Dressing the Man: Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion

Book Description

Dressing the Man is the definitive guide to what men need to know in order to dress well and look stylish without becoming fashion victims.

Alan Flusser's name is synonymous with taste and style. With his new book, he combines his encyclopedic knowledge of men's clothes with his signature wit and elegance to address the fundamental paradox of modern men's fashion: Why, after men today have spent more money on clothes than in any other period of history, are there fewer well-dressed men than at any time ever before?

According to Flusser, dressing well is not all that difficult, the real challenge lies in being able to acquire the right personalized instruction. Dressing well pivots on two pillars -- proportion and color. Flusser believes that "Permanent Fashionability," both his promise and goal for the reader, starts by being accountable to a personal set of physical trademarks and not to any kind of random, seasonally served-up collection of fashion flashes.

Unlike fashion, which is obliged to change each season, the face's shape, the neck's height, the shoulder's width, the arm's length, the torso's structure, and the foot's size remain fairly constant over time. Once a man learns how to adapt the fundamentals of permanent fashion to his physique and complexion, he's halfway home.

Taking the reader through each major clothing classification step-by-step, this user-friendly guide helps you apply your own specifics to a series of dressing options, from business casual and formalwear to pattern-on-pattern coordination, or how to choose the most flattering clothing silhouette for your body type and shirt collar for your face.

A man's physical traits represent his individual road map, and the quickest route toward forging an enduring style of dress is through exposure to the legendary practitioners of this rare masculine art. Flusser has assembled the largest andmost diverse collection of stylishly mantled men ever found in one book. Many never-before-seen vintage photographs from the era of Cary Grant, Tyrone Power, and Fred Astaire are employed to help illustrate the range and diversity of authentic men's fashion. Dressing the Man's sheer magnitude of options will enable the reader to expand both the grammar and verbiage of his permanent-fashion vocabulary.

For those men hoping to find sartorial fulfillment somewhere down the road, tethering their journey to the mind-set of permanent fashion will deliver them earlier rather than later in life.

Customer Reviews:

Great manual to test your sartorialism!.......2007-09-19

Great manual to test your sartorialism!

lot's of examples and illustrating pictures. Nice hardcover tablebook.

fantastic.......2007-06-21

This book is amazing, it has everything you could possibly want to know about dressing a man.

Beautiful. Classic Manual...Comes Across As A Little Dated.......2007-05-23

This book falls into one of my most favorite genres of such; Men's fashion, grooming, style manuals. This one is beautifully photographed with many, many tried and true guidelines for men who wish to appear well dressed. A good number of the photos are from the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 40's and 50's. This was a time when many of the rules for fashionable men were firmly established. On the other hand, there have been many cultural changes in how American and European men approach fashion and style. For these men (of which I am one) portions of Mr. Flusser's book will seem dated and irrelevant. I found this true of the section that addresses a man and his accessories; especially jewelry! The best thing about Mr. Flusser's style chronicle is that is does establish the ground rules for what is appropriate for business, casual and formal wear. One who is so inclined may veer from the foundations to find one's own sense of style. I enjoy this book and I reccomend it to anyone wanting to establish a wardrobe foundation. Worth the price.

I fully enjoy this book. I recommend it.

Excellent with one caveat about the format..........2007-04-18

All of Mr. Flusser's books are superb and make reliable guides for anyone interested in classic men's dress (as opposed to fleeting fashion trends). I do have one critical observation to make however. Having recently picked up a used copy of the authors first book Making The Man: The Insiders Guide to Buying and Wearing Men's Clothes and having browsed through all of his books since one thing has become very apparent to me. A good 75% or more of the information in his books is simply recycled for each publication for the simple reason that the fundamentals of classic men's dress doesn't change or date...that's why it's considered "classic". In the introduction to his second book Clothes and the Man he says outright "With the publication of my first book, Making the Man, I thought I had answered most of the questions men asked about dressing." and indeed he had. For this reason I am surprised that the author hasn't simply published an updated edition of Making the Man every few years with the information on the specific retail stores updated. The real reason probably comes down to the fact that large hardcover books make more money for the publishers than oversized trade paperbacks do. Flusser's first book was a deserved success but each new one has been more lavish and pricey than the last...from Making the Man published back in 1981 as a $10 oversized trade paperback to the latest one, Dressing the Man weighing in as a $50 hardcover.

There was a period in the 60's and 70's where the U.S. seemed to be entering a sort of golden age of quality oversized paperback publications, perhaps taking after France where almost everything (even bestsellers like the Harry Potter books) are published only in paperback. The books (and I have many of them) were solid, printed on good acid-free paper and light enough to carry on the bus or subway to work. We seem to have headed back to the point where hardcovers are seen as prestigious and the bigger, heavier and more expensive the better. This book is full of the same useful information that all of the authors books are but his first one, Making the Man, (along with The Indispensible Guide to Men's Clothing by Josh Karlen) remain the most concise, straightforward and compact of my men's dress references and therfore my favorites.

Dressing the Man: Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion.......2007-04-14

This was just the book I needed when I decided to update my wardrobe after fifteen years on neglect. Perfect for learning or re-learning the basics.

The Metrosexual Guide to Style: A Handbook for the Modern Man

Average customer rating:

For anyone over 12 years old worthless....
as long as you don't take it seriously...
Surprisingly good
Metrosexual Guide review
Helpful, but...

The Metrosexual Guide to Style: A Handbook for the Modern Man
Michael Flocker
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Off the Cuff: The Essential Style Guide for Men--And the Women Who Love Them
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The Modern Gentleman: A Guide to Essential Manners, Savvy & Vice
The Hedonism Handbook: Mastering the Lost Arts of Leisure and Pleasure
The Modern Lover: A Playbook for Suitors, Spouses & Ringless Carousers

Accessories:

Sonicare Elite 7500 Power Toothbrush
philosophy razor sharp silicone shaving gel
Braun 8595 Activator Self-Cleaning Shaving System with LCD Display
Men-u Ultra Concentrate Shave Cream

ASIN: 0306813432
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Book Description

From what to order and how to order it to what to wear and how to wear it, the essentials of "metrosexual" savoir faire.

The old-fashioned, repressed, un-moisturized man has been banished to the hinterlands and a new breed is taking center stage. He is a man of style, sophistication, and security, just as strong and confident as his predecessor, but far more diverse in his interests, his tastes, and, most importantly, his self-image. He may be seen at an NBA game one night and an art gallery opening the next. Able to navigate any social setting, he is informed, influential, intriguing, and very much in vogue these days. He is the new male ideal: the metrosexual man.

So how can the average Joe keep up with this new version of cool? How should he behave, what shoes should he wear, and what CDs should he have in his collection? Answers to these questions and so many other pressing concerns can be found in The Metrosexual Guide to Style. Filled with entertaining anecdotes, famous quotes, helpful hints, dos and don'ts, recommendations and potential pitfalls, this handy guidebook covers everything from dining out to fashion and personal style, home dŽcor to the Metro-mindset. It is the one-stop shop for the impeccably groomed and savvy modern man.

metrosexual \me-(.)tro - seksh-(e-)wel\ n: 1: twenty-first- century male trendsetter 2: straight, urban man with heightened aesthetic sense. 3: man who spends time and money on appearance and shopping 4: man willing to embrace his feminine side

Do's and Don'ts...
* Pirate shirts, loud patterns, buckles, and zippers are for circus performers and boy bands.
* Pleated pants are history. Slim-fit, straight-leg pants make you look longer and sharper.
* Your clothes should conform to your body. Spend the extra money and have suits tailored.
* Your belt and your shoes should always match, and black on black works best.
* A silver, stainless steel watchband will go with everything. Leather bands should be strong and masculine, and sport watches are for sporting occasions.
* High school or college rings are best kept in the dresser drawer until the reunion is announced.
* A slim billfold or money clip is important, as a bulging wallet will only produce unsightly lumps in all the wrong places.

Customer Reviews:

For anyone over 12 years old worthless...........2007-08-28

99% of what this book is anything that any 12 year should know. For example, don't burp at the table. Hard to believe that a whole book can be filled with such "valuable" advice.

as long as you don't take it seriously..........2007-08-18

Hilarious. It made me laugh out loud in the bookstore, and it'll make a great gag gift for a friend, so I'm giving it 4 stars.

Surprisingly good.......2006-04-15

When I got this book I was not expecting nothing more than narrow minded approach to etiquete and "good habits", instead I found a delightful reading full of sarcastic humor and useful tips. I think this book is definitely a surprise and maybe that is why some readers find it odd or disappointing, but I can assure you it is not.

It is a small kind of manual book with many different approaches to life style, going from fashion all the way down to positive thinking and attitude. Great indeed.

Metrosexual Guide review.......2006-03-21

This book is AWESOME. Clear, concise and well written. Includes EVERYTHING a man should know about food, fashion, travel, style, grooming, health, fitness, art, etiquette, you name it. I use is as a guideline for everything. Easy to read with a good sense of humor.

Helpful, but..........2005-11-17

This book is full of useful advice, but do not mistake it for instruction on how to become a gentleman. Despite what one would think, I have come to appreciate this term "Metrosexual" as it distinguishes those who use manners and the appearance of urbane sophistication for their own self-advancement from true gentlemen. True gentlemen show respect for themselves and others, bringing the light of civilization to a darkening world, and leaving society better for their efforts. A gentleman's manners, urbanity and consideration are a lifestyle, not a mask that is donned for selfish convenience.

Thus, if one is seeking to become a metrosexual, this book fits the bill. If one wants to be a gentleman, keep shopping.

The Rise and Fall of the House of Barneys: A Family Tale of Chutzpah, Glory, and Greed

Average customer rating:

How the third generation Pressmans blew their fortune.
Should be read by anyone with a FAMILY business
Fascinating
Why businesses don't succeed when passed to kids
A Cautionary Tale for Expansionist Managements

The Rise and Fall of the House of Barneys: A Family Tale of Chutzpah, Glory, and Greed
Joshua Levine
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed
Chasing Cool: Standing Out in Today's Cluttered Marketplace

ASIN: 0688155022

Amazon.com

The history of Barneys is the history of America itself in the 20th century. Barney Pressman was a hard-working nobody who sold mostly second-hand clothing in a nowhere neighborhood in Manhattan. From those humble beginnings rose a store that became famous for the sheer volume of its suits, and the discount prices for which they were sold. But Barney Pressman's son, Fred, had a different vision. He wanted his store to be more upscale, even if it couldn't be uptown, like Bloomingdale's. He pulled that off, but his sons--Barney's grandsons--wanted even more. They envisioned a plush uptown store, franchised around the world, with no expenses spared. And so they spent $267 million on their Madison Avenue store--$600,000 alone for a hand-assembled marble-chip floor--sinking the three-generation family business in a mere 10 years.

Levine shapes this story less as a tragedy than a lesson in hubris--and in business. All of Barney and Fred Pressman's business savvy corrupted into snobbery when Fred's sons took over. Barneys became "too New Yorky for most New Yorkers." There's an old saying that no one goes broke underestimating the taste of Americans. The converse is that fortunes are easily lost going the opposite direction. Barneys may be the most fascinating proof of that adage in American history. --Lou Schuler

Book Description

This is a rags to riches to rags story.

It took three generations to build Barneys into the world's most fabulous clothing store--and less than a decade to tear it down. This fascinating book is at once a family saga, a cautionary business tale, and a riveting, superbly detailed behind-the-scenes account of how a secondhand store founded on pluck and chutzpah grew into a glittering international retail empire, only to founder on greed and hubris.

It is a tragicomedy of truly Greek proportions, featuring a full cast of larger-than-life heroes and villains and fools, spun in dramatic, novelistic style, and written in evocative prose by a distinguished editor at Forbes. Patriarch Barney Pressman started small in 1923, but within two decades he was selling more suits than anyone in the world. By the time his son, Fred, took over in the 1960s, Barneys was a thriving institution, and Boys Town at Barneys was the site of every New York boy's clothing rite of passage. But Fred had loftier ambitions; he was never comfortable with the crass discounter image. He staked the family fortune on European fabrics and design, wound up transforming the entire world of men's fashion, and made a killing along the way.

But it was Fred's sons, Gene and Bob, who really wanted it all--not just a store but a grandiose temple of ultimate chic. Instead, through extravagance, flamboyance, greed, and an arrogant disregard for sound business principles, they raced heedlessly into one of the most spectacular business flameouts in retail history.

A tasty mix of high fashion, high finance, and overweening family ambition, The Rise and Fall of the House of Barneys is a book every bit as stylish and well tailored as any suit the Pressman dynasty ever sold.

This is a rags to riches to rags story.

Customer Reviews:

How the third generation Pressmans blew their fortune........2006-11-05

This is a typical story of a rich family running the family business into the ground. Barney and Fred Pressman spent their entire lives building up their suit store. They spent all their hours nurturing this business and they turn it over to their two sons and two daughters. The grand children have grand plans of expanding the store nationwide along with opening a megastore on Madison Avenue. Cost overruns, and the market result in doing in the business. They took a Japanese outfit along for the ride causing them to lose several hundred million dollars.

Levine does a good job of detailing the rise and fall of this retail empire. Barneys did a lot for mens fashions. However arrogant and greedy grandchildren caused the fall of this store. Family owned businesses should read this story for the caution it may give to family members.

Should be read by anyone with a FAMILY business.......2001-07-20

Don't be put off by what may appear to be a look at one business and one family's way of doing business. This book actually explores far deeper subjects and questions such as : Why is it that so many successful family businesses fail when passed on to heirs? Why do so many solid companies with loyal customers, proven merchandise and a promising future just fall by the wayside? To those who don't know Barneys, it was started by Barney Pressman, a smart, ambitious man who built his business into a thriving industry, selling more suits than anyone in the world by the 1960's.But what makes the book interesting is what happened to his business when his sons came into the picture and the intrigue, scandal and greed that tore apart the company. I can't help wondering: Why don't the patriarchs (or matriarchs) of family businesses teach their children to run the companies just as well? Is it possible to mix family and business and do it well? The Barney's sage, of course, is not yet over and the store is still in existence. So the end of this story remains to be seen.

Fascinating.......2000-08-14

A very enjoyable book. You pull for the Pressmans when the snobs snub them in the beginning. You jeer at them when their position goes to their heads and they behave very, very badly. But the really interesting part of the book concerns how fashion and retailing REALLY work. They appear to be just an elaborate hoax on the consumer. This book should be read in conjunction with Teri Agin's "The End of Fashion" which shows the comsumers are getting more and more skeptical and dissects the public offerings of fashion stock (if you're fond of your money and want to keep it, don't buy). Hooray.

Why businesses don't succeed when passed to kids.......2000-05-27

A fascinating case study on the history of a well known American business. The behind the scenes look shows the evolution through 3 generations. Looking deeper, it says a lot about the values of each of the generations which explains some of the troubles in America today. Maybe we've become too soft.

I can't recommend this book enough if you enjoy shopping or business books. I continue to shop occasionally at NY and Beverly Hills. You can't go into the stores without better appreciating the history of the store. BUY THIS BOOK.

A Cautionary Tale for Expansionist Managements.......1999-09-19

It seems everyone talks to Levine because as Barney Pressman once told Fred, "The Pressmans have no friends." What emerges is not only a morality play but also a case study on how not to raise your children and how not to expand your business. Hubris is a horrible thing. Time and again though during this decade, with Wall Street money plentiful, retail managements successful in one locale expand their businesses to places that don't want them. A concept that works in NY doesn't seem to play in Peoria, or with Barneys, in Texas. While with public companies, it's only money; with Barneys, privately held, it's family and lives. Maybe that's what makes the Barneys' tragedy a fascinating read.

Average customer rating:

a good book
A big MAGNIFICENT book full of real hunks and stallions!
Not Just The Men--The Photographic Inter-Melding
What caught my attention............

Men Without Ties

Manufacturer: Abbeville Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0789200015

Customer Reviews:

a good book.......2001-11-12

It is a good book, but not great as his another one: Rock and Royalty, Versace/Avedon. If you are a fan of Versace, then it's worth to buy one.

A big MAGNIFICENT book full of real hunks and stallions!.......2000-05-26

If you're a female (or well, at least a gay), better brace yourself and get ready for a glossy, eye-filling page after page of the finest young men ever born and bred in the whole world! Those sexy studs are very artfully depicted here in a stylish vein by a very creative fashion designer like Gianni Versace and most of them are quite scantily-clad and some of them even completely naked. A very bold and unconventional piece of art that you can find on any coffee table! Too bad this handsome album is just plain too expensive for me to merely pluck right off a bookstore shelf!

Not Just The Men--The Photographic Inter-Melding.......1999-12-14

Okay, the males are stylish and handsome both--possessed of muscles, adorned with Versace's jubilant, expressionistic attire. But there's more expressionism in the photos themselves. I know of no other book where visual images (here, photos) are not just presented 1-2-3 in static procession, but where portions are repeated--echoed later on--blended with following photos--in a creative interweaving which can only be "art" in the definition of "dynamic combination of symmetry or order, and asymmetry or tension." A beach scene appears, then is blended with another scene later. And interblended with the written text, too. Rare is this twin-starring of word and image, plus this permutation-and-combination of images. Only in comics do word and image so vitally interact. So check out this book for its design-artistry, as well as its aesthetic dudes.....

What caught my attention...................1999-05-24

was supermodel Marcus Schenkenberg on the cover. That's why I brought it home! But when I opened it up, I was thrilled to see that every photo was marvelous and artful. Kudos and love to the late Versace, who created this brilliant piece of art.

Men's Clothing & Fabrics in the 1890s: Price Guide (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

Average customer rating:

Men's Clothing & Fabrics in the 1890s: Price Guide (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Men's Fashion Illustrations from the Turn of the Century (Dover Pictorial Archive Series)

ASIN: 0764306162

Book Description

By today's standards, men wore formal dress every day in the 1890s. The color lithographs and line drawings of men dressed for work that are shown here bear striking contrast to men in the streets now. That very fact makes these clothes more than interesting today, they are actually time capsules for the lifestyle of a century ago. Heavy woolen cloth that has lasted a hundred years, and practical styles that were always comfortable and smart-looking bear witness to the time before automobiles and electricity. Now they have become antiques themselves. The hundreds of cloth swatches that appear have subtle patterns and plenty of texture to withstand much use. Vintage clothing collectors and designers will marvel at their variety.

Patterns of Fashion: The Cut and Construction of Clothes for Men and Women C1560-1620

Average customer rating:

Patterns of Fashion: The Cut and Construction of Clothes for Men and Women C1560-1620
Must Have
A must for all historical costumers!
Awesome book!
Pleased with the book

Patterns of Fashion: The Cut and Construction of Clothes for Men and Women C1560-1620
Janet Arnold
Manufacturer: Drama Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0896760839

Customer Reviews:

Patterns of Fashion: The Cut and Construction of Clothes for Men and Women C1560-1620.......2007-05-10

This Black Book was an inspiration.

Although it does not hand you a completed dress or outfit...it will give you insight into the original look and textures of the clothing of that time. The artwork and details of patterns given and the pictures of actual outfits will begin any advanced sewing person but personal understanding of exact techniques used to complete a project will be left to the crafter.

Anyone creating this period of costume MUST add this book to their collection or forever wish they had.

Must Have.......2007-05-10

This book is a must have for any re-enactor making their own clothing. I have been searching for a book with this much detail for quite awhile and I am very pleased with this book.

A must for all historical costumers!.......2007-03-04

Janet Arnold's books have been well used by me over the years. I have made several costumes from each of her books and thrilled with each result. The documentation and drawings are excellent. However, these books are not for beginners. All of the drawings are shown reduced on grid that will have to be re-sized for each wearer which can be very time consuming depending on the complexity of the design. The patterns are historically accurate and portray how the costumes were cut out and constructed in their day.
I wish I could find undergarment patterns this detailed.

Awesome book!.......2007-01-11

I used this book to design a pattern for a Doublet that I wore to a Mayflower Society function - it was a big hit. I added my own ideas to it. One of the members said it was the best they had ever seen.

This book shows pictures of original clothing, then drawings of the patterns of the originals. Wonderful!

Pleased with the book.......2006-08-28

I found this to be an excellent reference work. Using modern period clothing patterns, this book enables the person to incoorporate the special touches that make the result look authentic. Her patterns that matched pictorial examples were extremely helpful.

The Other Man: John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette, and Me

Average customer rating:

When a Man Loves a Woman.............
me, carolyn, and john f. kennedy
Interesting
Honest and Refreshing
I commend him!

The Other Man: John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette, and Me
Michael Bergin
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060723904
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Book Description

The international supermodel and actor details his rise to fame in the fashion world and reveals for the first time the truth about his stormy, passionate, and now famous relationship with Carolyn Bessette.

This is the story of a small–town kid who moved to the big city, fell in love with a beautiful, mysterious woman, and found himself in competition with the most eligible bachelor in the world, John F. Kennedy Jr.

Now, for the first time, Michael Bergin reveals the truth behind a life lived in the limelight and a relationship shrouded in secrecy. From his early days growing up in a small blue–collar Connecticut town, to his meteoric rise as fashion icon and television star, to the passion he shared with the enigmatic and complex Carolyn Bessette, this is an inside look at the world of beauty, power, and celebrity.

In 1992, Michael and Carolyn met in a bar in New York City. She was unlike any woman he had ever known–sophisticated, successful, with bewitching charm and grace. An intensely passionate relationship was born. Not long after, Michael landed the coveted Calvin Klein underwear campaign, and his career took off. The future looked bright, and Carolyn and Michael seemed destined for a long and happy life together.

But it was not to be. Four years later Michael was an international fashion icon and Carolyn was Mrs. John F. Kennedy Jr.–however, the story doesn't end there. This is the truth about their lives, a tale full of warmth, humour, heartbreak, and tragedy.

Above all, The Other Man is a testament to the enduring power of love and a story about the painful choices we make with our all–too–human hearts.

Customer Reviews:

When a Man Loves a Woman....................2007-07-16

This book, to me, was not all that bad. I get tickled by the people who said "Well, Michael Bergin sure isn't a writer." No joke - he is a model.
I found this book refreshing in the fact that it was about a man pining after a woman. How often do you see that? All in all, I didnt think his writing was all that bad either. This book focuses on the relationship between Calvin Klein model Michael Bergin, and Carolyn Bessette (who ended up marrying John Kennedy, Jr, which eventually resulted in her untimely death since he was not as experienced at flying as he thought he was). There are parts of this book that are gut-wrenching and you can almost feel Bergin's pain as you read about how Bessette worked him like a "marionette", pulling his strings...pushing him away only to eventually pull him back closer. Although he says the book was to defend her, it just doesn't leave a very good image of her (3 abortions later) and bouncing between her husband's bed and her lovers bed.
If this book is true, I feel bad for Carolyn who obviously was looking for the happiness I dont think she ever found......and never will.

me, carolyn, and john f. kennedy.......2007-05-18

i bought this book about two years ago i never got to it until few weeks ago, and once i started i jusy could`nt put the book down not until i was forced by time.
the author is honest, and his heart and feeling are right there you can actually feel it. whoever claims tyhis is a poorly written book, i guess he never read anything written with a full heart (for example: "a royal duty" by paul burrell, the late princess diana`s butler).

Interesting.......2006-08-14

I usually don't read this type of book, but did purchase it and set it aside. I must admit that it was very interesting, although poorly written. For those who wrote reviews decrying his disloyalty, well, she wasn't that loyal either. Her name was CAROLYN not CAROLINE, Caroline is JFK, Jr's sister. I have read All that Remains, by Carol DeFalco Radziwill, and the personality that she describes Carolyn to have had is similar to Michael's description. I have never heard of him and really don't care what he has done to make a living. I believe Carolyn was neurotic and strange in many ways. She, also, must have had a very attractive side to her. I never saw her as "beautiful", but, obviously, others did. Including the author. It reads fast and it holds your attention. Certainly, not a must read, but entertaining.

Honest and Refreshing.......2006-07-12

Well, in reference to all of the people saying that Carolyn is not alive to defend herself-I didn't see too much in the book that really attacked her! It is evident to the last page that he was, and always will be, in awe of this woman(misguided as that may have been)! I don't see what all the fuss about her was, she was okay but not a supermodel or anything!! He really was in love with her! And that is sad, because if the account MB gave in this book about the mental torture he went through is true, then Carolyn was action-packed with issues. Anyone who has been in a relationship, or wanted to be in a relationship that ended up one-sided can attest to the mental torment you go through. This book is a horror story for those that have been there and done that. I just wonder if his poor wife is always living in the shadow of Carolyn, if he is always measuring her by the other woman because his obsession with Carolyn is probably still there. But anyway, this book is good because I really believe that this is how he thought the situation was. If it wasn't, he would try to make himself out to be much more macho. And about all the flings he had, sometimes when you are rebounding and hurt, you will do crazy things. I applaud his effort, and really liked this book.

I commend him!.......2006-06-14

The Other Man is a great book and a quick read. You continue to read and want to know what else is going to happen. The book is quite entertaining, but also leaves you with a respectable and sincere feeling from both sides.

Michael Bergin allows you to feel his ups and downs with Caroline. I hold much compassion for him. He was in a controlling relationship due to feelings. Feelings are stronger than people can imagine. He does personify Caroline as being a control freak, but that was the way she was able to lead the double life she held. This relationship took on a life of its own due to her power. Michael allowed her to control him more than he thought. He should be proud for all of his accomplishments, and yes she had a lot to do with it. He needed molding and he allowed himself to get molded by her. That's what happens when you are young and learning. He learned from her and she learned from him. It is all part of a growing relationship, although it ended. Like she said everything good has to end. Impact is what she left behind.

Overall, I feel compassion and lots of sadness for Michael Bergin. He led a life of hope. Hope that he could be with his soul mate. He honestly had so much respect for her when in return she didn't realize what she had. Caroline toyed with many emotions and that is a hard thing to take. I commend Michael. It takes strength to write and tell your story. He put his heart down on the table, although it was after her death. I believe he did it in a way that showed true love. He never degraded her, but showed much respect to her.

Average customer rating:

A classic in its field
this is "the book" for male clotheshounds.

Men In Style
Rizzoli
Manufacturer: Rizzoli
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Textile & Costume | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Commercial | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Beauty & Fashion | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Cary Grant: A Celebration of Style
The Suit: A Machiavellian Approach to Men's Style
Elegance - A Guide to Quality in Menswear

Accessories:

philosophy razor sharp silicone shaving gel
Men-u Ultra Concentrate Shave Cream

ASIN: 0847817040
Release Date: 1993-03-15

Customer Reviews:

A classic in its field.......2002-01-02

This book should NOT be out of print. Based on Esquire's coverage of fashion in the '30s and '40s, it not only shows how little men's fashion has changed over the years but also WHY the male of the species is so adverse to radical innovation.

Mr. Hochswender is, arguably, the best living writer on this subject. Besides an encyclopedic knowledge of the field, his style, witty and easy to comprehend, makes for a great read.

If you can acquire this book somehow, please do it. You will have deeper insight not only into fashion but also into male behavior in general.

this is "the book" for male clotheshounds........1998-12-03

This book is elegantly illustrated and shows the timelessness - some might say "sameness" - of men's fashion from the 1930s to the 1940s. This is the kind of book you don't lend to friends, because you'll never get it back. Speaking of which, does anyone have a copy to sell? I loaned mine to a friend - soon to be an ex-friend - and the book is out of print.

Average customer rating:

The New English Dandy
Alice Cicolini
Manufacturer: Assouline
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Fashion | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 2843237564

Average customer rating:

Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover--or Its Title
Nice Tease- You Got My Money!
Bad As They Were
Yeah Shannon!
Hai-Chi Mama!

Body & Soul: The Black Male Book
Duane Thomas
Manufacturer: Universe Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fashion | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

History | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Portraits | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Hung: A Meditation on the Measure of Black Men in America
Best Black Gay Erotica
Men Exposed
Noah's Arc - The Complete First Season
The Brothers of New Essex: Afro Erotic Adventures

ASIN: 0789301296
Release Date: 1998-07-15

Book Description

Black men have always created their own style vocabulary, and this stunning collection of photographs is an unprecedented visual tribute to black male beauty and style--as photographed by such top photographers as Marc Baptiste, David LaChapelle, Michel Comte, Thierry Le Gouès, Walter Chin, Greg Gorman and Bob Frame.

At once sensual and inspirational, Body & Soul is a candid, provocative look at some of the most talked-about black men on today's cultural scene--from music artists and athletes to models and actors.

Customer Reviews:

Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover--or Its Title.......2005-08-14

D'Angelo, the cover man, is not to be found inside. The title is much too broad; a more accurate title would be, "Fashion Styles of Some Rich & Famous Black Males." As for bodies, they are mostly clothes hangers here; the amount of skin on the cover is misleading. The contents rate as PG because of a couple behinds and a few covered crotches; there is no full, frontal nudity whatsoever. I don't know how anybody gets any soul out of this book, unless they see it in the eyes of some portraits or glean it from scattered quotes of fashion magazine staffers, usually a phrase or single sentence each, as the quotes, along with some other one-sentence observations by the author, are the only text. Therefore, the cover and title are cheap, bookselling tricks, but the book price is not cheap. A used copy, however, IS cheap, as buyers turn into sellers. Although a book about men of color, I am surprised that black & white plates out-number color 3:1, as I count about 90 b&w and 31 color photo's. I am a fan, too, of some of the people featured, but, to me, this is no reason to gush about the book as a whole. Although I could ooh and ah about some of the photo's, there are a like number of dogs and mediocre shots. What could form a pop-culture chapter itself is the number of celebrities who must have paid a lot for elaborate fantasy scenes shot by highly-paid photographers. I would not feel good about seeing this sort of arrogance if I shelled out a lot for their books, CD's, magazines, ticket prices, etc., the profits of which finance such folly. The author sees Black male fashion from a mainly GQ-type perspective, which may be right in-step in certain parts of Manhattan, but, from here in 'da hood, its seems like he's in an ivory tower. He has a new book coming out, with a similar cover and title, of which I will be suspicious. Except for a few unkwnowns, I expect that everyone involved is highly paid--subjects, photographers, fashion industry, etc.--and I wonder if people paid to be in this book, either in the form of their likeness(es) or their work; it would explain a lot.

Nice Tease- You Got My Money!.......2003-06-15

Have owned this book over six months but just had to get my twocents in on a review. My purchase was based solely on the frontcover showing the gorgeous black rapper- D'Angelo. Since his MTVvideo titled "Untitled" was one of the hottest & sensual videosever to hit the TV screen, I naturally assumed Mr. Thomas wouldtreat all his purchasers to a D'Angelo collection highlightinghis extremely buffed 'bod. Or maybe he could have given us JamieFoxx instead spoofing D'Angelo on his syndicated weekly program.I salivated alot at the other photos- many too small but in the end it galled me that MY MAIN MAN was really a "no show!"

Bad As They Were.......2001-11-06

Unlike most of the reviewers here, I got to meet some of the guys here either in concert, from the 'hood etc. All left a bad impression on me, so to see them so marvelously pictured here is confusing.

Yeah Shannon!.......2000-03-28

I agree Shannon. Gary Dourdan is SWEET! Someone should do an entire book on him!

Hai-Chi Mama!.......1999-10-17

Ladies, get your credit cards out (or borrow a friend's), get your car to the mall (or catch the bus), buy this book now (do what you must)! I am not even kidding you for one second. This is a beautiful book. This book will make you proud to be (check one): 1. Black 2. An admirer of black beauty 3. Female 4. Male 5. Visually adept. All I got to say is Gary Dourdan, my dear, God Blessed You. God Bless You. All the other fine young specimens and the infinitely talented stylists, editors and photographers, "y'all GO"! (Specifically, GO directly back to the drawing board and do this again...serially,pleeeeeease!) Love... me.

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