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We would never have guessed that What Not To Wear stylist Stacy London's weight once fluctuated from ninety to one hundred and eighty pounds in one year. Or that growing up, she had severe Psoriasis which led to scarring and panic attacks. In her book The Truth About Style, Stacy opens up about all this and more, while doing makeovers on women who are dealing with their own esteem-affecting life issues. The result is surprisingly personal and inspiring.
Most makeover-related books just tell you what kind of handbag to buy if you're pear-shaped, or which kind of hat you shouldn't dare get if you're petite. Stacy does include plenty of style tips in this book, but she also delves deeper into the physical and psychological issues which keep her makeover subjects from buying clothes that flatter them. And she does it using her own very personal life experiences.
In addressing the effects of one makeoveree, Ashley, who has an eating disorder, Stacy talks about her own difficult battle with eating disorders. While helping style Janis, whose body changed dramatically after a double mastectomy, she refers to what it was like trying to hide her own severe skin issues. And when she works with Ty, a plus-sized fashion blogger, she reflects on how difficult it is to dress appropriately when one is working in the weight-biased world of high fashion, remembering what it was like when she became significantly overweight while working as an assistant at Vogue. Instead of coming off too Stacy-centric, the confessions in the book makes her style recommendations feel even more valid.
The Truth About Style comes out in paperback today. All Stacy's autobiographical insights into her makeover subjects not only make it an interesting read, but also illustrate why using style to help empower women was probably an inevitable career for her.
· The Truth About Style [Amazon]
· Put Your White Shoes Back On: 5 Random Things We Learned About Stacy London [Racked National]
· Stacy London Says "This winds up looking like I have dirt on my lips" [Racked National]
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