As for the writing, it’s light and typical, fine for technical fact-telling, but lacks style and creative device in its flow. Still, it is not an easy read for even a common fashionista. To quote my article on Fashionistas Poor Portrayal in the Media (which picking this book up greatly inspired), “I find myself not even able to grasp the long list of designer garments in these novels (blogs fare better for the pictures).” Blogs and magazines do fare better, for fashion is a visual medium, in its entirety. I so believe that argument strongly. For one to describe such things in a novel, I’d expect only a masterful, highly crafted, literary genius to pull off the nuances of every flourish and cut of a dress—and keep the momentum for an entire novel. Even stating big or IT designer names, like Balenciaga, cannot give the perfect image to everybody, not one person can understand and visualize everything in the book. In fact, such listing can give readers the feeling of being excluded and missing out.

What needs to be done for fashion novels, and I haven’t yet seen it — is all (okay, most) of the apparel and accessories need to be fiction. At least the writer cannot assume anything, since when are authors allowed to?! The writer must describe as one does in any genre of storytelling. - Eager style experts who can construct great sentences think they can write great books in this typical way, but it always fails.

Therefore, I don’t put blame on author Julie Dam for her efforts, and I plead that she not be upset that I’m giving an honest, unbiased review. I ideally want to be more journalistic and therefore cannot morally be swayed by complimentary advanced copies or knowing she is in the fashion blogosphere with me. To be a journalist, I cannot be afraid. But now I digress.

In the end, I didn’t get what I wanted from the story. There was a happy ending. - Yes, I didn’t want that. - I wanted some huge enlightenment, even perhaps with a drastic change of life. Yes, even a sadder (not so, possibly, with light chick lit, but) imperfect closure. I would also want some sense of humble humor about the plot, itself, so readers can be more than entertained, even while truly enjoying the light-heartedness and style talk.

The moral I did get is that Alex is the type of girl who manages to make it through everything out of luck, maybe some talent, but little else. With what should be a budget, she instead has it all, and buys any of the rest of it she wants (two links to pages of the book on Amazon). She is surrounded by the finest things in life, without appreciation for the little things. And we hate her … yet we still want to be in her place, in her shoes, in her wardrobe and her access to luxuries. Yet with our own personalities to do the gifts justice.

Some will still love this book for that fantasy, and in fantasizing, we do often leave behind the practical world. It is fine to enjoy this book, this is really one opinion.

On a brighter side, the blog! …

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Categories : Fashion, Media, Muses

• Alexandre the Exorbitant
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