Beauty Books

I've read many things that were supposed to help my self esteem with how I looked and felt about myself. But after reading Graffiti a boost of encouragment stayed with me. I continue to remind myself of the book Graffiti whenever I feel down on myself and what not. expect uplift and encouragment when reading this book. I felt like I was on the same level as the auther Erin Davis. I could relate to many situations and feelings that she explains in her book. One of my favorite things about Graffiti is it encouraged me to open up scriptures in the Bible whenever she would spat out scripture verses to read. what better source can you have than the Word itself. Reading Graffiti and then referring to the Bible was most fun and even more encouraging than the fact of relating so well to Erin Davis. I highly recommend! :)

Ms. Davis is in touch with what is on the minds of women, both young and not so young. All of us have experienced that feeling of hopelessness when it comes to body image. This book guides the reader into a new, improved, celestial view of ourselves. If we see ourselves as God does, our lives are richer and we are free to fulfill our positive potential. This is a great read for girls of all ages. I just wish it had been written when I was raising my daughter. It is a great resource for mothers and daughters and will open up lines of communication between them. I congratulate the writer on this work and look forward to reading more offerings from her!

I remember well the distorted vision I had of myself growing up. Peers would taunt me with teasing type rhymes. Yes, I would chuckle with them but when it grew night I would release the pent up tendered tears into the puffs of pillows on my bed. I liked the dark for no one could see me cry. I avoided mirrors for it brought disdain to me and I saw nothing but flaws with no possibility of change near by. I use to cry out to the "if only" world: "If only.... I had the body of Rachel Welch, the hair of Farrah Fawcett, the voice of Marie Osmond, the eyes of so and so and the smile of so and so THEN I would be beautiful. (I know, showing my age aren't I?) No one ever told me I was beautiful. No one. It wasn't until I was probably in my late 30's that I began to get an understanding of God's Word and Promises. I have learned through life experiences and Gods grace of who I am in him and better yet, Who He is in me! I know more about what beautiful really is. Erin. . . you are BEAUTIFUL! The words written by your hand have been etched in my mind and heart for they will be of great help to me in ministering to those who need words of understanding, acceptance, love and hope. Thanks for your humility to expose/write your heart and life down on paper. Indeed it is a beautiful offering to our Lord. (PS: What a beautiful hearted servant of a husband God has given you!) Blessings of JOY to you and yours!

Maybe like you, I approached this book thinking that I had read several other books with similar messages. Although that is true, this one seemed to present its message with such clarity that I find myself believing the truths. Identifying with Erin wasn't hard because we have all been there, but I enjoyed how she asked me to do more than just read over the questions, but answer them for myself.
The author draws me in with her honesty and stories. The truth she shares isn't presented in an overwhelming manner, but rather penetrating. Her claims come from the source of truth, the Bible, which is a powerful tool.
This books is truly a book to share. Pass it on to all the women in your life; they're beautiful. But do more than that, share with each other the struggle we all encounter about our worth. I feel like its something I've felt the need to keep hidden. That is a lie. And now its time to share.

I bought this book with the intention of using it for the high school Sunday school class at our church. After doing the study myself, I was able to apply it to my life as well. I will also be passing along some of the information from this book to my five year old daughter. Great Job Erin!

This book does a terrific job listing simple, practical eco-friendly practices that any household can adopt. Highly recommend!

This is a cute book with a great message. While many "green" books give you long list of dos and don't (mostly don'ts!), Green Chic goes further. Author Christie Matheson goes into great detail as to the why that making environmentally friendly choices makes a difference. She is not at all about appearances, but is definitely all about the change of mindset and attitude.

The best part of this book is that Matheson offers very doable tips to make small changes that almost anyone can handle that make a major impact in our world.
Go Green!

So far this book has some good stuff to say. I have doggeared some pages to remember when I have to buy replacement "green" items. Easy read for anyone wanting to improve their "footprint"

The title of this book almost makes it sound like you'll be buying $500 dresses from organic hemp. Actually, what Green Chic provides is an extremely useful primer on how to incorporate green living into your daily life in a way that balances usefulness and impact.

Christie Matheson goes over a variety of basics in an easy to understand fashion. She explains the differences between incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, why fluorescent is better, and how to manage the switch. She talks about how wasteful plastic bottled water is, why it causes a lot of harm to the environment to buy water in this fashion, and what your options are.

She goes over the small differences you can make in your daily routine that really add up. Cut your shower length by 2 minutes to save 400 pounds of carbon a year. Uncharge your cell phone charger when not in use for another 100 pounds a year. These are things that are better for you anyway - your skin does much better with short showers - but you might not have thought about them before.

Wash your clothes in cold water. The heat really doesn't do anything at all with modern detergents, and if anything it might set a stain rather than let it wash out. Use recycled paper in your paper towels - if everyone in the US did that just once we'd save 1/2 million trees. Eat local foods, to save on the shipping impact of exhaust and gas.

We live in a consumer society. We buy things without thinking about their impact on our world. If each of us just made small changes - buying recycled paper cards, getting "non-thing" gifts for people like massage gift certificates or restaurant gift certificates, turning off lights when we left rooms - the impact could be phenomenal. Christie points these things out in an engaging manner.

Highly recommended! Then donate your copy to your local library, so even more people can learn from the information, and your own house reduces on its clutter!

Just for starters im 23 yrs old, and am apart of the generation that is really catching on to green living. Im also a major "tree hugger" as my family would call me lol. I love to do anything i can to help our environment, and that includes getting family members to start doing it to. So i have over the past two years bought several books. This one is my absolute favorite! this is perfect for anyone around my age or younger who wants to start going green! In this book it felt like the author really got down to some honest things we do that are hurting our planet without realizing we are doing it! Her words are truly inspiring. I thought i had this whole green living completely figured out, The author points out some things that im even guilty of. This book gave easy, simple and effective soulutions to living green without huge efforts or spending alot of money. The author of this book did a amazing job. I am so Happy i found this, i have three friends who went out and bought it and are now doing their part to live green. I have given it to two friends as part of their birthday gifts and they got back to me and told me they had finished it in less than two days. Fair price for such a Great Book! buy this book! you wont be let down.

I bought this gift as a present for a friend who lives in LA. What a great guide! Very thorough, but brief and to-the-point, summary of every beauty service you could need. My only wish is that they would give a price range for the salons, not just a low/medium/high rating. I hope they come out with one for the Detroit area!

while i do not live in la, this is a useful tool to have when traveling for work/pleasure, etc. similar to a zagat guide for dining, this is excellent. the summaries are short, sweet and to the point. women & men can trust that the research is accurate & reliable. please come out with a nationwide head to toe - we need seattle, dc, chicago, nyc, boston, miami, minneapolis, dallas and many more!

head to toe is incredible. I just have moved from New York to LA and use the book all the time. I found out about the book from an article in Vogue's August issue. It breaks down every beauty service by price with a review. No need to wonder anymore about the best beauty places just for you.

I just received my first client because of this wonderful book. I have a facial salon inRedondo Beach and I never knew someone came in to "check me out" ...how wonderful to find out that they reviewed me in their book and gave me some great advertisement. Thanks for everything Sirrell

Head to toe has been an unbelievable tool in finding the most perfect places to get any beauty needs. The reviews are so detailed with all the information from prices to hours of operation. I would recommend this book for locals as well as tourists who are visiting the Los Angeles area.

If you always look to Hollywood for beauty, one day, you'll wind up very unhappy. No one can stay young forever, no matter how much we could try. And one day, we'll all die too. Sigh. Being a human, being a woman, sometimes hurts because beauty matters so much. This book was nice because it also showcased other forms of beauty. Beauty that others also appreciate. Reminded me of a neighbor that I can't recall her looks so much as the love she gave when she made the most delicous pies you ever tasted. Black raspberry, lemon meringue, cherry... it wasn't just the amazing taste. It was the love and the beauty that went into each bite. Reminded me of times when a person you don't know does something kind or loving, and for a second you bond with them only to never see them again - a cosmic temporary connection. Celestine Proficy was interesting in this type of a way too. Where you can step back from a person and see their ora. Some people give off the "you can't run away from me fast enough" vibe. Others "the I wish I could spend every moment of my life around you" vibe. Beauty is more than physical, although the physical is first and most obvious to many. In this book, each woman, in her own way, showed beauty. There were photographs to go along with each woman's story.

Teen girls are faced with being the "ideal" girl, what everyone in the magazines looks like. But this book shows that beauty isn't only on the outside, but on the inside as well. "I Am Beatutiful" is a wonderful book and I think all girls who feel disapointed about what they look like an d who they are should read this. It will really make you feel alot better about yourself.

This book brought me to tears because it reminded me that there is beauty in everyday things.That just looking at another woman doesn't always tell her whole story, where she's been, where she is now and most of all where she hopes to go. I will never look at another person the same way.

I just love this book, I love sharing it with my female friends and watching their faces glow as they read it. It nearly brings me to tears over and over. It's very simple. A collection of photos of ordinary (but extraordinary!) women who think they are beautiful, and why. If I could afford to, I'd buy it for every woman I know.

I found myself wanting to know all the women in this book. Ordinary, strong, proud women. The photos are revealing and personal -- the writing even more so. I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes, or needs, to join a growing coterie of women for whom self-image is based on strength and vision rather than mass media hype.

What a story, Entertaining and thoughtful. Gives a snapshot of Nashville as seen by a West coast person. Great splashes of humor, Wonderful photography.

Wonderful! Reading this book was an adventurous experience by itself, very real. Nashville seems like a very romantic, historic place. I feel like visiting it right away. Very nice photographs!! Loved it!!

This reads very easy -- like a rather funny travelogue / description of Nashville sent to you by one of your literary friends. Complete with pictures and personal experiences from the point of view of an Asian Indian immigrant.

This is an excellent book to learn about Nashville from the eyes of a new comer. good photography, excellent choice of words. absolutely loved it!!

I loved the symbolism in snow flakes! Very moving! The book is full of humor, and yet is very literary. As others have said, the author uses photography to accentuate his writing, very impressive!

Known for his homoerotic images, photographer Tom Bianchi gives us a small taste (and I really mean small, since this book is pocket-size) of male nudes mixed in with prose and quotes from several authors. While his black and white imagery has always captured the eyes of many, due to his excellent depiction of the most beautiful male bodies on the planet, Bianchi's books gives anyone a reason to define beauty the way they see it.

It is not necessary to look like an Adonis like most of the men in this book (not that wouldn't hurt if you were one), but the fact that most of the men featured in this book are over their 40's, some even HIV+, often can open our eyes that stereotypes can't often steal from beauty's definition.

Whether gay or not, whether an art student or admirer, this book will give you a small glimpse and taste from one of nude photography's greatest photographers. Although this book will appeal primarily to gay men, I wouldn't toss aside if you weren't. You might discover things you didn't realize by browsing through this book.

This is a wonderful little book that aptly documents male beauty in a stunning fashion. The book may be small, but it packs a whole lot of punch.

Don't let the small size fool you, this is a great little book. Tom Bianchi has been wowing the public and critics alike with his photos for years. Some have been critical that the only people who find themselves in his work are individuals who are utterly flawless. In the the book, In Defense of Beauty, Mr Bianchi answers his critics with a thought provoking essay and the stunning photographs for which he is so well known and loved. Not only does he answer his critics- he provides a frame of thought which, if applied to our everyday lives, can create a positive change in the least physically attractive individual and bring forth that beauty in their own everyday lives. Attitude is truely the first step to not only inner beauty but of sharing a love for yourself and those around us in our daily lives. Get this book, you won't be sorry!

Although small, this book has plenty of well done, fairly explicit photograhs.

Black and white photos of male nudes by Tom Bianchi. Small photobook, could easily fit in your back pocket. Excellent and beautiful photography, one photo of two men on a beach at sunset(?)is one of the most beautiful photographs I've ever seen. Photography is joyous and truly celebrates male beauty; Bianchi expresses his art affectionately and with dignity. Wonderful art. Aside from the excellent quotes from Oscar Wilde, ignore the text, especially the Deepak Chopra hubris. Wilde's quotes, and the beauty of the photography, more than adequately defend Bianchi and his art. Buy this book for the photographs, not the philosophy.

This book incapsulates a genius and his gift of insight and ability to create such mind blowing beauty. The book tell of his childhood and goes through a multitude of experience that shaped his life and nurtured his personal creativity. It also shows a number of his clients and people he has worked with and they offer comments and goodbyes to Aucoin, who has died recently. It is well rounded and very hard to put down. I have all of the books related to him and recommend them all to anyone who is in advertising, fashion, beauty, and commercial art industry. His story is one of struggles and accomplishments. It is tragic that we lost this brilliant, intelligent, inspiring individual, it is evident that he was just getting started.

For those who really love Kevyn, this is a must read. I am a huge fan, and have all of his other books. It was so sad to see such talent pass so soon, but this book really celebrates his life and talent. Great pictures and commentary from celebrities and those closest to Kevyn.

Anyone seriously interested in the art of makeup must be familiar with the name Kevyn Aucoin. In the era of the supermodel, he was the super makeup artist. Aucoin was not only an exceptional artist, but an exceptional person. I could rave on and on about my late teens and early twenties, when I went through a period of self hatred because of the way I percieved myself. Kevyn's books encouraged readers to be adventurous in their exploration of self-image, teaching good techniques and smart tricks. It may sound trite, but I honestly believe those books did a lot for my self-esteem as well as my makeup skills. Even if you don't own his other books, this one is worth having for sure.

I thought this book would be more of a "how to" book more than a biography, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and am more inspired than ever to take my makeup artistry to the next level. It is easy to read and very interesting. No matter who you are or what your goals are, this book is proof that EVERYONE has obstacles to overcome. There is a small portion of the book dedicated to "how-to" in the back and I read the book cover to cover. I think I will still get some other beauty how-to books, but I was not disappointed in this at all even though it did not turn out to be what I originally thought.

I did not want this book to end. Kevyn Aucoin was an amazingly talented artist, but more importantly he was an amazing person. This book tells his story from his beginning in Louisiana, to the glamour of the super model era, to Kevyn becoming the most famous artist in his field. It is touching, detailed, and even helpful with the included makeup tips. a beautiful tribute to a beautiful person.

This is the textbook for my portfolio development class. All I can say is this is one of the best investments I've ever made. It initially seemed costly, but it is completely worth it. It gently talks you through the process of setting up your portfolio, and gives a ton of ideas for a stunning presentation that will leave an impact.

I don't think that I can say anymore than whats alreasy been said about how ABSOLUTELY GREAT this book is.

It really is a great resource to own. It has everything from layout (which one is the best and which ones aren't), to resume, to interview information. It also encourages you to think out of the box a bit by showing you what everyone wlse os doing.

Once agian excellent resource for up-an-coming fashion designers/students and even those who have left and are returning to the fashion industry.

I purchased this book to help me with my portfolio layout for acceptance to the Fashion Institute of Technology. Although I needed to follow FITs guidelines, I feel that I gained a lot of great knowledge and excellent ideas and inspiration by referencing this book before submitting my portfolio to FIT. I am proud to say that I was accepted and will now be referencing the book to put together my portfolio for interviews in the industry.

For someone who loves to sew and is looking on how to bring their designs to the next level, then this is the book for you. It chocked full of great tidbits and even provides several portfolio options for the novice beginner. For great inspiration, it features sketches from up and coming designers and the established guard before they were on the map. Great reference book for hard core design fashionistas!!

A great book for more advanced Designers, show you different presentations of portfolio...Great but I wish that the pictures were in colors not in B&W.

The quilt projects in this book are gorgeous, original, and will inspire any quilter in new directions. Each section is interspersed with helpful mini lessons, paper patterns, quilting designs, and the author's photographs of nature and radial images that enrich the reader's understanding of the design process.

I already own this book and have made a quilt. It is my favorite one so far. I purchased this book for a friend I like it so much.

If you understand how to read and follow the pattern of this quilt you can not just make one . This is just such a great quilt book.

This is an excellent book and it was in excellent condition when it arrived.

This is a wonderful book. I learned many new things. It got my creative juices really flowing. Awesome, creative stuff with the techniques to carry it out.

This is a typical story of a rich family running the family business into the ground. Barney and Fred Pressman spent their entire lives building up their suit store. They spent all their hours nurturing this business and they turn it over to their two sons and two daughters. The grand children have grand plans of expanding the store nationwide along with opening a megastore on Madison Avenue. Cost overruns, and the market result in doing in the business. They took a Japanese outfit along for the ride causing them to lose several hundred million dollars.

Levine does a good job of detailing the rise and fall of this retail empire. Barneys did a lot for mens fashions. However arrogant and greedy grandchildren caused the fall of this store. Family owned businesses should read this story for the caution it may give to family members.

A fascinating case study on the history of a well known American business. The behind the scenes look shows the evolution through 3 generations. Looking deeper, it says a lot about the values of each of the generations which explains some of the troubles in America today. Maybe we've become too soft.

I can't recommend this book enough if you enjoy shopping or business books. I continue to shop occasionally at NY and Beverly Hills. You can't go into the stores without better appreciating the history of the store. BUY THIS BOOK.

Don't be put off by what may appear to be a look at one business and one family's way of doing business. This book actually explores far deeper subjects and questions such as : Why is it that so many successful family businesses fail when passed on to heirs? Why do so many solid companies with loyal customers, proven merchandise and a promising future just fall by the wayside? To those who don't know Barneys, it was started by Barney Pressman, a smart, ambitious man who built his business into a thriving industry, selling more suits than anyone in the world by the 1960's.But what makes the book interesting is what happened to his business when his sons came into the picture and the intrigue, scandal and greed that tore apart the company. I can't help wondering: Why don't the patriarchs (or matriarchs) of family businesses teach their children to run the companies just as well? Is it possible to mix family and business and do it well? The Barney's sage, of course, is not yet over and the store is still in existence. So the end of this story remains to be seen.

A very enjoyable book. You pull for the Pressmans when the snobs snub them in the beginning. You jeer at them when their position goes to their heads and they behave very, very badly. But the really interesting part of the book concerns how fashion and retailing REALLY work. They appear to be just an elaborate hoax on the consumer. This book should be read in conjunction with Teri Agin's "The End of Fashion" which shows the comsumers are getting more and more skeptical and dissects the public offerings of fashion stock (if you're fond of your money and want to keep it, don't buy). Hooray.

It seems everyone talks to Levine because as Barney Pressman once told Fred, "The Pressmans have no friends." What emerges is not only a morality play but also a case study on how not to raise your children and how not to expand your business. Hubris is a horrible thing. Time and again though during this decade, with Wall Street money plentiful, retail managements successful in one locale expand their businesses to places that don't want them. A concept that works in NY doesn't seem to play in Peoria, or with Barneys, in Texas. While with public companies, it's only money; with Barneys, privately held, it's family and lives. Maybe that's what makes the Barneys' tragedy a fascinating read.