And everything else (How to Walk in High Heels - Camilla Morton)

Member Name: HelenW

Product:	How to Walk in High Heels - Camilla Morton
Date:	03/04/08 (129 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny, useful

Disadvantages: Some bits move slowly (or just in my opinion)

This book was brought for my sister, but since then, it's spent most of it's time on my bookshelf because she doesn't find it interesting.

It declares itself to be "The Girls Guide to Everything", and well and truely lives up to this declaration! It's a light hearted and informative book that I have not been able to put down (everytime I read it!). The dedication inside the book states "for aspiring Cinderellas everywhere". This is a good proclaimation considering some of the content, of which I will go into later in the review.

The foreword is written by John Galliano (a fashion designer) who talks about the author Camilla Morton and her achievements after having moved to Paris.

It's split into sections which I will write about in turn: Greeting your public, Being Socially Adept, Tackling your Technophobia, Homes and Gardens, and finally Joining the Jetset.

Greeting your public:
This was my favourite section because it contained the most useful and fun information. One of the subtuitles is "How to be stylish", and although I don't consider myself to be particularly unstylish, I do like the bit about how to get ready in 5 minutes. I found this funny because I have, on occassion, woken up thinking "oh **** I DO NOT remember turning off my alarm"and thinking how I have 15 mins before needing to leave for my lecture. However this bit has 18 points of getting ready, so if you really do only have 5 minutes you need to adapt it! Or read the section called "how to get ready in 5 minutes - really". Some sections of this chapter are useful, some are just funny and lighthearted, although clearly relevant for some people. The section called "how to avoid confrontation while getting ready" opens with the sentence "Remember the ancient proverb "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" well double the terror and consequences for a woman rushed." It also advises to set the clock forwards by at least 7-21 minutes but not an easily calculatable time because you will automatically adjust your thinking to account for this.

This section also has useful pieces of advice from varies fashion labels and celebrities like Kylie Minogue etc. I particularly like the statement from Dolce and Gabbana.

I also like the section on what to put in your handbag, although it's hardly tailored to a night out, with additions like "Business cards, roadmaps etc".

How to select heels - this section goes into surface areas etc and tghe good way to buy heels rather than mine and my friends way of what catches our eyes and makes us go "oooh pretty!". There is information about Manolo Blahniks, but even if you (like me!) can't afford designer shoes, you should read it anyway because the designer gives information on how to select shoes for what you intend to do rather than having to rummage for plasters or limp to the nearest chemist.
Also includes a section on essential information: broken heels, putting tights on without laddering them, and what type of tights and heels to wear with what skirt for the ultimate stylish look.

How to be groomed gives important imformation about dressing for your body shape and enhance good bits etc, wearing the right makeup, how to deal with bad hair days. It also talks about how to use public loos at concert venues, how to apply plasters, how to deal with stings, change nappies etc.

Being socially adept:
This section goes over how to understand politics, arts etc and include these in polite conversation. The politics section includes memorable quotes from key figures, churchill, Thatcher to name a few. Important dates in the political calendar for example key elections "People have fought to get you your democratic right so use it".

Playing poker is covered here, although this bit didn't really hold my attention as I don't really like poker! But the chess bit was definately useful, as I can play a bit, but have me useful tips.

It also goes into the more household type things like planning a dinner party, doing the menu, preparing strarters, main courses, dessert etc.

My favourite bit in this section was the part called "How to use good table manners", which I think should be plastered on billboards :-P as it's a particular grievance of mine!

Tackling your technophobia:
How to understand the enemy - this wasn't particularly useful for me because I'm not technophobic! I'm perfectly adept at using a computer, the internet and email, cameras, phones etc; so there was quite a lot of irrelevant info that I did just skip through.

This section also included "How to climb the career ladder" which I found interesting reading, even if it wasn't relevent to me. For example: how to be very busy doing nothing (!), how to create a filing system, use office equipment etc.

Homes and Gardens:
Again, quite a lot of this was irrelevant to me but still was interesting for the future: understanding the process of buying a home which I'm sure will be useful I don't need to carry on renting a student house! As well as the major information like the buying process it also includes information like changing lightbulbs, fuses and plugs etc. And best of all, it puts it into plain English which I liked, because I'm not at all handy with anything practical, so it's well written for people like me! The most amusing bit was: Unblocking drains - get someone else in to do it. With which I fully agree!
As well as all this technical stuff about houses, it also goes into the decoration aspect and housekeeping. I was quite amused by the section about bits of housework that are as good as going to the gym, not that it makes me want to do housework much more!

Joining the jet set:
Travelling - this section gives you inspiration for where you want to go, or gives you ideas on where to get inspiration for example through films, whether the culture of the place or the beauty of the place it was filmed etc. It also includes how to book these holidays and what to pack as well as how to jet lag and other vital bits and pieces.
How to prevent motoring horrors - I initially didn't read this as I couldn't drive when I first read this book, but have started to get into this bit now! For example, which side of the road each country drives on etc as well as paying the congestion charge.

Overall, my opinion would be: this book is fantastic! Although I think it is more geared towards the girly type (PLEASE do not get offended by this, I'm lumping myself in this category), I wouldn't have the foggiest what goes wrong with cars etc. I also think it's useful for all i.e. applying makeup, selecting clothes for body type, useful work tips etc. It's all lighthearted and amusing while dealing with important and necessary issues.

Summary: A must!