I used to read a lot. In the recent decade, though, I have less time to myself and as such, neglected reading. Okay, maybe it was just a matter of making an effort to set aside reading time, but somehow reading wasn’t a priority anymore. To be completely honest, the last book I read cover to cover was Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol. A year ago.
I’ve decided that I want to cultivate the reading habit again. I won’t make it a resolution (we all know resolutions last as long as fake tans). Instead, I’ll keep my eyes peeled for hot titles on the book charts and hopefully I’ll manage a classic or two in between.
Recently, I came across a recommendation on this title in a fashion magazine (on average, I only read one fash mag per month). Unlike Skye, I don’t have the habit of collecting books, or reading the same title twice (unless it’s law-related), so I popped by the library and borrowed it. I like to put on my geeky glasses when in the library.
Classy: Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady by Derek Blasberg (love the Tiffany Blue cover!)
What attracted me to Classy was its relevance to etiquette and daily life. If I was going to pick up reading again, I ought to start by reading something I actually like, and which is useful, right? So, this is it. A little handbook on how to be a lady.
You should totally read this book if you are seeking answers to questions such as how to dress properly (how short is short?), how to be a gracious party guest (what to do at a party when you really don’t want to talk to Mr Clingy-Know-It-All), and how to adhere to dress codes (what does “smart casual” really mean?).
In this laugh-a-minute publication, the author sets out behavioural patterns and appearances which distinguish a Lady from a Tramp. The book also covers the fundamentals of fashion, how to attend and host parties, travel etiquette, friendship, love, temptations and self-enrichment.
On the difference between fashion and style, Blasberg says, “Fashion is a constantly changing sensibility promoted by fashion designers and translated to stores and to customers every six months. Style, on the other hand, refers to the way that you, your friend, your mom, your boyfriend, your future ex-husband take individual trends and fashion pieces and incorporate them into a personal wardrobe.” Makes a lot of sense, no? :) I fancy skinny jeans with fitted satin blazers on most days but you may prefer straights with tunics.
I really like how Blasberg uses effective illustrations in his book when explaining what to do versus what not to do when dressing oneself, and the pose one should assume under certain circumstances when in public.
In the following example, Blasberg shows us how a lady should be dressed (and that she should preferably be sober and not smell like McD’s and ketchup) when travelling and what a tramp would likely be wearing in the same situation. Surely you’d prefer to be the girl on the left? :P
In this day and age, celebrity crotch shots are a common sight on the pages of gossip magazines. Does common sense not tell one to wear underwear? Well, apparently not, for a bunch of famous young ladies. Blasberg reminds us that even the most fundamental clothing rules can, and are, being breached. On dressing appropriately, Blasberg says, “Unless you’re a cheerleader or prepubescent little girl, there is no reason to run around town in a half tee. Surely you can afford a whole shirt.” LOL!
Each chapter is followed by a short quiz for the reader to assess how much of a lady (or how trampy) she is. These are fun to do and the given options got me laughing out loud on more than a handful of occasions.
Blasberg also throws in general tips on safe online shopping, what to look out for when selecting clothes, and recommendations on wardrobe staples.
Through this book, I learnt to decipher dress codes – if you haven’t been stumped by one of these yet, there will come a time in your life when you will wonder what “black-tie” actually means, trust me. He takes you through casual, smart casual, cocktail, BBQ, formal and black-tie, theme, white-tie, and pool party dress code explanations (confession: I didn’t even know there’s a white-tie code until I read this book!). Extremely useful.
And when you finally put on the perfect outfit and show up at the party, how do you behave? If you have the makings of a gracious guest, rest assured you’ll be invited to the next party. Or, would you be so drunk (see photo of tramp below) that you find yourself waking up on the concrete pavement the morning after, with bits of vomit in your hair?
During parties, I don’t have any problems starting a conversation, but I sure find it a little awkward when there’s silence between people – a situation when there’s nothing more to add to the conversation and you’d actually like to end it but you don’t know how to. Blasberg recommends that you try, (a) “Oh, I just remembered that I had to tell Sally that her brother wants his iPod back.”, (b) “I just want to put this bag down so I don’t have to hold it all night.”, (c) “I put my bag down and need to get something out of it.”, and/or (d) “I’m so thirsty – be right back!”, amongst other witty and convincing excuses. I’ll bear these in mind! ;)
If you are the host of a party, Blasberg shows you what an ideal invitation should include, how to properly set a table, how to introduce people, and how to end a party, amongst other tips. He also shares some of his favourite party themes, and my favourite of the list is Elsa Maxwell’s Come As You Are party. Basically, guests had to turn up at the party in exactly what they were wearing when they received the invitation. Imagine if you were wearing the most unglam outfit! Would you “cheat” and turn up in nicely pressed clothes? :P
In a separate chapter on love, Blasberg offers some pointers on identifying good boys, bad boys, and gay boys: “Some general rules of thumb when it comes to the sartorial decisions of the opposite sex: If he shows more leg than you do, if he has more accessories than you do, if his pants are tighter than yours, and if his sweaters are tighter and smaller than yours – he might be a better boy friend than boyfriend. This can be tricky territory: The modern male reads magazines and knows it’s okay to spend money on his appearance. But there is such a thing as too much flamboyance in collars, accessories, and color coordination.” This is accompanied by illustrations of varying appearances of a good, bad and gay boy. Very stereotypical, but very funny.
These are but some memorable bits of the book, which I believe you would like to finish in one sitting. Peppered with personal anecdotes, photos and endless humour, Classy is more than a book – it is a bag of bite-sized etiquette lessons every girl needs to learn. Remember, no one is born classy, and money can’t buy you style. It takes time and effort to shape character, cultivate class and create a personal style.
Finally, I leave you with a quote by Mae West (found in Classy):
Every woman should have four pets in her life. A mink in her closet, a jaguar in her garage, a tiger in her bed, and a jackass who pays for everything.
J
Tags: Beauty, Classy, Classy: Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady, Derek Blasberg, Etiquette, Fashion, Reading, Self-help, Tiffany, Tiffany & Co, What I'm Reading
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