Trench coats

trenchcoats
Originally uploaded by capoeirawardrobe

I have a strong passion for trench coats. I really don't feel a need to have more than one, but I could never pass by a cute trench without taking a closer look. I just can't...

The other day my husband took me to the mall and as we were walking through Bloomingdales, I've noticed a cute trench coat. So I dragged my husband to go check it out.

-"I don't like it that much" he said "and anyways, why are you even bothering yourself with it, you already have a perfect trench coat"

I took a moment coming up with a perfect analogy (I tend to use analogies whenever I need to explain something to a man).

-"You see, trench coat for a woman is the same as women for a man. You can spend your life searching for the perfect one and if you are lucky you won't be too old to enjoy it. So if you are a man who found your perfect woman, you marry her (and if you are a woman who found your perfect trench coat, you buy it), but it does not mean that from that moment on you will ignore every other woman for the rest of your life.

Sometimes you will just take a look, sometimes more than that... Sometimes you will look and think to yourself "mine is so mucvh better", and sometimes you will be tempted to "try it on", sometimes you will think that certain one is almost as good as yours and you will be tempted to add to your "wardrobe", but then again, you will always come back to your perfect one and ralize that once you have one, there is no real need for a second one. But even after that realization, you will now and then, you will at least glance at what's out there."

My husband enjoyed that analogy :)

I love your style

At first glance the book might seem a bit subjective. Like one of the reviewers has said it's all about ME. I went to the book store after reading the reviews and got the same impression after flipping through the pages of the book for the first time but I ordered it anyway for entertainment purposes. I mean, if I am willing to read someone's memoirs or biography about their life or work accomplishments, why not read someone's fashion history. Especially someone as stylish as Amanda Brooks.

But I have to say, the book turned out to be much more than I expected and I did pick up plenty of insirations from there.



Especially i enjoyed the part where Amanda gives advice on how to find your style. Some find it irritating how often Amanda changed her look and style, but isn't it the best way to find who you really are? How can you ever truly know unless you've tried nearly everything outthere? For some style comes naturally, during the first couple of decades of life, but for others it takes a lot of soul searching and a lot of changes.

Amanda recommends go through books and magazines and make cut outs of what you found the most appealing. Out of those images one can create a fashion book where you could see how your style and taste evolves over time. Will you like the same thing a year from now, 5 years from now etc.

According to Amanda, there are 6 style types, 3 definable: Classic, Bohemian, and Minimal and 3 undefinable: High Fashion, Street, and Eclectic. She describes different periods of her life when she identified with each one of the above, illustrating it with photoes of herself, people she knew and various celebrities, whom, she believed, reflected particular style the best.

I wouldn't say it's a story of Amanda's life, more like a guide to finding your own style, illustrated by exaples from her life and her experiences.

Last part of the book talks about types of shopping: Basic, cheap Chic, Designer and Vintage. Unlike other books, this book tells us that our basics do not have to be classic, but more of a reflection of our particular style. If basic item is a t-shirt, it does not have to be classic black or white t-shirt, it could be ripped or torn etc., whatever suits one's particular style and personality.

I must say, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely keep it in my style library.