50 Look What Arrived!

Book: Audrey Style, by Pamela Clarke Keogh

I sped through it in two days. It was fantastic.

What you get:

• whole page-sized, high quality photos of Ms Hepburn herself. Either I have been living under a rock or not all of these photos are the common kinds you see everywhere-- more love
• extensive quotes and anecdotes from everybody who mattered in Ms Hepburn's life
• two page snippets on various specific details, such as her dog Famous, her kitchen, and her style basics
• a more wholesome picture of Audrey the person, rather than Audrey the style goddess, much unlike the title suggests.

This book is not a book about fashion or style per se. I think it's much more a guide to being a lovely person like Audrey was-- and that style encompasses personality and character as well, which makes for a very refreshing, very inspiring read.

25 Fridays at Kinokuniya

Now that my Fridays end earlier than any other day, I foresee myself looking forward to them more than ever. And today, after a tiring first week back and a rather failed Math test, I was super happy to trudge to the welcoming arms of Kinokuniya after school with a friend.

I love the Kinokuniya Ngee Ann City branch. I've been going ever since I was a little kid and got lost because I couldn't see over the shelves- or over the stacks of books on the floor, even. (Been there, done that.) There's something about its bigness, and smell, and efficiency, and just the beauty of knowing you can find philosophy books a short walk away from fashion.

I went to find my lit text for this year (Waterland by Graham Swift) and also to spend a $30 voucher I got more than a year ago and never got round to using. I love the idea of an unspent Kino voucher resting for a rainy day :) My motto for vouchers is, spend them on something you otherwise couldn't bear parting cash for. And for me, that's ballet and fashion books- they make me endlessly happy, but they also tend to be more expensive than paperback novels.

I had some ideas in mind when I went, and eventually narrowed down my candidates to three:

1. 50 Fashion Looks that Changed the 50s, Paula Reed
2. Dancers Among Us, Jordan Matter
3. The Sartorialist: Closer; Scott Schuman

I actually wanted to get the original The Sartorialist, but was much more attracted to the cover of its sequel. It also happened to be the most expensive of the lot- but I ended up getting it anyway. The photographs are just gorgeous- there isn't a page where I don't find an interesting detail. I love his prologue, and the idea of how an exclusive distance can be a good thing. 

After much much debate (the lady at the information counter can testify) I decided to get numbers 1 and 3, but that wasn't for lack of wheedling about 2 until my friend convinced me to shut up and go. I've always wanted to buy The Sartorialist but couldn't bring myself to fork out almost $50- but this time, with the voucher and with a member's-only 20% (gosh I love those) off, I decided to go for it. LOVE it. I have to stop myself reading it so I can continue with my life!

As for Dancers... when I got home I checked it out online and it was on sale for a cheaper price. No prizes for guessing my decision.

Might update with a more comprehensive review when I'm done with the books, but for now, I'm super elated with my purchases! :D