Trashionista

BOOK REVIEW: The Meaning of Sunglasses by Hadley Freeman

Despite having no discernable interest in fashion (I work from home, mostly in pajamas, so there's no real need), I absolutely love Hadley Freeman's Guardian newspaper column. She's so dry, funny and down to earth. I think I gave a little squeal when I heard she'd written a book.

The Meaning of Sunglasses is subtitled "A guide to almost all things fashionable" and it's certainly that. Set out in alphabetical order (which took me a shameful amount of time to work out - I kept wondering how the topics had been organised. D'oh.), the book features everything from Accessories to Yoga.

The thing I love about Ms Freeman is that she often says just what I've been afraid to admit (sometimes even to myself) about fashion (see Coats, stuck at the nexus point between dull and stressful). She's totally straightforward in her criticisms of magazines (the products are featured because the companies have paid for the advertising - I know this and yet I still always fall for those "must-have" or "products of the year" articles) and even certain designers, and she's practical about the ridiculousness of much fashion.

And yet ... I didn't enjoy this book anywhere near as much as her column. Often, either me or my husband (yes, my utterly fashion-ignorant husband loves her too) will read bits out to each other. I didn't feel the need to share any of this book with  him. Her column frequently makes me laugh out loud. The book had me smiling once or twice. Granted, I did read it straight through and it may be a better book to dip in and out of.

If you haven't read any Hadley before, I'm confident you'll enjoy it as a common sense explanation of the madness of modern fashion, but Hadley fans may be disappointed.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones

BOOK REVIEW: The Personal Shopper by Carmen Reid

The Personal Shopper of the title is Annie Valentine. A single mother of two children, Annie works at an exclusive London department store. She's also sick of handling absolutely everything on her own, and is looking for love.

Fashionista Annie is a very endearing heroine. She works hard - with property development projects and ebay selling as well as her main job - to keep her two children in a good postcode and private school.

Annie wants to better her situation and give her children an idyllic schooling (something she had just a small taste of when she was young). She is a brilliantly determined character and you can't help but root for her.

Carmen Reid has the magical light touch, coupled with humour and plenty of warmth. Even though The Personal Shopper is  somewhat predictable - with a boss from Hell and dating woes - it's very readable, too.

However, one fairly major plot twist felt rather forced (and false), which spoiled things for me a little.

Still, the plot romps  along at a good pace, making this a great beach read.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try: The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

BOOK NEWS: The Secret Shopper's Revenge

The Secret Shopper's Revenge by Kate Harrison is out on 1 May. It promises a twist on that chick lit stalwart - shopping.

Emily, Sandie and Grazia all turned to mystery shopping for different reasons, but they found they're good at it. They're Charlie's Shopping Angels, controlled by a mysterious figure who sends them assignments. But when they're sent to stitch up a shop owned by Will, the angels begin to feel divided loyalties...

Related posts: Fashion Lit | Book News

BOOK NEWS: To Hell in High Heels

Helena Frith Powell has already tutored us to be more French in Two Lipsticks and a Lover. To Hell in High Heels is her guide to aging "gracefully, disgracefully, or not at all."

With no thought for her own sanity, health or bank balance, Helena fearlessly investigates the various anti-ageing tricks on the market.

I've got to admit, this book is probably not aimed at me. I dislike shopping, have no interest in shoes (and point-black refuse to wear heels), and consider brushing my hair as the height of personal grooming. It's a fair bet that I'm going to age in much the same laissez-faire way...

Related posts: How To Walk in High Heels review | The Goddess Guide review

BOOK REVIEW: Star Von Bunny, A Model Tale by Kym Canter

I have absolutely no idea what this book is all about. You can watch a little film about Star Von Bunny here, but don't expect it to help (although it's worth watching for the use of the word "inspirate").

Star is a toy rabbit who wants to be a model. This is her story. From moving to New York, to changing to an all-white diet (including marshmallows and vanilla ice-cream), to working out with Christy Turlington and eventually moving to LA to become a MAW (Model-Actress-Whatever), Star's journey is accompanied by numerous photographs and one illustration that made me laugh out loud. 

The book is written by Kym Canter, a former fashion and style reporter (she was Special Projects Editor at Elle), currently Creative Director for ultra-luxury fashion house J. Mendel. A portion of the profits is going to Doctors Without Borders.

I read it in about 10 minutes. That's not to say I didn't like it because I kind of did. I just don't really know who it's *for*. I guess it's one of those stocking fillers that you read on Christmas Day and then give to the charity shop. If you're in the fashion industry, perhaps you'll find it hilarious. I'm fashion-challenged, so I just found it cute and charming, if a little pointless, but it didn't make me want to punch people like a certain other charity fashion book.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try This Little Piggy Went To Prada by Amy Allen

BOOK REVIEW: Blood is the New Black by Valerie Stivers

I was very excited when I reported the forthcoming debut novel from Valerie Stivers in book news back in September – vampires and fashion are just my thing – so imagine how excited I was when Blood is the New Black plopped through my letterbox weeks before publication.

The story revolves around Kate McGraw and her internship at Tasty magazine. Kate’s a medical student with an eye for fashion – she can diagnose a man and tell you where his suit was tailored at 50 paces. Her mother, who seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth, was a fashion designer, and although Kate has tried to break free of the fashion world her aunt introduces her to Tasty editor, Lillian Hall, who offers her a job at Tasty.

Kate soon faces the wrath of her fellow interns when she becomes Lillian’s favourite, but that doesn’t worry her as much as the murders that are going on around her. And why are some of her Tasty colleagues so odd? What’s the strange red drink they all have and why do they sleep in their offices? And why do they all start work so late – surely they can’t all be up all night?

I love the new trend of supernatural chick lit and this one really hits the mark – this was a read in one sitting book. It turns the world of fashion on hits head, but is still believable. If you’ve ever wondered how people in fashion manage to stay so thin maybe this is the real reason.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

The Devil Wears Prada - alternative film review

Warning: Movie Spoiler

I finally got round to watching The Devil Wears Prada last weekend (I know I’m a year behind everyone else!) and I was very disappointed. Girl goes to the big city to get her dream job and then jacks it all in because her boyfriend doesn’t like her new lifestyle (and, if you ask me, her best mate seemed jealous as well).

The moral of the story seemed to be that if you want the powerful, glamorous job that Miranda Priestly has you will end up a lonely divorcee, but if you toe the line and get the good little girl job all will be right in your love life. I’m told the book has a different ending so I’ll have to move that up my to be read pile to find out.

Related Posts:  The Devil Wears Prada archives

BOOK NEWS: 'Style from A to Zoe' by a stylist to the stars

I may be a little fashionably-challenged at times, but we do love our fashion lit here at Trashionista, so we were interested to hear that Rachel Zoe, controversial stylist to the stars, is set to put her pen to paper. I say 'controversial' because she's been accused of pushing Nicole Ritchie to lose stupid amounts of weight (which she denied). I also say controversial because the young stars she dresses (including Lindsay Lohan and Misha Barton) tend to have real 'love them or hate them' wardrobes.

Anyway, whether you love her style or aren't really bothered, her book Style from A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty, & Everything Glamour will be out in October.

[Via our fabulous sister site Catwalk Queen].

BOOK REVIEW: A Dangerous Dress by Julia Holden

First of all, can I just say how much I love the cover of Julia Holden's debut novel, A Dangerous Dress? It perfectly captures the mood of the book (and of the dress that's the star of the show). We often compare the US and UK covers, and this is one time when (I think) the UK version is definitely superior. (Here's the original US version - what do you think?)

But what is the book like, you're wanting to know! Well, it's about a dress. Yes, really. Jane is a bored bank worker in the town of Bum****, Indiana (not its real name, but that's what everyone calls it 'cos its so boring). One day, she's contacted out of the blue by a film company who read an essay she wrote in university about the glamorous Parisian gown she found among her late grandmother's belongings. In the essay, she speculated about who might have designed it and where her grandma may have worn it, and talked about its wonderful design.

The film's production crew read her passionate essay and think she's just the person to track down a similar dress for their movie, so Jane packs her bags, hurriedly arranges a passport and catches a plane to Paris to work on a film and follow in her grandmother's footsteps... Love, excitement and glamour await her - or do they?

Well, she certainly has an interesting and exciting time, but it's a bit of a bumpy ride and things don't turn out as Jane expects ( wouldn't make a good book if they did!)

When I think about the plot of this book in retrospect, it seems a little silly but it has a fairytale-like quality that means you have to suspend disbelief as it's fairly unlikely the events of the book would take place in real life and a lot of the plot is based on coincidences and chance. But it's all so charming that I was completely absorbed in the story and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I absolutely raced through it and found Jane a charming, if naive, narrator. (A bit YA-ish if I'm honest). I was a little bit disappointed that the end didn't quite tie up all the loose ends, but a sequel would be great and I'll definitely read more by this talented new author.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Venus Envy by Shannon McKelden.

'How to Shop' - EXCLUSIVE Mary Portas giveaway!

The brilliantly savvy fashion/shopping expert Mary Portas, also known as Mary, Queen of Shops after her fabby BBC programme, has released a new book: How to Shop with Mary, Queen of Shops . It's a beautiful hardback, jam-packed with useful information from a mistress of retail.

And we have a copy to give away to one lucky Trashionista reader!

If you'd like to win, carry on over the cut to find out how...

To be in with a chance of winning:

Simply email us at editor@trashionista.com with your name and address and MARY in the title. Please also put 'no' in the body of the email if you wouldn't like to receive further information from Ebury/BBC books. I'm sorry, this giveaway is UK only.

And that's not your only chance to win: until the end of July there's the chance  for 5 people to win £100 Oasis vouchers over on Mary Portas's website, which is well worth a look in any case.

Good luck!

BOOK REVIEW: Two Lipsticks and a Lover by Helena Frith Powell

When Helena Frith Powell moved to France from England she found that the difference between her and the French women around her was glaringly obvious: they all looked effortlessly stylish - and she didn't.

So in Two Lipsticks and a Lover she sets out to find out what is it that gives the French their certain Je Ne Sais Quoi, covering topics from fashion to affairs to the French attitude to sex (much more intellectual than the British one, apparently) .

iI found this a really enjoyable read. What could have been a very superficial book is made more interesting by the inclusion of just the right amount of facts about French food, culture and history. However I couldn't help feeling that maybe Frith Powell buys into the beauty myth a bit too much, being very disparaging about a woman she sees with unshaved armpits. (After all, there's no law that says we have to defuzz all over and spend hundreds of euros a year on face creams, is there? - If there was I might be writing this from the slammer!)

Take it all with a pinch of salt, however, and you might learn something and perhaps even, as the cover promises, 'Unlock your inner French woman...'

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan.

Follow fashion at GFWlive.com!

We like a fashion-themed read as much as the next girl: from The Devil Wears Prada to Divas Don't Knit - clothes, chick lit and the fashion industry share a special bond, which may be why Trashionista's ed-in-chief Gemma Cartwright is also a fashion maven.

For the rest of this week, you can follow Gemma, Kim and the Catwalk Queen gang's take on Graduate Fashion Week at a specially-dedicated blog, GFWlive.com.

If you want to know what kind of clothes we'll all be wearing (and most likely, reading about) next season then head on over for all the gossip!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Gil McNeil

Having recently really enjoyed Gil McNeil's fourth novel, Divas Don't Knit, I'm delighted that she's chatting with us today. Find out her favourite female heroine, her tips for aspiring writers and what she's working on next by reading on...

Please describe your latest book [Divas Don't Knit] in 15 words or fewer:

Can you knit yourself a new life when your old one starts to unravel?

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?

Mostly at home at my kitchen table, or in my office upstairs but pretty much anywhere I can find a pen.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Usually the one I’ve just finished, but my favourite writers (who I return to whenever I want a treat) include Jane Austen, Anne Tyler, Nancy Mitford,  Jilly Cooper, and Mary Wesley.

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?

Again, too many for a neat list, but definitely Bridget Jones, Miss Marple, and Elizabeth Bennett.

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?

Read as widely as you can, and stick at it.

What are you reading at the moment?

When I’m writing I tend to read non-fiction. At the moment I’m reading a mixture of travel and knitting books.

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)

The sequel to Divas Don’t Knit.

What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)

Would you be interested in all-expenses paid trip to a luxury hotel somewhere fabulous so you can tell our readers how lovely it was?

Yes, no one's ever asked me that, either... Thanks Gil!

[Photo © Jerry Bauer]

See some stylish book reviews over on Catwalk Queen

I say 'see' rather than 'read' because lovely CQ editor Kim and her (and our) ed-in-chief Gemma have made a video in which they review some fashionable releases.

The books include The Goddess Guide and The Cheap Date Guide to Style and you'll have to watch it to see what they think.

I'm just glad no-one's asked me to make a video yet...

Fashion Lit archives.

BOOK REVIEW: Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones and Anonymous

There's something about seeing 'anonymous' on the cover of a book that makes my spine tingle with excitement... even if, as when I read Primary Colors, the author has already been unveiled. I think Imogen Edwards-Jones's mysterious collaborator will be a bit harder to track down, though: 'anonymous' is a collection of people throughout the fashion industry who provided her with gossip, information and scandal in order to make Fashion Babylon a must-read for anyone with even half an eye for fashion.

Which...um... isn't me.

So what would I make of the book?

Honestly? I thought it was fabulous! You don't have to be at all interested in fashion to find this story of a struggling British designer trying to make it big completely fascinating. In fact, the less you know about the way the fashion world works, the more this book will be a refreshing and often shocking read. I kept having to remind myself that, as the author testifies at the start of the book, everything detailed here really happened (and some of the stuff attributed to rumour probably did, too).  Hotel Babylon is the third in Edwards-Jones's 'Babylon' series (after Hotel Babylon and Air Babylon) and I'd now love to read the other two and find out the goss from those industries, too!

But the book isn't just a dirt-spilling delight, there's a storyline too, and despite the faults of the designer (who admits she likes her models as skinny as possible, to make her clothes look good - couldn't possibly design FOR a woman's figure, could she?! - and her business partner, who's a little on the drug-addled side) I was hoping their collection would do well, and cheering them on to success. My only slight criticism is that it all got a little too shallow at times, but then I was right back to caring about the characters within a few paragraphs. A great read. [DS]

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Fashion Victim by Sam Baker

Fashion Lit archives

BOOK REVIEW: Alligators, Old Mink and New Money: One Woman's Adventures in Vintage Clothing by Alison Houtte and Melissa Houtte

Alligators, Old Mink and New Money: One Woman's Adventures in Vintage Clothing by Alison Houtte and Melissa Houtte is a memoir/fashion advice book based on Alison's experiences as a model and later owner of a vintage clothes shop in Brooklyn, Hooti couture.

Each chapter begins with a recollection of a much-loved vintage clothing item, and its importance in Alison's life. The chapters then progress in a mostly chronological order, detailing Alison's journey from a clothes-obsessed teen to a model in Germany, Paris and New York and her later adventures opening a shop. It's a treat for any fan of vintage clothing (which I am, big time) and I loved reading Alison's memories of customising clothes and finding bargainous second-hand finds. It made me want to take a tour of my local charity shops (or even better, her local charity shops) post-haste. But I did have a little problem with this book...

Perhaps naively, despite the title I hadn't actually realised that Alison had no problem with buying, selling and indeed wearing vintage fur coats and alligator skin bags, which is not something I want to do - or read about. I read these sections of the book thinking "no, no, no" and hoping they'd be over quickly! But that's just a small part of an overall very enjoyable read. I also understand that not everyone shares my views on fur, and some think that vintage fur/skin is acceptable as the animal has already died (but...yuk). So although I give the author 0 out of 5 for her stance on animal products, I didn't let that tarnish my reading expereince too much (as I said, it is a very small part of the book!) - we don't all have to think the same, after all.

Moving on, the appendices at the back of the book, which include what to look out for in vintage shops/markets, and the best internet resources, are packed with detail and very useful (although understandably American-oriented, this being an American book).

All in all a good read (just don't tell PETA I said so).

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try It's Vintage, Darling! By Christa Weil

Fashion lit archives.

THURSDAY THREE: Working at magazines

Last week I looked at books set in newspaper offices. This week I’m looking at the much more glamorous world of magazines.

Andrea Semple’s The Ex-Factor features agony aunt for Gloss magazine, Martha Seymore, whose own relationship comes apart, leading Martha to piece together her relationship history and realise that she might not be that different to her readers after all.

Zoe Rose, heroine of Stephanie Lessing’s Miss Understanding, has recently been made deputy editor to Issues magazine, despite being a radical feminist. She immediately gets on the bad side of a couple of fashionistas and the rest of the plot is typical bitchy, back-stabbing, sabotage type of stuff you would expect from a book set at a glossy magazine.

Carry on over the cut for our third book - ooh, what could it be? - and a special request ...

Arguably the most successful chick lit book of the last few years, Lauren Weisberger’s The Devil Wears Prada is about Andrea Sachs, who goes to work for Miranda Priestly, the scary editor of Runway magazine. Can you believe we haven’t actually reviewed The Devil Wears Prada here at Trashionista? So would any of you like to review it for us? The book, not the film. If you're feeling generous, please email us. Thanks!

MOVIE NEWS: Eloise in Paris

We recently told you about the new animated series based on Kay Thompson's Eloise picture books and it now seems there is a live-action feature film on the cards. Eloise in Paris is to be directed by Calendar Girls director Nigel Cole and will follow the precocious six-year-old’s hunt for a stolen dress during Paris Fashion Week.

Shooting will take place this year in Paris, New York and London and the movie is scheduled for a spring 2008 release. [via Publishers Weekly]

Meryl Streep wins Golden Globe for 'Prada' portrayal

Meryl Streep's star turn as boss-from-hell Miranda Priestly in hit chick-lit film adaptation The Devil Wears Prada has earned her a Golden Globe award for best actress in a comedy film, reports the BBC.

Most deserved, I must say - good on ya, Mezza!

Devil Wears Prada archives.

From Trashionistas to fashionistas!

Who would have thought that two women who spend their lives with their heads in books and their bodies in pyjamas (the joys of working from home - although not the same home) would be fashion columnists too?

No, the world hasn't turned on its axis: we're both writing about our fashion flaws! (That sounds more like it...) Keris in Small and imperfectly formed, and me? Fashion misfit, at your service...

BOOK NEWS: I Want Those Shoes

The ladies over on our sister site Shoewawa were very excited to hear about a new shoe-related book that I think Trashionista fans will like, too. Obviously, we like to read about something other than shoes occasionally, but a book about why women love shoes sounds fantastic - and even more so if I can put my feet up whilst reading it, instead of hobbling around in punishingly high heels just to look good... not that I don't do that too, on occasion! Anyway, the book in question is called I Want Those Shoes and it's by Paola Jacobbi...

Visit the Shiny Fashion Forum for more hot shoe chat and buying advice!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Karen Quintiere

We're in the enviable position of having more NaNo author interviews than there are Wednesdays in NaNovember, so today's bonus interview day!

If you read Karen Quintiere's guest blog, you'll know that her book, Designing Bitches, is out next month. Read on for Karen's interview and then carry on over the cut to find out how you can with a copy of her book.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Designing Bitches is coming in December from Triskelion Publishing. It's my first novel and I couldn't be more excited or terrified.

My main character, Peyton Doucet, is a middle school Art teacher whose dreams of being a fashion designer were cut short when her best friend ripped the couture rug out from under her. Now married and living in Washington, DC, she gets a second chance to make her dreams come true.

(That's more than 15, Karen, but I'll let you off cos it's Friday!)

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?

I write on my Sony Vaio - it's Raspberry Red and totally cute. I don't really have a preference as far as where I write - my notebook travels wherever I do.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

I adore Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series. Becky Bloomwood and I have a lot in common, which is both good and bad, I suppose!

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?

As much as I love Becky Bloomwood, I have to say Scarlett O'Hara, who, in my opinion, is the original Chick Lit heroine. 

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?

I started a few years ago on a fan fiction site, which opened up a whole world for me that I never knew existed.  Through the site, I was able to create my own characters, invent storylines for them, and put my work out there for a lot of people to see. I also met a wonderfully talented group of writers who support and encourage me at every turn. I think it's a great place for any writer to start because it is an anonymous forum for lots of people to see your writing and give you feedback.  The first time I got an email from a stranger who'd read and loved my writing was one of the best days of my life.  My only other advice is to read, read, read, from as many different styles and genres as you can.

What are you reading at the moment?

I tend to read several books at once - I'm a voracious reader and my tastes are fairly eclectic.  Let's see..

Echoes of a Distant Summer by Guy Johnson (Maya Angelou's son)
Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

I think I'll stop at three, otherwise I may give the impression that I don't have a life!

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)

Right now, I'm working on the follow-up to Designing Bitches, which is tentatively titled, Bitches in Bikinis.

I'm having lots of fun with it so far - the girls are on vacation in Morella, a very cool spot I found in the lyrics of a U2 song and promptly Googled. I'm about 7,500 words in so far and have most of the scenes plotted out. 

What question have you never been asked, but wish you had (you can answer it too, if you want.)

What superhero power would you like to have, and why?

I would love to have the power to turn invisible - I am super nosy and the chance to spy on others is too good to pass up. Of course, if there is any sort of superhero hyperspeed metabolism available, then I'll just have to be nosy in the usual way.  Being able to eat whatever I want and have it burn right up? That would be the best thing ever. 

Thanks, Karen! For your chance to win a hot-off-the-press copy of Designing Bitches, just email us with "Bitches" in the subject line and your name and address in the body of the email (so we can send you the book - we won't send you anything else, honest) before 30 November 2006.

And don't forget there's still time to enter our other NaNovember competitions: The Salem Witch Tryouts, BreakupBabe, Daughter of the Bride, Time Off For Good Behavior and Sara Gruen (three books!)

BOOK REVIEW: Miss Understanding by Stephanie Lessing

Miss Understanding is about Zoe Rose who is .. odd. She shows signs of having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and possibly even autism, but this isn't referred to openly (at least not that I noticed, but I could have missed it - I'll explain in a bit). She has recently been made deputy editor to Issues magazine (which featured in Stephanie Lessing's first book, She's Got Issues) and since Zoe's apparently a radical feminist and Issues is a typical women's fashion glossy, you can imagine it's not exactly a match made in heaven.

Zoe starts work at Issues and immediately gets on the bad side of a couple of Fashionistas (in a very funny bathroom scene). It has to be said, no-one is convinced by Zoe's journalistic credentials and everyone is more interested in the fact that one of her enormous boobs leaps out of her blouse in the first editorial meeting. Because that's the other thing - Zoe can't dress herself. At all. Basically the rest of the plot is typical bitchy, back-stabbing, sabotage type of stuff you would expect from a book set at a glossy magazine.

For probably the first third of the book I kept putting it down and gasping with frustration. It's predictable and obvious and far-fetched, but it's also really funny and that's what kept me reading. I have a vague idea in the back of my mind that Stephanie Lessing meant Miss Understanding to be a satire on chick lit, but then I kept stopping to ponder whether satire works if you have to be told it's satire and if a satire on chick lit is just another way of saying bad chick lit.

As for Zoe being a radical feminist, she suggests articles like 'Why Your Girl Boss Is Mean to You When You Dress up for Work!' and 'Why Girls Are Mean to Redheads, Fat Girls, Girls with Freakishly Large Breasts and Sluts!' So, um, not so much (then again it is meant to be satire .. I think). There are actually some interesting (though not new) points made about the way women treat other women, but there are also too many examples woven through the book - in general the woman are stereotypes and stereotypically mean to one another - I felt a bit like Stephanie Lessing was beating me over the head with it.

The reason I'm unsure as to whether Zoe's issues are mentioned openly, is that I found myself scanning great chunks of the book - there was just too much waffle - but I kept reading because the character of Zoe fascinated me and there were some damn good jokes in there. Stephanie Lessing can really write so I hope she forgets the satire and writes a "proper" chick lit book next time.

Rating: 3 out of 5

If you like this, try The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

Bay Area Blogger's NaNoWriMo

The Bay Area Blogger is the author of Bay Area Love Letters, a guide to the San Francisco Bay Area for residents and visitors. Here's her NaNo:

Up-and-coming model Ginger would do anything to be the new face of Brand X. When the hiring director drops hints about hiring Ginger for the job, her quest to secure it becomes all encompassing. Ginger's sure she's got the gig in the bag, but why wait for time to tell? She embarks on a mission to get the facts out of her boss--and anyone else who's got inside info.--and she learns a little more than she bargained for as she goes about her task.

Will her rival win the hiring director's favor and leave Ginger in the lurch? Or will Ginger do whatever it takes, even breaking confidences and destroying careers, to get the job? Is her boyfriend really supporting her on her way to the top, or is he involved with the hiring director is ways that are less than professional?
 
Part chick-lit, part chick-lit satire, The New Face of Brand X tells the story of what can go wrong when success is sought after at all costs, even at the expense  of romance and friendship. At what point is ambition a virtue and at what point a vice? And what's a girl to do when walking a mile in her dream Jimmy Choos ends up nothing like it was cracked up to be? 

Read an extract here.

If you'd like to see your NaNo project on Trashionista, just email us the details! You never know who might be reading (duh duh duuuuuh!) (that was supposed to be suspenseful music).

Intro to NaNovember / Lisa Clark's NaNo / Kathleen O'Leary's NaNo / Kate Madison's NaNo / NaNovember archives

Designer book covers

As anyone who reads our sister site Catwalk Queen will know, fashion designers don't just want to stick to clothes... (or shoes or bags)- dahling, that's soooo passe. Now shoe impresario Manolo Blahnik and all-round hipster Paul Smith have turned to designing book covers (for Madame Bovary and Lady Chatterley's Lover respectively) to celebrate 60 years of Penguin books- and very pretty they are too!

Related posts: Galaxy book cover / Flapart's tasteless titles.

Karen Quintiere's Guest Blog

Designing Bitches, Karen Quintiere's NaNoWriMo novel from last year, is being published by Triskelion and is coming out this December to an ebook store near you! We're delighted to welcome her as our second NaNovember guest blogger!

NaNo Madness by Karen Quintiere

Personally, I think you have to be a little insane to attempt NaNoWriMo. It’s a wild ride to hit that magic number – 50K in one month is no joke, let me tell you. On some days, the only thing that got me seated in front of the computer was the thought that one of my Writing Buddies was, at that very moment, surpassing my word count. It’s a good thing that my competitive spirit is what fuels me, rather than chocolate or chips. Otherwise, I may have been disowned when I showed up for Thanksgiving at my parents’ house – there is nothing more offensive to my relatives than excess padding. It turns the biggest eating day of the year into a guilt-fest of the size of Kirsty Alley’s pre-Jenny Craig jeans. But I digress – this blog is about the joys of NaNo, not my family’s obsessive love of all things fat-free.

Writing Buddies are a must for NaNo, especially if you have an evil monster within driving you to WIN, WIN, WIN! Do I sound like Monica Geller? Probably, but it was that force pushing me as I typed my poor, manicured fingers to the bone, ever onward toward the Holy Grail of 50,000. It wasn’t enough to get there, oh no, I had to beat as many as my Writing Buddies as possible in order for it to count. The insane part is that my Writing Buddies are some of the nicest women you’d ever want to meet, and in their minds, this was simply a healthy competition that would help all of us end up with a finished manuscript.

NaNo worked for me because, in my twisted mind, losing is a dirty word. The thought of entering and not reaching 50,000 never occurred to me. When my word count bar turned purple and the word, “winner” appeared over it, I was as happy as if the Jimmy Choo fairy visited my house, leaving me scads of sexy shoes in a size seven. (Hint, hint.)

Thanks, Karen. Look out for our interview with Karen and review and giveaway of Designing Bitches.

Francesca Segre's guest blog / NaNovember archives

Posh is a signing sensation*

While we're on the subject of celebrity authors, Victoria Beckham broke store records on Monday when 3,000 fans turned up to Selfridges in London for a signed copy of her style guide, That Extra Half an Inch: Hair, Heels and Everything in Between.

Some fans queued for over 12 hours to make sure they got their book (described by the publishers as a “revealing and practical” guide to “fashion, beauty and style”) and Victoria stayed at the store until they had all been signed. [via book2book]

It's a bit different from Paul Burrell's recent experience, isn't it? (By the way, if anyone's starved for Paul Burrell/Diana news, you can read all about his "last Christmas with Diana" in the latest issue of Eve magazine. No, really.)

* No, not a singing sensation - obviously.

SPOTLIGHT: Lauren Weisberger

This week we turn our attention to arguably the most successful chick lit author of the last few years - Lauren Weisberger.

Lauren was born in 1977 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Cornell University in 1999 she backpacked around Europe and Asia before moving to New York to work as Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour. Amazingly, it was the very first job she applied for.

This experience inspired her first novel The Devil Wears Prada, which was published in 2003 to great fanfare and enormous popularity. It was subsequently made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway (see what we thought of it) and is soon to be a TV series too!

Lauren's second novel, Everyone Worth Knowing (for which she received a $1million advance), was published in October 2005 and was also a New York Times bestseller, despite the general consensus being that it's not quite as good as her debut (USA Today declared it "a major letdown").

Lauren lives in New York and is working on her third novel (yep, another $1million advance).

Continue over the cut for her bibliography and more

The Devil Wears Prada
Everyone Worth Knowing

Click here for a list of Lauren's favourite books.

Did you know? Lauren's a huge fan of Grey's Anatomy (like some other of our favourite authors!)

FRIDAY FLICK: The Devil Wears Prada

We had to review DWP for Friday Flick, didn't we? After all, we've talked about it for quite some time- and even told you how to make Devil Wears Prada cocktails! (I didn't end up sneaking a flask in with me, but I did go to see it with four other girls and a large tub of popcorn, which seems the ideal scenario).

If you haven't read the book and have managed to avoid hearing about the film (how?!) here's the story: Andi wants to be a serious journalist and has moved to New York to pursue her dream. After trying to get her dream job on a big New York newspaper investigating serious issues, and repeatedly failing, in desperation she attends an interview at Runway magazine (famously based on American Vogue) where despite her lack of fashion acumen, editor-in-chief Miranda Priestley (famously based on Vogue editor Anna Wintour) hires her. And then the fun begins!

Sorry- that was sarcasm... the fun doesn't really begin at all for Andi after that. Miranda makes Margaret Thatcher seem warm and fuzzy: Andi is constantly on call to pander to her every whim, from getting the new Harry Potter in manuscript form to getting her out of Florida in the middle of a tropical storm. And Miranda's senior assistant Emily has no sympathy, and never responds to Andi's attempts at friendliness. Soon Andi's relationship with her boyfriend Nate is suffering and her friends complain they hardly see her. Her dad comes to visit her and she spends the whole night on the phone, instead. Andi says she can't stand her job. But a part of her is sucked in, too: she changes her image, loses weight and starts to fit in to this glam new world. But does she want to? And what will that mean giving up?

I really enjoyed this film- it's perfect fun chick-lit fare, perfectly placed for its target audience. Anne Hathaway is great at this kind of bumbling-awkward-girl-turned-beauty shtick (as the two Princess Diaries films prove). It's also fun to watch stuff like this and try to imagine what's based on reality (I imagine quite a lot, as the book's author Lauren Weisberger was Anna Wintour's assistant!) There are some differences from the book, though: Andi's boyfriend lives with her in the film, which actually makes more sense, and Miranda is a touch softer (although not much- I'd heard reports that suggested she was positively warm and fuzzy- not so!) The ending is also different, and I feel the book's more moral outcome was stronger. But those who haven't read the book I'm sure won't mind. All in all, a fun girly fun, perfect if you love fashion, journalism- or just a light chick-flick of a Friday night. I recommend it!

Friday Flick archives.

Knit Lit?

I'm sure you all know how popular knitting is with models and Hollywood actresses (as well as my predecessor Jenni and our ed in chief Gemma!) So I knew there HAD to be at least one novel involving knitting out there, and here it is: the intriguingly titled Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton is a 'knitting mystery' (who knew?)

The majority of knitting books are unsurprisingly non-fiction, but Stephanie Pearl-McPhee writes knitting memoir/advice books that sound funny and interesting whether you can knit one, pearl one (like Julia Roberts) or not (like... me). Her latest is Knitting Rules and despite my lack of knitting know-how, I'm still tempted to read it! Her blog, Yarn Harlot however, is pretty hard core knitting natter, but a good read all the same (and includes four free patterns, too).

Are there any other knit-heavy novels out there?

Oops! I almost forgot about the timeliness of my post- it's actually National Knitting Week in the UK from this Saturday, 14th October, when there will be a Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace. More on Knitting from Catwalk Queen.

SPOTLIGHT: Wendy Holden

Pun queen Wendy Holden was born in Yorkshire and read English Literature at Cambridge University. After graduation, she became a journalist writing for Tatler, Harpers and Queen, The Sunday Times and The Sunday Telegraph.

Her debut novel, Simply Divine, was inspired by her experiences on the glossies and was an immediate hit. After Bad Heir Day was another huge success, Wendy gave up journalism to become a full-time novelist. Her third novel, Pastures Nouveaux (called Farm Fatale in the US, it's one of Shanna Swendson's favourites), was followed by (confusingly) Fame Fatale (called Gossip Hound in the US), Azur Like It and The Wives of Bath. Her latest book The School for Husbands, has seen her titles getting cute new covers (in the UK).

Wendy Holden lives in London and Derbyshire with her husband and two children.

Inexplicably, we've never reviewed any of her books! We will set that right forthwith!

Carry on over the cut for Wendy's bibliography.

Simply Divine
Bad Heir Day
Pastures Nouveaux/Farm Fatale
Fame Fatale/Gossip Hound
Azur Like It
The Wives of Bath
The School for Husbands

See Wendy talking about Azur Like It here

(Little Miss) Stella McCartney's special 'book'

Being a huge fan of Mr Men and Little Miss books as a child, I loved the news that Stella McCartney's latest fashion show invite was in the form of a specially-created Little Miss book, called (unsurprisingly) Little Miss Stella. One for my next birthday, please...

[Via Catwalk Queen].

BUDGET FASHIONISTA GIVEAWAY!

Yep, it's another Bafab giveaway- and there's still loads more to come! This is one our friends at Catwalk Queen, Shoewawa and The Bag Lady will be salivating over... How to be A Budget Fashionista's lovely author Kathryn Finney has donated THREE signed copies to be won by three of you!

You should have got the hang of how this works by now- To win, just email us with your name and address (so we can send the book to the winner, we won't stalk you!) and "Fashionista" in the subject line.

And speaking of Catwalk Queen, go there to read what Anne Hathaway, Star of The Devil Wears Prada, has to say about her personal style... or lack thereof. (You can enter our giveaway, Anne!)

Our other giveaways: This is Chick Lit, Wedding Belles, Shanna Swendson, Queen of the Oddballs, A Faber Double, Hester Browne, Try and The Man from Perfect. (Plus we'll have more to give away later today and Friday! Phew...)  You can enter as many as you like, just send each one on a separate email and we'll pick a winner at random once Bafab's over!

The Devil Wears Prada cocktails!

As you should all know by now, this Friday sees the UK release (at long, long last!) of the film adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada so in honour of this fine occasion, one of the film's sponsors, Cointreau, the French liqueur (ooh Cointreau and liqueur are hard to spell, aren't they?- and I haven't taken a sip, I swear!) has created two special cocktails in honour of the film. Perhaps you could have some girlfriends round afterwards for a celebration? Or, y'know, you could try and sneak a flask into the cinema... (JOKE).

Check out the recipes over the cut...

Devil's Desire:

You need: 50ml Cointreau; 25ml pink grapefruit juice; 25ml pomegranate juice; 10ml passion fruit syrup; 1 wedge of lime, squeezed.

Chill a martini glass. Shake ingredients together in a shaker with ice, and strain into glass. Garnish with a spiral of orange peel.

Devil's Delight

Fill a tall glass with ice. Add in this order and stir gently: 1 wedge of lime. Squeeze over ice and drop into glass;

25ml Cointreau;

50ml apple juice ;

50ml cranberry juice.

Garnish with a slice of orange.

Simple! Enjoy...

[Via Response Source].

THURSDAY THREE: Assistant Lit

I ranted a while ago about the numerous chick lit sub-genres and then, in her review of See Jane Write, Luisa mentioned Assistant Lit. Well it may sound far-fetched, but it's actually one of the most successful sub-genres. (Laura Zigman's long-awaited new book, Piece of Work, is yet another example.)

Just in case you're unfamiliar with the term, Assistant Lit does exactly what is says on the tin - it's a book where the main character works for someone who is usually glamorous and most likely a pain in the pants.

It would be remiss of me not to start with the most famous example, The Devil Wears Prada, particularly since the film is finally out next week. I think everyone probably knows what this one's about, but just in case ... Lauren Weisberger worked as assistant to Vogue editor Anna Wintour and then wrote a book about Andrea Sachs who gets a job as assistant to Miranda Priestly, editor of Runway magazine ... and she gives her a dog's life.

Hop over the cut for the other two books.

The Second Assistant by Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare is about Elizabeth Miller who takes the job of second assistant to an executive at a glitzy Hollywood agency and soon finds it's not all glamour. Mimi Hare used to be a Hollywood executive so she presumably knows what she's talking about.

The Nanny Diaries by, yes, former nannies Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin follows the New York adventures of Nan as she attempts to take care of 4-year-old Grayer while dealing with his mother, Mrs X's increasingly outrageous demands.

So which is your favourite Assistant Lit book or *evil laugh* do you have an ex-boss you could write your own book about?

Book News: It's Vintage, Darling!

This lovely-looking new book had me at "hello, what's this?"

It's Vintage, Darling! by Christa Weil instantly appealed to me as I'm a vintage obsessive from way back (remember when we used to call it 'second-hand'?) With tips on how to tailor your second- sorry, vintage wardrobe to suit your figure and style, rather than just having an odd mish-mash of un-matching outfits (hmm, someone's been peeking in my wardrobe, haven't they?) as well as hints on spotting classic items and inspirational stories of finding perfect outfits, it sounds like perfect escapism.

The subtitle is 'how to be a clothes connoisseur'- something the ladies over at our sister site Catwalk Queen are already experts at! Over at the new shiny forums, you can even ask the CQ girls for advice. (And there's a Trashionista section too, of course, book lovers...)

Jenny Colgan's wedding cake and more!

Over on our sister site Bridalwave today, you can find out where chick-lit stalwart Jenny Colgan got her wedding cake (and order one of your own, if you're so inclined!) Plus, a couple of weeks ago, they featured news of Trinny and Susannah's latest book: a guide to dressing for weddings.  With five of my friends having got engaged in the last year, I think I might need to take a look at that...

BOOK REVIEW: Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot's adult novels haven't yet achieved the enormous success of her teen books, but this year has seen the release of the first book in each of two new adult series. The first Heather Wells mystery, Size 12 Is Not Fat received mixed reviews and so did Queen of Babble, but I was dying to read it anyway.

So does it reach the usual Cabot heights? Well, in a word .. no. (Cue stunned gasps from everyone who knows me!)

Carry on across the cut to find out why not.

Lizzie Nichols is 22 and has just graduated. Some of the criticism of both Size 12 Is Not Fat and this book is that it could easily be one of Meg's teen books if it wasn't for the subject matter and I wonder if that's why she's made Lizzie 22. But even for 22, Lizzie is unbelievably immature. Oh she's sweet, but too naive to be realistic. And not just because she uses the word 'stiffy' about six times in the first fifty pages.

As the title implies, Lizzie can't keep her mouth shut. She talks a lot and she can't be trusted to keep a secret. Following a disastrous trip to London to visit her appalling boyfriend (who she's actually only previously spent one night with) she gets the train to Paris to visit a friend who's working at a French chateau and spills all her secrets to the handsome hunk in the next seat. And guess what? He's the son of the owner of the chateau. Did you see that coming? No! Me neither! (I'm being sarcastic.)

Once Lizzie gets to the chateau this book improved immeasurably. Despite being embarrassingly dopey, Lizzie is very sweet. Her friend Shari and Shari's boyfriend Chaz are great characters (as is Lizzie's grandma who sadly disappears from the book after the first 100 or so pages) and Luke (the chateau-owner's son) is gorgeous.

But .. but .. it just wasn't that special. It was sweet and funny, but it wasn't very original and I hate to say it but this type of story was done a lot more successfully by Sophie Kinsella in Can You Keep A Secret?

If you like this, try Can You Keep A Secret? or The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

SECOND CHANCE BOOK REVIEW: Fashion Victim by Sam Baker

It looks like Fashion Victim gets the double thumbs up! Camilla liked it,and just for confirmation here's what Danielle has to say...

With the pink cute-to-boot cover and title suggestive of the usual (and totally addictive, let's not forget that!) chick lit, Sam Baker's debut novel Fashion Victim appears to be a shout-out to all those who love their fashion stories. Well we do, right? We've all read The Devil Wears Prada, but this? This is ten times better....

It’s not every day I come across a book like this (though I may be biased seeing as the heroine is a journalist). With a gripping mystery and a down-to-earth yet sassy heroine, coupled with the realities of the fashion industry, Cosmopolitan editor Sam Baker is definitely one to watch in the world of women's fiction.

Fashion Victim chronicles the life of journalist Annie Anderson as she switches from hard-hitting correspondent of a newspaper to fashion editor at top magazine Handbag. Shoved mercilessly into the midst of New York’s fashion elite, Annie is just getting to grips with her new role when famous fashion designer Mark Mailer, who Annie just happens to be doing a piece on, is shot dead in a restaurant.

It appears to be the usual robbery, but somehow Annie is far from convinced. There's something amiss about the whole situation, and being a renowned investigative journalist, it's up to her to solve it. Especially as this isn't the first time a tragedy has happened in her presence...

As Annie tries to piece together the Mark Mailer puzzle whilst also having to deal with his equally-intriguing ex Patty, she is putting herself in danger of being the next fashion victim. Literally.

Straying slightly from the usual chick-lit style of office-bound girls and their humorous lives, Baker stands out with her murder mystery that's quite frankly guaranteed to keep you hooked. It's a whodunnit and sassy tale rolled into one, with suspense that'll make you not want to leave your chair. Trust me, I've been there.

So, for a more serious spin on career-girl chic; give this one a read. Bring on the next one, Sam!

If you liked this, try One For The Money by Janet Evanovich.

BOOK REVIEW: The Debutante Divorcee by Plum Sykes

Since my reaction to Bergdorf Blondes was lukewarm, my instincts told me to give Plum Sykes' follow-up novel a wide berth. However, it landed on my doormat regardless! It doesn't really cover any new ground, sitting comfortably in the Manhattan socialite world yet again, though this time our ladies are wives and divorcees instead of single girls searching for love. Think of it as 'Sex & The City: When Carrie Married Big' and you're halfway there...

I know Plum Sykes is probably fed up to the back teeth of the Sex & The City comparisons and constant mentions of the fact she's an ex Voguette with a contacts book any fashionista would kill for. But let's face it, she's selling a lot of books because of that, and we do love to scoff over these part fact / part fiction New York women and read all about the designer clothes they wear.

The story begins when new bride Sylvie meets 'it' girl Lauren while the two are on their honeymoons. The twist? Sylvie might be on a real honeymoon (sans husband - it's a long story) but Lauren is on her 'divorce honeymoon', celebrating her singledom and making plans to make out with random men. Sylvie and Lauren become instant best friends in a way only these superficial New York women can, and the rest of the book is a whirl of parties, fashion, secrets, misunderstandings and mysterious men.

With Sylvie working for a fashion designer and Lauren a rich socialite, there's plenty of scope for exotic locations, gorgeous clothes and plenty of trashy frivolity. This is a book you read in disbelief, unsure whether this stuff actually happens. Designer labels and 'it' names are spattered across the pages throughout (as well as a lot of talk of fur when our girls end up in Russia).

Plot-wise, it skips along quite nicely, though you won't win any prizes for guessing what's going to happen. It's most entertaining because you'll read the second half knowing exactly what's going to happen, trying to stop yourself from tearing at the pages in desperation that the characters haven't worked it out yet.

Overall, while I was expecting to hate this, I found myself enjoying the escapism. It gets a four our of five for entertaining me for a couple of evenings, but it comes with a 'complete trash' warning. This is a book to dip into and enjoy when you don't want anything too taxing. Don't read it to educate yourself unless you're planning to go millionnaire-nabbing in Manhattan! [Gemma]

If you liked this, why not try Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger

Reading Sex and the City

For some reason, it took me a long time to get into Sex and the City, but once I finally did I was hooked. (So hooked in fact that there's a lost weekend of DVD box sets and Bailey's.) And now, I miss it. I really miss it. So maybe it's time to immerse myself back in the world of Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte with the following books.

First of all, of course, is "Sex and the City" by Candace Bushnell. I read it before I ever watched it and I didn't like it at all and I'm not alone. Worth a read if you're really desperate.

Then there's "Sex and the City: Kiss and Tell" , the official book of the series featuring behind the scenes gossip and loads of lovely photos. Probably the place to go for pics of Mr Big (there are some terrible photos of him online ..).

If you worried you may have missed something while watching the show (maybe you were drunk on a certain Irish liqueur or something ..) then "Manhattan Dating Game: An Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Every Episode of Sex and the City" should be able to help you out.

Finally there's "Reading Sex and the City" which is not only a cultural and feminist critique of the show, but also features reports from the "Sex and the City" Manhattan tour and a map of "Sex and the City" New York.

Review: Everyone Worth Knowing

Owing to the success of its world-famous predecessor The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger's next offering, Everyone Worth Knowing, definitely seemed worth the read. With the upcoming movie release of Prada this October, I was curious to know what else this this lady had up her sleeve!

But as they all say - the sequels are never as good as the first. Actually, Everyone Worth Knowing is NOT a sequel - it's a new character in a whole new world of work - but with the immense similarities, it might as well be.

Bette Robinson leaves her dreary bank job in New York, and with the help of her well-known columnist uncle, lands a job for Kelly & Company; one of the biggest party-planning firms around. Jumping in at the deep end, somewhat clueless Bette finds herself immediately accosted by a vast array of celebrity clients, colleagues who think that a Birkin bag will solve all of life's miseries, and a boss who promotes partying as 'good for the company.' Okay, this job is certainly not banking. But she's getting paid to party!

However, when Bette appears in the latest gossip columns as the girlfriend of Manhattan's most wanted bachelor, everyone is clamouring to know just who she is and how she managed to snare the hottest guy around, Philip Weston. If that isn't bad enough for Bette, seeing as she is in fact NOT going out with the famed millionaire, her boss thinks it's amazing. Bette's instant fame is tripled, leaving her to suffer late nights and the prospect of having to let down her best friend.

It seems like a decent plot that would make for a witty tale of celebrity life, but Everyone Worth Knowing is far from it. Much to my disappointment, it took me two weeks to get through this when I usually finish a book in a matter of three nights, due to the fact that this is si