Frederic Fekkai: A Year of Style - Hardcover

Fekkai, Frederic

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0609605038 ISBN 13: 9780609605035

Publisher: Clarkson Potter, 2000

Synopsis

Why has Frédéric Fekkai become one of the most sought after stylists in the world? It's not only his subtly sexy and carefree haircuts; his devoted clients have come to treasure his unerring advice on everything from the perfect handbag to menus for entertaining as much as his skill with scissors. Now every woman can realize Frédéric Fekkai's vision of complete beauty with this unique handbook, a guide to achieving a more simple, natural, and chic lifestyle every single day.

Unlike any other beauty or style guide, Frédéric Fekkai A Year of Style acknowledges that a woman's look is constantly changing with the season, with fashions, and as her own lifestyle evolves. Frédéric Fekkai A Year of Style works like a daybook, offering twelve chapters packed with advice for living life more beautifully -- plus a special style note for each day of the year. Each chapter explores the beauty priorities for a different month, whether it's making a fresh start in January, reinvigorating the body and mind in April, or celebrating the holiday season in December. June offers insights on bridal beauty and grooming for men, while September looks at the best cuts for kids and cultivating a sophisticated yet natural career look. Throughout, you'll discover sections on such beauty essentials as choosing the perfect pair of sunglasses and trimming bangs between salon visits. And because Frédéric believes style applies to every aspect of your life, there are also tips on packing for a tropical getaway, establishing a rewarding exercise routine, and choosing the perfect holiday gift.

Frédéric Fekkai knows style is more than what a women gets at the makeup counter or in a salon; it's the small choices she makes each day, from which lipstick color to wear to how she holds her handbag. In Frédéric Fekkai A Year of Style, he offers a head-to-toe guide to achieving the look he's renowned for: effortless elegance throughout the seasons.

About this title

Review

Any master stylist who encourages women to do less rather than more, to simplify their wardrobes, to carry only a few essential cosmetics, and to take catnaps in the summer has mastered the feminine psyche. Frédéric Fekkai, a native of Aix-en-Provence, is stylist to some of the world's most beautiful women (Liv Tyler, Brooke Shields, et al.), as well as the founder of eponymous salons in New York City and Beverly Hills and creator of a line of hair- and skin-care products, fragrances, and accessories. He understands that many American women are frustrated by unpretty trendiness and conflicting advice about glamour, that they want a simpler, more timeless approach to finding their own elegance. "Style," Fekkai writes, "is not about age, or height, or weight--it's about a sense of ease, a sense of dignity, and a sense of individuality shining through."

Drawing largely on the effortless allure of the women of Aix, Fekkai's foundation for A Year of Style is a month-by-month guide to simple beauty, with themes like "Energize" in February and "Romance" in June. Fekkai dabs in seasonal snippets: how to wear "sexy accessories" in May, how to choose toenail polish in July, how to relax while getting dressed for a holiday gala in December. His touches of beauty advice cover all the basics: the differences among hair spray, gel, and mousse; the best way to apply concealer; the perfect home blow-dry for a finished salon look. Daily sidebars add a whimsical tone--send vintage postcards, buy brightly colored toothbrushes, rent a sporty red convertible for the weekend--as well as beauty and style tips.

A Year of Style is both cool (you'll learn how to sip a citron presse) and refreshingly down-to-earth ("I have seen women subject themselves to too-often-repeated peels. Their skin becomes so shiny, they look shrink-wrapped.") Needless to say, this is a flawlessly designed book, from the typography and layout to the hundreds of photographs--chic, natural, and elegant--that perfectly showcase Fekkai's style. It's a book that's hard to put down, because it's as much about personal style and sophistication as it is about clothes and hair. Perhaps more than that, it's spirited, accessible, and just plain fun. --Rebecca Taylor

About the Author

A native of Aix-en-Provence, France, Frédéric Fekkai moved to the United States in 1982. He opened his first eponymous salon in 1989 and went on to establish Frédéric Fekkai Beauté de Provence salons in New York and Beverly Hills in 1997. His hair and skincare products, accessories, and home fragrances are now available nationwide in select department stores and Frédéric Fekkai boutiques. He lives in New York City.

Canadian-born photographer Tara Sgroi studied at Nova Scotia College of Art & Design and Cooper Union in New York. Her portraits, still lifes, and location photography have appeared in numerous fashion and shelter magazines. Frédéric Fekkai A Year of Style is her first book; she lives in New York City.

About this edition

• Publisher: Clarkson Potter
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0609605038
• ISBN 13: 9780609605035
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288