I dislike... Fabulous Girl... who dates Bingo(?!?), Nice Guy, and Groovy Guy... ugh). I would suggest "The Fabulous Girl-Who-Has-No-Intention-Of-Doing-Something-Ridiculous-Like-Getting-Married-or-Snoot-Shudder-Having-Children's Guide to Decorum"

The advice was, with the exception of the entertainment section, either obvious or ridiculously random. For example, if you are in a couple, you can only reasonably expect your significant other to attend two company functions per year. Not one, not three, precisely TWO.

Finally, I didn't really like the layout of the book. She would seemingly tell a random story between each chapter which felt all over the place. I realize she was trying to prepare the audience for lessons to be learned but it felt very disorganized.

So, all in all, it wasn't my favourite book of the year.

[Stefanie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

""

[Hyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

First got the book when I was in high school, and this book has been guiding me through university, work, and love life. To become a true fabulous girl is actually to encounter all situations described in the book: the hot intern, hot boss, bumping into your ex on the street, being a bridesmaid for a bridezilla, have your own apartment, and invite your friends to your home party.... no matter how much you learnt about being fabulous in all these situations, you actually have to experience it before you become fabulous. This book got me excited about life as a girl in my teenage years, although after I experienced all that jazz as I grew older I found even better ways to deal with those situations than the author may suggest, I am still very thankful for learning them all early in my life. Think it should be a must read for all teenage girls.

[kate]

I bought this book after school and in preparation for the apartment downtown, the requisite socializing to network and to expand my circle of friends, and taking on giant social situations that stressed me out and scared me - because I wanted to be doing things all the time that intimidated and challenged me.

the idea of being 'fabulous' is a question you ask of yourself when you ask - what kind of life do I want, what kind of person do I want to be and you assume you can become that person through actions & choices.

full of anecdotes and ideas - about how to be the girl who wants it all with aplomb.

[Mary Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps I'm not fabulous enough to be deemed a fabulous girl (FG), but I found myself rolling my eyes multiple times throughout this book. It wasn't that I felt too old for the material (as some have pointed out in their reviews), but rather that I found myself in disagreement with what the authors deemed as good taste and good etiquette.

When it comes to etiquette, stick to the masters of the craft: Emily Post and her family members who have taken the reigns to keep her advice fresh and current (namely Peggy Post). Emily Post's "Etiquette" is truly the 'be all and end all' on the subject.

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to admit to not finishing this book. With that said, this book was incredibly tedious! Three hundred pages trying to cover appropriate behavior in every possible scenario, plus little anecdotes to get the point across. I just couldn't do it! It wasn't cute, it wasn't charming, and it sure was not teaching me anything I hadn't heard or read a million other places. Unimpressed, unimaginative, and would make a better blog than book.

[Ria Tumimomor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend recommended this book to me and I have to admit... I love it... THough of course, a few tips from the writers does not suit me, but most of them are so true...

The book teaches you how to act towards your friends and colleagues and other people in proper manner...

Of course, naturally...it all depends to us again... whether we will remember to apply those ethics in the real world :)

[Christa Cordova · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found myself in the etiquette section of our local library and thought this looked cute. I was right - it looked cute - but was not well written. The author apparently assumes her readers were raised in barns. It was published in 2001 (while I was in college) and I don't feel like my friends or I would have needed the advice in the book then and we definitely don't need it now. If you're looking for an etiquette manual, check out Emily Post or Kate Spade's books on the topic.

[Polina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an good read, not great! I found that it didn't teach more of more etiquette though. I was expecting it to be a bit deeper on rules than it was and I found myself knowing already 90% of what was written there. Nonetheless, it is still a good book and I would recommend it to others as a summer read.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think they intended this book to be a modern day version of Emily Post. They failed. I probably would have gotten a lot more out of it if I'd read it six or seven years ago when I bought it. But maybe not. Most of what is in it is either common sense or common courtesy. A good book for someone who is completely socially inept.

[Jonelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not particularly fabulous. Just ok. Mildly humorous. Some parts did drag, some parts were cute. Did I learn anything new, not really. A lot of this is really common sense I formation, a modern day "Miss Manners". I liked the story within but am now curious as to the outcome of these relationships. By the by, I love the "Fabulous" cover, that's what got me to read the book in the first place.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this how-to guide!! Made me realize I have a ton of fabulous women in my life. Talks about dating, entertaining, jobs, sex, love, decor...all the things that make us so wonderful as women...witty and fun to read :)

[Paige Acevedo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was given to me by my best friend from high school who I always saw as a fabulous girl! I read and re-read this book. It takes what your mama taught you and kicks it up a knotch! I will never show up to a dinner party empty handed again!

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun silly little book on manners geared towards single women. Most of it is common sense, which is probably why it hasn't received better reviews. The sections about house guests and entertaining had some helpful tips though.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining read! Certainly not Emily Post but some great pearls of wisdom: "The way a person treats the waiters/waitresses tells a lot about their character", "Good manners doesn't comment on the lack of manners by others. Especially if it's unrequested advice".

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was looking for, and only about 100 pages of perhaps useful information or interesting narrative in a 300 page work.

https://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/...

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exquisitely written, didn't offer phenomenal insights into sticky situations, but was definitely a fun read.

[Blanca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it. Part chick lit, part etiquette book, it is cheesy, but adorable. Take it with a grain of salt.

[Summer Rae Garcia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have a thing for etiquette books. This one is retarded.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, relevant etiquette book.

[Noel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. I'm sorry to say- completely forgettable.

[Rachel Nabors · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to societal behavior for girls who've been raised by wolves ;)