That Extra Half an Inch

I'm a beauty product & fashion junkie. I'm not a die-hard VBeckham follower. I'm a regular person with an average budget. Yes, she raves about brand names (clothing) that most of us can't or won't afford, but that didn't take away from the charm of the book. I'd compare this book to a girl sitting down & writing about her favorite girlie things & sharing what she's learned along the way. If you're looking for specific guidelines on fashion & beauty...or looking to be told what to do, you will be disappointed. If you enjoy the ramblings & thoughts, and like to be inspired by the sheer joy & excitement fashion plays in the life of another girly-girl....get it! I will re-read this book section-by-section and enjoy every second of it. It makes me think more about what I like & what I don't like.

I read this book while recuperating from surgery and I have to say it was perfect for taking my mind off my health issues. It's surprising. I didn't expect Victoria Beckham to come off as fun and likeable as she does. Now to the point of the book: Does it offer good fashion advice? Yeah, it does. She's spot on when she disses the kitten heel shoe. Unless you are built like Audrey Hepburn (I'm not)it doesn't do your legs any favors. She's excellent in the makeup chapter and even though I don't wear jeans her jeans chapter contained everything you need to know. I wish everyone would read it before buying a pair. It would cut down on a lot of public ugliness. The chapter on getting ready for a party was excellent and timely for this season. I liked the chapter on maternity dressing and appreciated the chapter on how to wear hair extensions. Overall this book made me happy and I plan to keep it and refer to it for years to come.

I bought this book as a gift for my wife. (I hope she doesn't see this review before the holidays.) I took a look inside, and I think it's going to be a big hit. Mrs. Beckham has a talent for combining utter sincerity with self-mockery in a way that is completely irresistable. I think it would be impossible to have a bad day while reading this book.

Better known as "Posh Spice" of the Spice Girls fame, Victoria Beckham has always been recognized worldwide for her chic, stylish look. No matter which role she plays - singing superstar, wife of David Beckham, mummy to three boys, designer - she always manages to look put together and just right. Not an easy feat as any modern woman will tell you. Well, Ms. Beckham has decided to part with her style secrets in this fun, colorful book to help us average Janes avoid looking "frumpy or mumsy". Whether giving the scoop on jeans and proper fit, beauty care, or dressing for a special occasion, Beckhman manages to keep the tone practical, light and conversational - what you'd expect if your most stylish buddy sat you down and filled you in on the details, from where to buy to what works with what. She generously lists desginers and stores where you can acquire some of the same attire that she favors. The chapters on packing tips and maternity wear are great - surely this will help many of us poor souls be less dowdy when with child or with skies! Some of the advice is pretty funny ("The first things I will say about dressing for the holidays is to get all images of reindeer jumpers out of your head."), some of it very useful ("When trying on new shoes, do it towards the end of the day when your feet have had a chance to expand."). Whether or not you are a fan of Ms. Beckham, you will certainly appreciate much of her counsel. There are many lush, striking photos of Victoria looking very "posh" and chic as well as gorgeous line drawings throughout, making the book eye candy for all of us fashion lovers. This is one of my favorite parts of the book. A couple critiques: some of the lingo is purely British and takes some getting used to (ex: she refers to tank tops as 'vests' which was very confusing for me) and some of the designers/stores she lists are NOT in America, which is only a hindrance if your sole goal is to imitate her style (not my goal). And some of these designer/stores are VERY expensive, making some of her suggesions out of reach for regular folk like myself. Lastly, she freely utilizes every opportunity to promote her own line of clothing, dVb, a high end line that she subtly implies is one of the most stylish. Although some may find this galling or even annoying, I say bravo for her moxy and industrious spirit - what else would you expect from Posh Spice?