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Ladies first
Books to delight grandmas and girlfriends REVIEWS BY AMY SCRIBNER Just breathe. It's almost holiday time again. You might not be able to control whether the Christmas lights are perfectly strung, and you really have very little say in whether your crotchety aunt ruins yet another family get-together. But you can assert yourself by choosing just the right gift book for the lady in your life—whether spouse, grandmother, girlfriend or sister.
France and Linett, editors at shopping magazine Lucky, don't mince words when it comes to fashion. The advice in this book is invaluable, from when to splurge (a good cashmere sweater, a timeless watch) to how to organize your newly fabulous wardrobe (hint: if you haven't worn it in the last two years, it might be time to part ways). Fair warning, though: the authors' joy for fashion is contagious. Reading this book will make you want to burn your closet and head for the nearest department store.
By Andrea Linett and Kim France Gotham, $30 320 pages, ISBN 1592400361 Remembering Audrey Hepburn
Written in graceful, honest prose, Ferrer's book traces Hepburn's life starting with her childhood in war-torn Netherlands, then moving onto her career in show business, and later, her extensive work for UNICEF. Ferrer does not shy away from the personal, recalling private memories of late-night chats with his mother. "Whenever she had to go to a dinner or a cocktail party, she would always say, 'Oh, if only I could stay home and eat in the kitchen with you,'" he writes. He also writes candidly about her health problems, including multiple miscarriages and the cancer that ultimately killed her. In fact, Ferrer seemingly shares everything, from Hepburn's favorite recipe—spaghetti al pomodoro—to dozens of lovely photos from every phase of her life. The pictures of her visits to refugees in Somalia are powerful, and the shots of her from various movie sets wearing her famous Givenchy clothes are gorgeous. For all that Ferrer shares, this private glimpse never feels exploitative. His book will appeal to anyone who wants to read an account of a simultaneously modest private life and a huge role on the world stage.
By Sean Hepburn Ferrer Atria, $28 256 pages, ISBN 0671024787 Parties with panache
This TV host (and former wife of the late Sonny Bono) suggests simple steps, starting with the seemingly obvious question of what the occasion is. "Defining the occasion gives meaning to your plans," Coelho writes, "so think through what you're celebrating and why." Once it's clear what the party is about, Coelho guides readers through the rest of the planning process. She advises compiling items and colors that serve as a springboard for designing an inspired party. Coelho fills her pages with sumptuous color photos to show exactly what she means by "Italian Trattoria" or "Candy Cane Christmas" theme parties. Her hints are practical enough for mere mortals not blessed with the enigmatic entertaining gene. Coelho lays out several spectacular—and spectacularly manageable—party concepts, such as an Asian fusion party complete with homemade spring rolls, fortune cookies and a Chinese checkerboard used as a serving tray. Few could think of such clever concepts on their own, and that's what Coelho is there for.
By Susie Coelho Simon & Schuster, $35 192 pages, ISBN 0743246624 Haiku for the hefty
Clair also shares down-to-earth advice on how to avoid caloric temptation, and perhaps more importantly, how to change one's self-image. With its whimsical illustrations and refreshing point of view, The Sound of One Thigh Clapping is one self-help book that doesn't take itself too seriously."Fond memories of
By Meredith Clair Workman, $10.95 123 pages, ISBN 0761131426 All Amy Scribner wants from Santa is less traffic on the Washington, D.C., Beltway.
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Start with a topic dear to the heart of most females: clothes. Some of the women we know could use a fashion reality check—do
they really need that seventh pair of Levi's? Authors Andrea Linett and Kim France think they might be better off investing in
a new coat, and they're not afraid to say so.
The Lucky Shopping Manual: Building and Improving Your Wardrobe Piece by Piece is a
priceless guide for those who don't have a natural intuition for whether they're better suited for A-line or empire waist—and
especially for those who don't even know what those terms mean. The book breaks down clothing by category, from dresses to pants to
swimsuits. Sleek, precise illustrations show how to put together an outfit that suits any body type and attitude. The book also
profiles several fashionistas, delving into the closets of clothing designer Shoshanna Lonstein and journalist Carlota Espinosa,
among others.
Audrey Hepburn never wrote her autobiography, despite pleas from friends and agents, fearing her life was too "plain" to make for
good reading. But in Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit her son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer,
makes clear that Hepburn's larger-than-life life was begging to be recounted.
As host of programs "Surprise Gardener" and "Outer Spaces" on Home and Garden Television, Susie Coelho knows how to make a space
look effortlessly beautiful, even if for most people there's nothing effortless about it. In her new book, Styling for
Entertaining, Coelho shares her expertise with the entertainment-impaired who need guidance
on how to throw a stylish party.
Finally, for those who indulge a bit too much in holiday goodies, there is the hilarious,
heartfelt The Sound of One Thigh Clapping, Meredith Clair's meditation on the eternal
fight against fat. After failing at quick-fix diets, Clair enrolled in a weight-loss class led by a woman with a Zen attitude.
Inspired, Clair decided to pen her own weight-loss creed. The result is this hilarious book filled with haikus (17-syllable verses)
that cut right to the heart of the matter: dieting is no fun, but it can be funny. Clair's gems pay tribute—well, sort of—
to some of the most beloved diet-busters: