Oh No She Didn't: The Top 100 Style Mistakes Women Make and How to Avoid Them

If you take yourself terribly seriously, stop reading this now. You won't like this book.Likewise, this book isn't for people with Very Firm Rules about political correctness. Clinton Kelly is the antithesis of that.In "Oh No, She Didn't," Mr. Kelly has turned loose his humor. It's witty, bawdy, hyperbolic, and sarcastic. I've watched "What Not to Wear," and this book completely transformed my opinion of him from "seems like a nice guy" to... well, I'm swooning. He speaks my language. He's bright, he's funny, and -- to my chagrin, sometimes -- he's also right about what not to wear.Yes, he caught at least three fashion blunders I'm guilty of. (There may be more. I'm not admitting to them.)Mr. Kelly sets the stage for each style mistake in the book. The first chapter opens with, "I was recently nursing a hangover on the couch and flipping through the TV channels, when I stumbled upon The First Wives Club." For me, it was love at first line. In just 23 words, I had a clear picture of Clinton Kelly's real life and his humor. I was dazzled.In my opinion, "Oh No, She Didn't" is both a slide-off-your-chair riot of humorous jabs and a breath of fresh air. Even when he says outrageously snide things -- and included a photo of one item I wear regularly -- he was so witty, I didn't take it personally. (However, I am ruthlessly going through my closet today, casting off Things I Shouldn't Be Wearing.)If you're going to take Mr. Kelly literally and seriously, and feel insulted... this isn't the book for you.For example, after the section ridiculing the worst of "mom jeans" -- and explaining exactly why they fail -- a later section on "muffin tops" explains when you might need higher-rise jeans or slacks, after all.If you don't understand what he's saying about mom jeans, that might seem like a contradiction. Never fear, he tells you what to be extremely careful about if the "squishy stuff" (his words, not mine) really must be restrained by something from Urkel's closet. (I'm in that category at the moment, so I was grateful for his advice, and laughed along with him.)I enjoyed this book so much, I read it -- cover to cover -- in one sitting. And, I'll probably re-read it regularly, in case I backslide.If you've had enough of dour lectures about what not to wear, you'll like this book. If you've heard so much conflicting advice about fashion, your brain hurts, this book will simplify it. Clinton Kelly tells you -- every woman, no matter what your age or body type -- the 100 looks you absolutely must avoid. And, Mr. Kelly delivers that message with to-the-point photos and witty comments that would make Jeeves (of "Jeeves and Wooster") proud.If you're a "What Not to Wear" fan,  Dress Your Best: The Complete Guide to Finding the Style That's Right for Your Body  is good, and worth reading. However, for flat-out, "avoid these atrocities" advice, "Oh No, She Didn't" is better, and laugh-out-loud funny.

There is a reason why Clinton Kelly is famous and deserves to be. As anyone who watches What Not To Wear knows, he is articulate, compassionate without being a pushover, sensitive, intelligent, style-savvy and HILARIOUS. Smart funny, quick-witted funny, snarky but not mean funny, you know, all the best kinds. And that is why his new book is so great; he writes the way he speaks. This is an author who has truly found his own voice. Not by accident, by the way, the man has a masters in journalism.Oh No She Didn't is a collection of one page essays regarding style mistakes and how to avoid them. All of the obvious ones are here: Too Much Cleavage At Work, The Mom Jean, Holiday Sweaters, etc., along with less obvious topics such as Kooky Embroidery, Head To Toe Trend Ho and The Little Nubbin In The Boat. (oh, please read it-page 172). There is even a chapter just for the Pacific Northwest called Polar Fleece Addiction.The layout of the book itself is absolutely inspired, with a combination of text, handwritten comments, illustrations and wild photos. The creative design team must have had a hoot putting it all together. The end result is the only style book any normal woman in America will ever need. Every relevant topic is addressed, every cringe-worthy style mistake walking every street, eviscerated.Style books by celebrities are a dime a dozen and I don't bother with most, although one can't blame them for taking their ride on the money train. If you aren't inclined to actually pay for Kelly's book, at least borrow it from someone. Not from me, though. Oh No She Didn't is a pleasure to read, laugh-out-loud funny, right on the money and a great way to spend an evening.

I don't understand why there are any poor reviews for this book. Yes, Clinton is a man who speaks his mind and can be at times a little crass and dramatic. But that is what makes Clinton so fabulous!Never once does he say something to the effect that a woman who is overweight should just accept that she can't be as beautiful as a thinner woman. Or that if you aren't going to buy high end designer accessories then you aren't going to be as in touch with fashion as the women who do. He makes a point to let women know they can wear trends at any age just be aware that what works for a 20 yr old will not always work for a 60 yr old, but that doesn't mean a woman can't be any less fashionable or sexy. He laughs at himself and just reveals his frustration in giving the same advice over and over again.He tells women that they can be beautiful if they make fashionable choices that flatter their bodies. If you can get through an episode of "Sex and the City" then you can make it through this book! I have learned so much from reading his books and watching the show. I think the harshness is just a way to make it stick in your mind. If he just went through the motions of saying wear this and don't wear that then the book would become quite boring. Some comments are a little harsh, but his advice totally makes up for it! I highly recommend this book. It is a keeper!

Funny ....and true!

Es werden allgemeine Fashionfauxpas aufgelistet, wie etwa tragen sie keine Querstreifen und Tätowierungen auf dem unteren Rücken so wie Unterwäsche sollten bei der Arbeit nicht hervorblitzen. Im Großen und Ganzen hat das Buch bei mir nach dem Lesen kein gutes Gefühl hinterlassen, da man nun weiß was alles seiner Meinung nach nicht gut aussieht, jedoch für mich Tipps, was man nun anziehen soll fehlen.Etwa anzumerken, dass eine Tätowierung beim Tragen eines eleganteren Kleides nicht vorteilhaft aussieht hilft jmd. mit einer Tätowierung nicht viel, sinnvoll wären Tipps wie man mit so einer Situation umgehen kann, etwa Tipps zu Schnitten und Farben von Kleidern, die auch Personen mit Tätowierungen gut stehen.Hingegen reaktiv (!) viele Tipps finden sich zu Jeans und wie lang genau eine Hose eines bestimmten Schnittes sein soll, und auch zu Sitz und Passform.Generell schießt er bei seiner Kritik meiner Meinung nach gehörig über das Ziel hinaus, wie etwa bei rotem Lippenstift.Das bei rotem Lippenstift auf das weiß der Zähne achtzugeben ist, erscheint sinnvoll, jedoch jmd. mit schmalen Lippen und jmd. mit vollen Lippen vom Verwenden eines rotem Lippenstiftes generell abzuraten erscheint doch ziemlich pauschal.Meine Erwartungen wurden nicht erfüllt. Ich würde es nicht empfehlen.

I liked the suggestions, but his style is kind of "mean queen". However, having said that there were some good ideas in this book about what not to do, that I needed to be reminded of.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was to the point and the accompanying photos helped clarify.Thankfully there was only a few moments of uneasiness for this nearly 50 year oldI would have enjoyed photos that were instructive also, showing the positive versions

Loved this book! It was a quick read, but the witty, sometimes slightly biting tone made me laugh all the way through -- while also illustrating some pretty good fashion faux pas.