The Bombshell Manual of Style - Hardcover

Laren Stover; Nicole Burdette

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786866942 ISBN 13: 9780786866946

Publisher: Hyperion, 2001

Synopsis

In this glittering beauty and lifestyle guide packed with pearls of wisdom, Laren Stover has compiled everything a woman needs to know to live the Bombshell life: from how to dress and make an entrance to what to eat and where to shop. It tells readers what makes a Bombshell tick; road-tested outfits for 25 occasions; must-have Bombshell sleepwear, handbags, and fragrances; what's in the Bombshell library; and what she looks for in a man. With scads of little-known facts about real-life bombshells like Liz, Mae, and Lana this fun and ever-so-practical little book is certain to bring out the inner Bombshell in every woman.

About this title

About the Author

Laren Stover is currently editor-at-large of Contents and was associate creative director of advertising at Bergdorf Goodman. She has been a resident at Yaddo and Hawthornden Castle and received the Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation grant for fiction in 1991. She lives in New York City. Ruben Toledo has created witty, incisive illustrations for L'Umo Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Details, Paper, the New York Times, Visionaire, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany. He lives in New York City.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

What Makes a Bombshell Tick

A Bombshell is full of contradictions. She is a combustible blend of confidence and vulnerability. Sauce and naivete. She wears high heels but kicks them off at every opportunity. Adores negligees and charmeuse gowns but can't wait to get out of them. She always expects to run into someone who matters, even if she's home alone. A Bombshell never dresses carelessly and wears marabou mules around the house. She behaves as if all life's a movie in which she is the star.

A Bombshell Radiates Confidence

When she enters a room, everyone looks. When she exits a room, everyone looks. Not because she is more beautiful than other women, or because her clothing is ooh-la-la, a Bombshell's magnetism flows from the inside out.

A Bombshell doesn't edit her feelings or her body language. She is, in fact, extravagant with her body language. She touches people. Spontaneously. She expresses her feelings as openly as she displays her curves. Her body may be human and imperfect, not at all mannequin-like, yet she puts herself on a pedestal as easily as she lounges on a couch. "She wasn't classically beautiful by any means," writes W.J. Weatherby in his book, Conversations with Marilyn, "but she had a strong, attractive body and chameleon moods that could make her body convey anything she wished."

A Bombshell Believes in Her Fantasies

Even if her bracelet is dime-store cheap, she wears it as though it were Cartier. She doesn't need real diamonds to feel like a million dollars. She expects people to send flowers and stop by with champagne. And somehow, they do. Watching her emote over a bouquet is a performance that her suitors and fans want to see again and again.

A Bombshell Is Authentic

Some women cultivate a blase attitude. They act bored. They think this makes them sophisticated. The Bombshell is never bored and, therefore, never boring. She never pretends to be anyone other than herself. She is not censored, careful or contrived. She does not read the rules or follow the rules, or color her hair to conform to the latest trend. The Bombshell cannot pretend excitement not deeply felt, nor gush over movies and books and art she finds disagreeable.

A Bombshell Is Vulnerable

While some women contrive to cover their hearts, the Bombshell reveals her feelings without calculating the consequences, regardless of the risk. She is so in tune with her emotions that she allows them to surface in a heartbeat. However, she is so endearing that most people are more inclined to come to her rescue than to do her harm.

A Bombshell Is Resilient

Bombshells prove you don't need to have an enchanted childhood or privilege to triumph. Failure- a film that bombs, a job that doesn't pan out, a marriage on the rocks, an unpublishable manuscript- is only a mild setback, and will at least garner some sort of publicity. No matter what's going on in her life, the Bombshell finds everyday occurrences thrilling.

A Bombshell Puts Glamour Before Comfort

A Bombshell is willing to overcome a little discomfort for a nude leg. She doesn't complain that her feet hurt in 4-inch heels. She endures the constraints of boned underpinnings, and even celebrates them. She dresses up for evenings at home with friends, even if it's just to watch the Academy Awards.

A Bombshell Is Compassionate

She always follows her heart. She wants to rescue animals. All animals. Lions, monkeys, kittens, beagles. She is too loving and innocent to be malicious. While she might have a temper- one of her charms- she never plots. She is a good listener. She cries if you cry, then she'll try to cheer you up.

A Bombshell Is Intelligent

She's smart enough to know that it doesn't matter if other people think she's too sensual or pretty to be brainy. She's never obnoxious or loud when she's right. She doesn't correct people. A Bombshell brushes up on topics that will enhance her social life. She does this not only because she has a genuine interest in everything, but because she wants others to feel comfortable.

About this edition

• Publisher: Hyperion
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0786866942
• ISBN 13: 9780786866946
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 190
• Illustrator: Ruben Toledo