Eccentric Glamour: Simon Doonan Tells It Like It Is

Finally! I got a chance this past weekend to dig into Simon Doonan's new book Eccentric Glamour: Creating an Insanely More Fabulous You (Simon & Schuster, 2008) and for once, a book actually lives up to the buzz it generated in the run up to its release. Eccentric Glamour, despite the subtitle, is not a "how to" type makeover guide. What it is rather is a manifesto, a cri de coeur, a plea for individuality in fashion and in this respect it is long, long, long overdue and far more valuable to women than yet another makeover manual or a trashy piece of chic-lit pretending to offer deep insights into the plight of the modern woman.

Doonan is the Creative Director of Barneys and is known almost as much for his quick, biting humor as he is for his unconventional window-dressing prowess. His trademark caustic wit and bitchy humor is on display throughout the book as is his tendency to dish the dirt and to tell it like it is. For a seemingly bitchy fashion industry queen, his views are surprisingly empowering to women. His writing style is very much like listening to a beloved girlfriend give you really good advice, a woman's woman who has your best interests at heart and has your back as well. It's not every day that a fashion insider calls it like it is but yet, that is precisely what he does on everything from the lack of joy in fashion, the idiotic claims of the skin care industry and the ongoing obsession with celebrity lifestyles and the particularly perverse culture this has spawned. Doonan's lucidity also extends to himself including his working class roots, his talent for self-promotion and his own preconceptions which makes this book all the more endearing. The final chapter dedicated to the late British aristocratic eccentric Isabella Blow is both touching and revealing of Doonan's own insecurities.

I doubt very much that Simon Doonan will ever come across this little blog post but, if by chance he does, I would like to thank him. I haven't laughed this hard in a very, very long time. More importantly, given how cynical the fashion world is and the price many women pay for their devotion to an industry that rarely has their best interests at heart, it's good to know someone like Simon Doonan has your back. So, in the words of Mr. Doonan himself, "say no to ho" and read this book asap. It's the best money I've spent since my last pair of Pierre Hardy shoes.

Sincerely,

The Luxe Chronicles

Comments

[Ms. P&C]

Thanks for the recommendation Helene! I have been looking for something new & fun to read in between my heavy-duty lit...

I know it's sold at the Jonathan Adler store, so that will be my latest excuse to cross the threshold... ;-)