The Bombshell Manual of Style

It wasn't really what I expected. It was very unrealistic. I thought it would be a little more practical but the lifestyle it endorses is totally unattainable for the regular woman. It claims it is practical and will help any woman live a Bombshell Lifestyle but you'd have to be very very rich and not work to follow this advice. From the stores it tells you to shop at to the shoes it suggests a bombshell should wear, I make a very good salary but could never afford their suggestions. I did like some aspects of the book. The review and descriptions of perfumes I found very helpful. Since I am always on a quest for my signature scent I plan on trying some of them. I try to incorporate glamour in my every day life which this book does advocate. Maybe I am being too hard on this book but it didn't inspire me in the way I was hoping. I thought Dita Von Teese's Making Your Beauty Mark The Guide to Eccentric Glamour was a much much better guide for living the life of a bombshell!

I bought this book recently on a whim. As I read through it, it started to seem very familiar, I think possibly I purchased this book through a mail order book club the year it was released, 2001. Especially once I got to the lipstick section that mentioned "Revlon's Cherries In The Snow", which my Great Aunt used to wear, she was born in 1897! :) It's a lighthearted, frivolous, bit of a read, but I quite enjoyed it! Even if it was a bit of Deja Vu encountering it again. The advice is old fashioned, very girly, and quite hysterical! Certainly not for budding feminists, but good for a chuckle if you are of a certain age. I also have Laren Stover's Bohemian Manifesto, which I take out and read every few years, and I wish she would write a new book someday soon!

This book covers everything while referring to our sisters from the 20's - present (although, mostly the women of the fifties). Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, and Elizabeth Taylor are just a few women who are referenced through-out this amazing little guide. I have owned mine for over a year and still reference back to it. There are no biographies in this book, instead different bombshells are brought into the fold with each new section. From hair color, to makeup, to clothing and home decor, everything you could imagine is mentioned in this book. I discovered a love for Etta James, Frank Sinatra, and classical music because of the music list in this book. At 21, these artists were known by me but never listened to. Now, I can't get enough of what my past sisters were listening to. I have become a master at the "Garbo eye" and have tossed my foundation goodbye. I also tossed out my Erno Laszlo skin care system in favor of Ponds and my skin has never been better for a fraction of the price. I will admit that not everything that is recommended is in my budget (I can't afford to walk around in Burberry trenches while wearing the latest pair of Ferragamos) but I now save to buy these pieces when I see them heavily discounted. I now perch instead of sit and know how to make an entrance. Sip your Dom (or a glass of Chardonnay) while reading this book and discover your inner bombshell like I did.

What every Bombshell needs to know. It’s a gem.

For some reason, the people who buy this book expect to see a step-by-step guide on how to become Marilyn, Elizabeth, and Sofia. However, there is no such thing as step-by-step guide on becoming a bombshell. The bombshell tendency is often born into a girl (or boy) but is carefully cultivated into the full-blown bombshell that we know and adore. While I admit some of the things are dated, why can't we incorporate a little bit of the forties and fifties into our lives? Champagne baths are a tad much for those of us with budgets, but why not have a grocery store-cheap bottle in the fridge for those toasting those special occasions like a dove landing on the windowsill? This book was an eye-opener for me, showing me that I can be my own type of Marilyn or Elizabeth in the modern world, it just requires a little bit of glam and a whole lot of confidence. While you and I never may be listed with the Bombshells of legend, we know we are Bombshells, and so does everyone else with the swish of our hair, the champagne in our refrigerator and our genuine effervescene for the movie of life in which we are the star. Don't purchase this book if you want a step-by-step guide or tips on how to become Marilyn Monroe. This book is not that. It's more of a catalogue of famous Bombshell tendencies (which bras, makeup, shoes, music, etc.) that you either find just like yours, somewhat like yours, or nothing at all like yours, and you could use these tendencies to cultivate your bombshell status. But no step-by-step. Sorry.

This book is amazing, don't listen when these people tell you that you should not take this book seriously. It is very practical and unpractical at the same time. This book is an easy read and easy to take notes from. This book and another book Better than Beauty a guide to charm by Helen Valentine and Alice Thompson is all the beauty books you will ever need. Everything in this book made complete sense to me, and the women who it didn't make sense to are too practical and do not have enough imagination. I am a young woman who loves this book, and even though some of these things it says is a little outrageous, you sometimes have to go for it to make live exciting. The bombshells in this book lives excitingly, and has adrenaline in a day to day life. I recommend this book to everyone because I can look back at all the female figures in my life and see some of what they do in what the bombshell does in this book. This book is so lovely. Don't stop to think why not buy this.

This is one of my favorite books. It's silly at times, and yet makes good points. I've stopped carrying my purse over my shoulder and now carry it on my forearm, but I don't answer the door wrapped in a sheet and a spritz of Chanel No.5. There are some great points about not "sitting" but "perching", and a bombshell is never boring because she is always genuinely interested in those around her. It's a fun read, and my friends have enjoyed browsing through it. I read it about once a year just to give myself an attitude boost and remind myself how much I love being a woman.

Always love to read cute little books to see what they say. This is one of those cutesy books.

Well, I'll have to admit that I'm not really a "bombshell" and in the fullest sense of the word, I don't think I'd want to be. It seems to me that even the most deep-down, genuine bombshell (in other words, someone whose true persona fits the general "type" as opposed to someone who's studied the description and is "acting" accordingly)would have a tough time being taken seriously in real life, even if she was an easy person to like or love...and sometimes, no doubt, be maddened by! On the other hand, maybe she's the type of person who inspires other people to take care of her. Still, it was a fun book to read, with its breezy, tongue-in-cheek style. I think it must have been a fun book to write, too. And even for us non-bombshells, it gives a nice reminder to kick back sometimes and just enjoy life and our femininity.

Love this book and all the helpful tips in it! Actually chose a perfume listed in this book without even trying it and it was perfect!

It wasn't really what I expected. It was very unrealistic. I thought it would be a little more practical but the lifestyle it endorses is totally unattainable for the regular woman. It claims it is practical and will help any woman live a Bombshell Lifestyle but you'd have to be very very rich and not work to follow this advice. From the stores it tells you to shop at to the shoes it suggests a bombshell should wear, I make a very good salary but could never afford their suggestions. I did like some aspects of the book. The review and descriptions of perfumes I found very helpful. Since I am always on a quest for my signature scent I plan on trying some of them. I try to incorporate glamour in my every day life which this book does advocate. Maybe I am being too hard on this book but it didn't inspire me in the way I was hoping. I thought Dita Von Teese's Making Your Beauty Mark The Guide to Eccentric Glamour was a much much better guide for living the life of a bombshell!

I bought this book recently on a whim. As I read through it, it started to seem very familiar, I think possibly I purchased this book through a mail order book club the year it was released, 2001. Especially once I got to the lipstick section that mentioned "Revlon's Cherries In The Snow", which my Great Aunt used to wear, she was born in 1897! :) It's a lighthearted, frivolous, bit of a read, but I quite enjoyed it! Even if it was a bit of Deja Vu encountering it again. The advice is old fashioned, very girly, and quite hysterical! Certainly not for budding feminists, but good for a chuckle if you are of a certain age. I also have Laren Stover's Bohemian Manifesto, which I take out and read every few years, and I wish she would write a new book someday soon!

This book covers everything while referring to our sisters from the 20's - present (although, mostly the women of the fifties). Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, and Elizabeth Taylor are just a few women who are referenced through-out this amazing little guide. I have owned mine for over a year and still reference back to it. There are no biographies in this book, instead different bombshells are brought into the fold with each new section. From hair color, to makeup, to clothing and home decor, everything you could imagine is mentioned in this book. I discovered a love for Etta James, Frank Sinatra, and classical music because of the music list in this book. At 21, these artists were known by me but never listened to. Now, I can't get enough of what my past sisters were listening to. I have become a master at the "Garbo eye" and have tossed my foundation goodbye. I also tossed out my Erno Laszlo skin care system in favor of Ponds and my skin has never been better for a fraction of the price. I will admit that not everything that is recommended is in my budget (I can't afford to walk around in Burberry trenches while wearing the latest pair of Ferragamos) but I now save to buy these pieces when I see them heavily discounted. I now perch instead of sit and know how to make an entrance. Sip your Dom (or a glass of Chardonnay) while reading this book and discover your inner bombshell like I did.

What every Bombshell needs to know. It’s a gem.

For some reason, the people who buy this book expect to see a step-by-step guide on how to become Marilyn, Elizabeth, and Sofia. However, there is no such thing as step-by-step guide on becoming a bombshell. The bombshell tendency is often born into a girl (or boy) but is carefully cultivated into the full-blown bombshell that we know and adore. While I admit some of the things are dated, why can't we incorporate a little bit of the forties and fifties into our lives? Champagne baths are a tad much for those of us with budgets, but why not have a grocery store-cheap bottle in the fridge for those toasting those special occasions like a dove landing on the windowsill? This book was an eye-opener for me, showing me that I can be my own type of Marilyn or Elizabeth in the modern world, it just requires a little bit of glam and a whole lot of confidence. While you and I never may be listed with the Bombshells of legend, we know we are Bombshells, and so does everyone else with the swish of our hair, the champagne in our refrigerator and our genuine effervescene for the movie of life in which we are the star. Don't purchase this book if you want a step-by-step guide or tips on how to become Marilyn Monroe. This book is not that. It's more of a catalogue of famous Bombshell tendencies (which bras, makeup, shoes, music, etc.) that you either find just like yours, somewhat like yours, or nothing at all like yours, and you could use these tendencies to cultivate your bombshell status. But no step-by-step. Sorry.

This book is amazing, don't listen when these people tell you that you should not take this book seriously. It is very practical and unpractical at the same time. This book is an easy read and easy to take notes from. This book and another book Better than Beauty a guide to charm by Helen Valentine and Alice Thompson is all the beauty books you will ever need. Everything in this book made complete sense to me, and the women who it didn't make sense to are too practical and do not have enough imagination. I am a young woman who loves this book, and even though some of these things it says is a little outrageous, you sometimes have to go for it to make live exciting. The bombshells in this book lives excitingly, and has adrenaline in a day to day life. I recommend this book to everyone because I can look back at all the female figures in my life and see some of what they do in what the bombshell does in this book. This book is so lovely. Don't stop to think why not buy this.

This is one of my favorite books. It's silly at times, and yet makes good points. I've stopped carrying my purse over my shoulder and now carry it on my forearm, but I don't answer the door wrapped in a sheet and a spritz of Chanel No.5. There are some great points about not "sitting" but "perching", and a bombshell is never boring because she is always genuinely interested in those around her. It's a fun read, and my friends have enjoyed browsing through it. I read it about once a year just to give myself an attitude boost and remind myself how much I love being a woman.

Always love to read cute little books to see what they say. This is one of those cutesy books.

Well, I'll have to admit that I'm not really a "bombshell" and in the fullest sense of the word, I don't think I'd want to be. It seems to me that even the most deep-down, genuine bombshell (in other words, someone whose true persona fits the general "type" as opposed to someone who's studied the description and is "acting" accordingly)would have a tough time being taken seriously in real life, even if she was an easy person to like or love...and sometimes, no doubt, be maddened by! On the other hand, maybe she's the type of person who inspires other people to take care of her. Still, it was a fun book to read, with its breezy, tongue-in-cheek style. I think it must have been a fun book to write, too. And even for us non-bombshells, it gives a nice reminder to kick back sometimes and just enjoy life and our femininity.

Love this book and all the helpful tips in it! Actually chose a perfume listed in this book without even trying it and it was perfect!

This was an interesting take on what being a bombshell consists of. Each chapter details a unique characteristic of 'bombshellism'. From what a bombshell wears, reads, or listens to; to what she loves (animals), her tantrums, and even how her astrological sign affects her. What this book lacks in length, it makes up for with great sketches and name-dropping. Although most of the scenarios listed are taken from early movies with impossibly gorgeous screen sirens like Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe, some things still hold true and frankly, most women have a lil' bombshell in them.

Ah, this is a treat. It's as airy as a meringue, yet with a satisfying crunch and sweetness. Stover constructs and deconstructs the image of the bombshell in this charming and witty book (it's all about the performance of femininity and it's cheaper than critical theory, too!). Stover's skill as an ethnographer of the bombshell takes on a persona that is larger than life (as in her later book, _Bohemian Manifesto_) and makes it a source of frothy delight. This is not actually a manual, per se, but more of an observance of the bombshell at work, at play and in the boudouir. And play is important--Stover stresses the fun in acting like a bombshell, while not losing sight of the fact that it is an act, a performance--there's a reason so many bombshell examples come directly from movies (and anything that loves Jayne Mansfield as much as I do, well, that's all right with me.) As in Stover's other work, the illustrations are bright, joyful and just as delicious as the text; the whole book is beautifully designed. My only suggestion would be a film list of the "bombshell" films; we have a list of favorites *of* the bombshell, but I'd love a fuller resource to see more of this glamour onscreen! I'd also like to less of a heterocentric viewpoint since so many bombshell characteristics have shown up in femmes and as such have become symbols of both femininty and suberversion (maybe _The Bombshell Manual of Style_'s next edition will include Tallulah Bankhead? I hope! Or could we hope for a book on the Bombshell Bohemians?) as have drag queens.I think this could add to a richer understanding of bombshell as a beauty and as a tool to explode forms of conciousness. However, these issues may be for another book (and Ms. Stover, I hope you write it and if you do, _The Femme's Guide to the Universe_ is a great resource...) Still, this is glorious fun and if you have a taste for the girly in girly girl, I think this will be delightful. Brava!

I found this book to be very enjoyable, and it gave me a lot of ideas on how to make me feel more glamorous in my everyday life (who would have thought that taking the strap off of your purse would make a difference?) Don't take it too seriously, though. Try to get a "sense" of the bombshell from this book; don't freak out about particular details. For instance, my major centered on English literature, and I wasn't too keen on taking her advice on my library! Pick and choose what will make YOU feel like a bombshell!

Nicely illustrated and it does have some good points and interesting stories about famous Bombshells, but this is not a step-by-step guide on how to be a bombshell. It was a fun read, but if I had to do it over again, I would just check it out at the library.

This book is devoid of advice for women who have real jobs or real lives. If you are an out of work Actress who married well and divorced smartly, this is the book for you. Otherwise, move on. The fact that almost all of the actresses used as examples in this book are dead and lived miserable lives, seems to slip past the author. The examples of wardrobe choices and Bombshell Behaviors given are all out of movies or photo ops, so translation into real life becomes quite difficult. I think this must have been written as a joke. If you are really looking for advice, please look elsewhere. If you truly do not need to eat food, can wear stilletto heels in a snowstorm or hiking in the woods, and practice leaning naked from your window to lure the papparazzi into giving you free publicity, then you probably don't need this book. If you have a job, a husband, children, a hobby, or a life in general outside of being photographed, this book has nothing to offer you.

This tongue in cheek glamazon in training guide is what every girl needs to know how to perfectly balance propriety and charm with head-turning hotness! Immerse yourself in the world of the Bombshell; you'll be glad you did.

I Believe I have an old soul and I was born in the wrong era. I love the styles of the 30's, 40's and 50's when women were sexy, confident, dressed impeccable with a sophisticated flare. I'm not much of book reader. I'm more of a newspaper, magazine kind a gal keeping up with current events. However, the minute I saw this book at a 57th street store window and it's cute cover and title, I said I must read that book. When I open the pages and began to read it, I couldn't put it down until I read it all the same day. I must say, it was totally inspiring and made me think of the women of that era. I love this book, it's fun to read, the illustrations are adorable and I keep it to read it as often as I can. Thank you!

Not all that impressed

This book is very very cute. I am not sure about the content, but love Ruben Toledo's illustrations.

I bought this for some fun reading in between my dissertation. Reminds me to not "let myself go" during the PhD process. It has really helped. I give it 4 Stars because their are several cliche's, however, it has done it's job in the sense of being an encouragement to dress well, and confidently at all times...day or night. My husband is a fan as well ;)

Serious fun. It aint easy being foxy and here is a a guidebook for women and the men who love them.

Exactly what I was looking for. A how to guide to be basically in charge and have more confidence.

This is a super cute chick-lit style book that chronicles the life and personality of a bombshell. It covers lots of areas from fashion and beauty to travel to even issues such as exercise and wildlife. I found it very humorous, and quick, fun read. If you're looking for an in-depth style guide, or book on self-esteem, this probably isn't for you. But if you adore the movie bombshells of old, and would love a fun read about how to be one (plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor included), this may just suit you.

Warning: this book is outdated. There are cute things in here, but the truth is, most Bombshell / Pinup / Retro / Vintage / Rockabilly gals have grown beyond some of the platitudes in here. When the book was written, these were okay - so no finger wagging at the author. She spoke to gals of her time - but things have changed. Modern Bombshells now know that their fun look and self confidence come from within and are to enjoy - a woman does not need to wear certain things or behave certain ways for someone else's approval. The suggestions in this book are a tad manipulative and very product biased. There are ideas that are still quite good: building confidence, dancing to your own beat, and feeling good about yourself. I'm not entirely recommending this book for those looking to change their style unless they are savvy enough to pick and choose what works for them. Not a good first style book for anyone wrestling with self-doubt or poor self-image as too many pages are dedicated to pleasing others. For those who simply enjoy the whole Retro vibe from a confident perspective, this book can be a load of fun.

this book is delightful and inspiring. it's definitely a light read, and shouldnt be viewed as a "guide" or "how to" book. it's more an homage to women who are strong and independent enough to embrace their femininity, sometimes to the point of hillarity. i have been giving it as a gift to fabulous women i know for four years, and it's always adored. i recommend reading it in a bubble bath...

Really great book! Love the girly tips. It's a great coffee table book as well.

In today's world where sex appeal has become so unidimensional, I was excited by the blurb and what Ms. Stover said about it. She claimed the most iconic sex symbols of all time were actually complex creatures, a combination of potent sexuality, intelligence, kindness and exuberance as opposed to pure eye-candy. That is a great premise and I'm all for books that celebrate iconic women as multidimensional and not just clothes horses. (I also celebrate books that celebrate iconic men as multidimensional. But that is a different story.) The problem is not the premise. The problem is the execution completely negates or contradicts the premise. She keeps saying that the bombshell is very nuanced creature, but the way she talks about them, and the examples she gives about them make them sound like fluffy, vapid, types that don't really have any nuance. She says they are smart, but she also says they come to office bra-less with skin tight sweaters. She says they are intellectual, but she says the intellectual books they own are bought out of optimism that they might read it someday, not out of interest (and she never reads them because no time). She says they are eager to consume all of what the world has to offer, but the world she defines is limited to Europe and mostly to France. Ultimately, because of how Ms. Slover chooses to explain the nuances of the bombshell, the bombshell ends up sounding anything but nuanced. Instead she sounds like that flighty but hot friend you had in college who considered herself super worldly and enlightened because she read Kahlil Gibran. Once. And while I am sure Ms. Slover didn't intend it this way, the bombshell in this book is pretty exclusively a caucasian woman which is something to keep in mind if you intend to give this as a gift to a friend who is interested in the notion of nuanced, intelligent sexuality but is of a different ethnicity. You will definitely find it more entertaining if you are more into the "visuals" of what makes a sex bomb a sex bomb- as in how she dresses and how she acts. It is very interesting from that kind of view, especially since retro sexuality was all about seeming vulnerable, not aggressive in how sexual you appeared. But if you wanted to read a book about how a sex bomb is more than just giggles, tight clothes, a breathy voice and Sinatra all day all the time, then this might not be a good fit for you.

One of my favourite books ever, this is an item I regularly pull off my shelf for a quick refresher, or even if I just want something to read. Definitely a must-have!

Just got this little book, and devoured it...recognize myself in so much of it, even if I am just a Regular Girl, not an actress. Must have reading for all females who love the fun of being girly!

This is my favorite book! I have read and re-read it countless times since I discovered it eight years ago. I've been through several copies over the years after friends and guests have "borrowed" mine...I don't blame them! After a difficult day I can always count on this pretty little book to boost my mood and restore my confidence- perfect with a glass of champagne! Uplifing, inspirational and beautifully illustrated. Please, please, write a sequel!

Fun read. Taken with a glass of champagne, it's perfectly bubbly ;)

Really a sassy little book, that brought a smile to my face. I enjoyed the tongue in cheek humor and the tips for adding more bomb to my life.

Its a short little book. Not much on words or how-tos. More like bombshell does....you have to figure out the "how to" pull it off part. cute. Enjoyable. I do recommend.

This is a smart, fun, delicious book, made for all senses, not just the brain. I would have liked a chapter about fur.

Love this book

This was a neat book, but it kind of borrows from many other style/confidence books. I liked the voice of the writer; I ended up gifting it to my step-mom when I was finished. She loved it.

A light read but really fun. The illustrations are really the best part of the whole book though. I'll pass it on to someone.

The book pretty much reviews the lives of former Hollywood bombshells (most which are deceased). It's nice to read through for little tidbits on the lives of these celebrated women but nothing to really write home about. I bought the book for less than $10.00 brand new. It took me less than two days to read (some parts are really boring). The illustrations would have been more powerful if they didn't look as if a second year art major painted them. Perhaps the author didn't have to rights to reproduce actual photos of the women that are discussed in this book, but even a reproduction using real women would have made this "manual" a lot more interesting.

This book was... cute. It gave me a few... cute ideas. This book is not a manual. This book is a "Hey, girlfriend! I bought you a gift!" book. This is a "I have nothing else to do, so I'm going to do some cute pleasure reading with this cute book" book. So I give it 1 star. If you already know that this book is not supposed to actually help you live your life better, then get it. If you're looking for a manual of style, this is not it.

This book is a little jokey and often conflates "bombshell" style with flakiness and silliness. The book is faintly amusing. However, it has done little to help me figure out how to combine sexiness with style.

Book purchased as a birthday gift, got here on a stagecoach after the birthday was over but otherwise just fine packaging.

The book is practically useless. Just watch old movies and copy how the now-dead actresses behaved and dressed. Listen to all the early 20th century songs. There! Everybody around you will think you have some mental problems but you'll know you are a bombshell. I don't understand how any somewhat intelligent writer would waste time writing such a useless book.

Honestly, this book should be called "how to act like a shallow 1950's movie star". It first starts off by saying a "bombshell" should always be authentic/genuine, then goes into all these details about how bombshells only wear X brand, or listen to X type of music. This is a contradiction. How can one be authentic if they are trying to be a bombshell? Especially if they don't like X brand, or X type of music. It does have some good tips about confidence, and the part about style isn't too bad. Overall, I found it obnoxiously shallow, and straight up boring to read. It's like a old movie star was preaching to me.

This book was so stupid. I highly un recommend it. I expected something different. Not sure but just didn't like it.

Laren Stover's Bombshell Manuel of Style is just plain fun reading. She writes about the easiest source to find bombshells - movies. Being a combination bombshell/bohemian and a movie buff I found this entertaining reading and a little inspiring. One recurring theme throughout the book is being confident and not afraid to be yourself. The book is made even better by the artwork of Rueben Toledo. Being a visual learner; it was Rueben Toledo's work that attracted me to the book and made me want to purchase it. I have purchased this book as gifts for others and two for me. One is for my night stand and one as a sort of workbook. I underline and make notes when I try a perfume or something another bombshell has tried. The experience makes good conversation when hanging out with girlfriends. It's a good read when you are having one of those days when you don't feel your best or bloated. It will give you a quick pick me up by reminding you just how fabulous you are. I mean this in a like/love yourself way not a conceited "I'm better than anyone" way. It wasn't meant to be a serious book, just fun. It seems to be her journal of discovery. She admits to not being a bombshell but becoming fascinated by them (Ms Stover was more bohemian). Warning, if you are confident, have contradicting interests, love being a girly girl, sometimes borderline on wearing extravagant jewelry (or straight out gaudy), are book smart, light up a room when you walk in, must look your best at anytime...you may find you are a bombshell. If not, you may come to understand them better. At the very least you will have fun watching great movies. Enjoy reading the book.

I have owned it for years. I attempted to live this lifestyle and I must admit I miss that part of me. I am re-reading and once again applying the principles to my life. Life should be more fun. And I am going to be a Grandma Bombshell.

Who is a bombshell? Basically, this book is about 1950s and 1960s movie actresses. Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Rita Hayworth, etc. Drew Barrymore is also mentioned as a "modern" bombshell which is absurd. I do like retro 50s style, but just basing an advice book on movies that are dated isn't very helpful. For example, the book recommends wearing a scarf around your head while driving which would look silly in this day and age. Marilyn Monroe has a staged photo-op where she is lifting weights in jeans, so the book recommends lifting weights in jeans. Also Bombshells don't own cell phones or calculators. Silly advice like that. Like Saturday Night Live, here is the section of the review called "REALLY?" Advice to wear high heels hiking? Really? Because high heels and mud go so well together? Advice to wear make-up to bed? Really? Because a damaged complexion is so attractive? Really? Advice to wear no bra and a tight sweater to work? Really? Because getting ahead means showing off your assets? Really? I do like certain things about the book though. There are lists of old perfumes, lipsticks, vacation spots (all very retro), so it's not a complete waste of time... plus I do like reading about the old Bombshell habits from half a century ago... but the book should never be taken as a "how to" guide.

This is a bubbly read that makes a great gift for glamour girls. (I was so flattered to get it, inscribed, "To my favorite bombshell...") Clearly the authors know their subject, and the purse chapter alone will give bombshells goose pimples of recognition. ("The bombshell likes a good fit. She choses a handbag the way she choses a slip - it's not just about looks. It should feel snug, well-proportioned, natural, a part of her. Messenger bags, backpacks and briefcases are out of the question - too utilitarian. And never anything in the shape of an animal, vegetable or mineral.") It would be nice if there were some tips on bombshell maintenance, though; As John Cusack said about a lost English rose in SERENDIPITY, "Ten years ago she looked like Baby Spice. Now she might look like...Old Spice." So bombshells, take note! Moisturize from the inside out with water water water, then use something good -- or anything, really -- on your skin, like MAC Oil Control Lotion. Stay out of the sun! And since eyelash curlers crunch them up, give your lashes a fighting chance with a bedtime dab of petroleum jelly once a week. And if you must reduce, I'd be a bit suspicious of Marilyn Monroe's Diet Plan on page 136, which has buttered toast being served at every meal. (Try grapefruit or broccoli instead.) While this book may not turn a girl into a bombshell overnight, it could help a boyfriend better understand what we like. (Namely, Joy perfume, Frankie Sinatra and trips to the petting zoo.) And it's full of neat trivia, such as the fact that Kim Novak posted a sign outside her childhood home that read, "BRING SICK AND STRAY PETS HERE", and that she once had a lame housefly for a pet that escaped her mother's swatter. Stories like that make one proud to be a bombshell.

I picked up The Bombshell Manual of Style out of curiosity at my local Border's. I sat down in one of those plush leather chairs with my Irish Creme Iced Coffee and started to read this hidden gem. Let me say that I was quite astonished. Ms. Stover and her colleagues have done a brilliant job of bringing out the hidden bombshells in all ladies who have read this book, especially myself! I never knew exactly how to become a bombshell; of course I was inspired by Ava Gardner and Marilyn Monroe, but I never knew how to perfect their style of life...and no, their style is certainly not a bad thing!!! This book showed me how...from telling me how to have a brunet tantrum to applying eyeliner to vacationing in the Caribbean to dressing up in cold weather! With the delightful illustrations, pink decor, and quotes of bombshells from a bygone era, it is a wonderful book, worth every penny you'll pay for it! And, for the record, don't pay the $19 for it at Border's. Drive home, log onto Amazon, and pay the greatly reduced price for this gem that has been hiding on shelves for too long!!!

I was expecting a parody, and this book can be read that way... except by the humorless, of course, who will take it far too seriously. Instead, while much of the book was written tongue-in-cheek, it's also juicy reading, laugh-out-loud funny, and surprisingly inspiring. It helped me connect with when I was a little girl and idolized Bridget Bardot in old movies on TV. It reminded me of Jayne Mansfield's giggly va-VOOM sense of style. And, this made me go to my closet and look at all the sensible white blouses and Terribly Professional tailored clothing, and sigh deeply. I went out and bought pink. Pink blouses, pink undies, pink shoes. Not what-a-cute-baby pink, but Bombshell Goddess PINK. Life hasn't been the same since. And I'm delighted! If you're looking for a carefully analyzed, dress-for-success, statistically footnoted guide to fashion, this isn't it. Likewise, if you read it with red pen in hand, noting where the pace is too slow and where the logic falters, you probably won't like this book. It's unapologetically frivolous and fun. BUT... If you want a good, light poolside read with plenty of smiles, this is a great choice. You may also reconnect with childhood fantasies, in the very best ways. This book is still on my nightstand for when the day has worn me down a bit. After reading just a few pages of it, I slip off to dreamland with visions of pink bubblebaths, fluffy maribou high-heeled slippers, and boxes of soft-centered chocolates.

Isn't it always the case that what some readers hate about a book is what you love about it? I love the focus solely on vintage movie stars, perfume, music etc. I love the way it reads like a movie magazine of the era, full of fluff and fun and nothing too sad or intrusive. I love the way the author seems to be making a study of bombshells in their native habitat, the movie screen and the Hollywood of yesteryear. I love that although it's so over the top you may sense a hint of things being "tongue in cheek," she passes no judgments about the bombshell way of life. I love the fact that it is not a how-to book which I find have a tendency to sound rather "Do this or you aren't beautiful/strong/hip/chic/accomplished etc." You can take what you will from this book. Read it to see a light and fun side to bombshells whose lives are usually mentioned in junction with tragedy now. Read it to see some suggestions as to what music a bombshell listens to and what mood it sets, what movies she loves and what books she reads (and why). Maybe you'll want to add some bombshell touches to your life or maybe you won't, either way it's a fun read. Personally I pick it up to cast a rose glow over my life, to add some effervescence and to recapture a sense of fun. To me, that's what makes this book sparkle, it is a slice of a cotton candy world. It's a rose-tinted bygone Hollywood that you can stroll through and pick up a few trinkets to adorn your reality, or not.

Laren Stover takes her bombshell cues from the classics -- Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, and other women who exuded sexiness over the years. So expect plenty of classic bombshell references in "The Bombshell Manual to Style," an informative though rather thin description of how to let your inner sex kitten purr. After a list of quotes from bombshells through the decades (does Drew Barrymore come off as bombshellish?), Stover starts giving intricate descriptions of how to live day to day as a bombshell. A bombshell's tantrums (brunettes get to destroy stemware), wardrobe (for weight-lifting, a triangle bikini and jeans), jewelry and "underpinnings," perfumes, handbags (and their contents), shoes (mostly mules and slingbacks), makeup, a Bombshell's sanctum sanctorum (a piano is a must) and a soundtrack to her day (Tchaikovsky for bubble baths). And, perhaps most importantly, attitude. "If you can learn to use your mind as well as you use a powder puff, you will become more truly beautiful," Sophia Loren once said. So Stover also focuses on the attitude and feelings -- love of animals, optimism, laughter, and a bit of sentimentalism. Don't take "Manual" as a complete guidebook to life unless you're a Paris Hilton heiress, since few women's lives can completely conform to what is described in here. Rather, take a tip here (perfume) or a tip there (shoes), if you're unsure of how to be feminine and sexy without seeming vampish. Certainly it has a lot of good pointers and recommendations. Probably "Manual"'s big flaw is in being too restrictive. What if a Bombshell likes J.D. Salinger or Sylvia Plath -- is she disqualified? And the assumption runs through it that a Bombshell can afford the designer price tags and furnishings that are absolute musts for a bombshell. As Ms. Loren said, being a bombshell shouldn't be restricted by whether you wear Dior or not -- how about a Budget Bombshell book? Laren Stover presents a fun and alluring vision of the classic bombshell beauty in "Bombshell Manual of Style." Sure, you can't do it all, but you can at least put on some Manolos and spriz some Chanel on.

I bought my first copy of this book almost 7 or 8 years ago -- I think. (Yes, my first copy. -- It became worn out & was falling apart from so much use.) The first thing that drew me to the book was the title. I perused it in the bookstore & HAD to get it. She had described A LOT of my favorite perfumes -- a lot of my favorite makeup colors, a lot of my favorite books, a hotel I had heard of & wanted to stay in -- even the room I wanted to stay in and a lot of my favorite movies and actresses. Well, when I saw so much of myself in the book, it was kismet. I still love this book because it's ageless and timeless. You don't have to be a youngster to be a Bombshell -- in fact the book would insinuate that we can certainly get better with age. The book doesn't spend time giving dime a dozen advice on what you SHOULD eat, wear, how to tie a scarf, what to do for your body type, face shape etc. It merely tells you what Bombshells of the day have been known to do & draw your own conclusion from there. It's also a crazy mix of dimestore & extravagant lists -- like a Bombshell may favor Revlon lipstick but may have an Hermes bag. It also emphasizes being well rounded. A Bombshell is not just about what's on the outside. It's about the brains, and what comes from the inside. This book is as much about bringing your inner fantasy out as well as being informational and humorous. I hope this book stays around long enough for me to get a third or fourth copy if I ever need it!

Are you incapable of walking in flats? Do you cry over nature shows? Do you actually wear satin babydoll pajamas without a male companion nearby? Then you just might be a bombshell. This delightful, funny, beautifully illustrated little book tells you just how to be an old-school bombshell (a la Brigitte Bardot, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth and Elizabeth Taylor). Learn how to do your makeup, what perfume to use, what music to listen to (Sinatra, darling!), what to wear for any occasion and just what sort of bag you should be carrying. There's even a cute little quiz in the back to test your bombshell quotient. Warning: This book is unashamedly old-fashioned. If you have problems with using your sex appeal to get what you want, don't go here. Ditto if you don't like animals, if you hate skirts and if you hated the movie "Swingers."

I’m surprised at how little I enjoyed this book. I even borrowed it, and want a refund of the time. The tone was preachy. You might try instead pinching your pennies and getting a copy of Your Beauty Mark. It’s what this title says it is, complete with fashion histories and interviews of legitimate bombshells and many stylish people.

Oh, what a charming little book! This one is a must read for either someone looking for an amusing read or want tips on how to be that rare type of woman who is equal parts lady & tramp! The people who are giving it low ratings are taking it way too literally. This book is not to be followed step by step, it's just for inspiration & reference. You don't have to follow every little thing just what you're comfortable with. It's light hearted & humorous reading & Laren did a great job on this. It's a very imformative book, it covers everything from beauty & style to art & culture. I also love it's compact size, so I just throw it in my tote when I'm on a getaway or sipping champaigne in my bubble bath. It's about the joys of being a woman & liberated. Sexy, smart, charming & beautiful...in your stilletos!

Written and illustrated by people who should know, here is some fun advice with 100% hot style. Based on great movie stars and what can only be personal observance of real-life Bombshells, this little book is too much fun to put down. The illustrations are bright, sexy and whimsical, and the advice will make you feel better about getting dressed, doing your nails and forgetting how to cook. Reminiscent of Helen Gurley Brown's Sex and the Single Girl, (only funnier,) it covers everything from Marilyn Monroe's diet, to what to wear at home, (hint: it's not sweatpants!) You'll want to grab a copy to see how you measure up, and how to make it all better. It's a silly book, hard-core feminists will be offended. But it is sooo delicious, you'll find yourself sippping a cocktail to Frank Sinatra before you've finished the last page. Sister Holly Golightlys rejoice!! Hurry, get some bubble bath and get this book!

Another one of my sister's books on looking and feeling good about yourself, this book was a great read. A reminder of what feminity was in the middle of the twentieth century, the bombshell celebrated her feminity and sexuality with grace and style. She could shock her public by wearing close-fit attire that silouhetted her shape and go bare underneath. She admired her physique, whether she was skinny or fat. And she attracted men with good personality. Ms. Stover does a good job doing her research on celebrity bombshells and what their daily regimen was that made stand out. This should be the woman's bible on what it takes to achieve the look and feel good about yourself.

While I think this is a cute and witty book, I don't like how a previous reviewer mentioned "intelligent but not at the cost of sensuality". Intelligence has a great deal to do with sensuality. It also weeds out men a truly intelligent bombshell would not want to associate with. If my intelligence intimidates a man, that's his problem. Intelligence doesn't take anything away from sensuality. I really didn't dig the "bombshells don't read Emerson, Thoreau, or T.S. Eliot" and the "bombshells don't like Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec". Screw that. Three cheers for bombshells being domestically challenged! That's what I am! The illustrations were very cute as well.

I grew up watching old Marilyn Monroe movies and have always been fascinated with "Bombshell" style. Therefore, I was delighted to discover the "Bombshell Manual of Style" by Lauren Stover and Robin Toledo. According to this book, "Bombshells" love men, stilletos, the color pink, are kind to animals, know the seductive capabilities of perfume, and always have a signature lipstick color. On the negative side, however, "Bombshells" are manipulative, selfish, and throw temper tantrums. This is a very fun little book and gives women great ideas about how to celebrate their femininity. While I do not consider myself to be a "Bombshell" per se, I related to many of the ideas and suggestions in this book. What I loved most about this book is that it leaves no stone uncovered about proper bombshell ettiquette. The reader walks away knowing how a bombshell thinks, should dress, the type of lingerie she prefers, and even what color lipstick to wear for any occasion. This book is a quick read but ever so fun! If you know a "bombshell" or someone who wants to explore her (or his) inner bombshell, this book will make a great present!

A light, fluffy read that takes up way less than one afternoon this book is not to be taken as a "how to." Either you are a bombshell or you are not. Plain Jane mousy women who read this will come away with nothing. The lists of music, makeup techniques, clothes and perfume will only serve as a research guide to them. True bombshells already know this information. For them, this "guide" serves only as a document of self-affirmation. Other reveiwers have complained that some of the information in this book is dated, doesn't incorporate viable information for our times, and lacks references to modern day bombshells. It is my opinion that they do not "get" it. If there was nothing else to learn from this book it is that the bombshell loves herself, her own personal style and is proud to be an individual. She looks to the great ladies, fashions & ways of the past because the present has become a cookie cutter sexless kakhi wearing culture. Bombshells are not afraid to step outside the lines and do something different. If the perfume you wear is not on the list provided or your musical tastes vary from what is contained in its pages but it makes you feel pretty and feminine and good about yourself than so be it. A true bombshell has enough confidence in herself that she doesn't heed every word of a silly little confection of a book as gospel- instead she slips on her highest heals and marches to the beat of her own drummer.

I am not a feminine woman, so I originally bought this book to laugh at the ludicrous things I was expecting to read. But it was entertaining, and enlightening. There are quotes from different bombshells, and sections on nearly every part of a bombshell's life. The best part about this book however is that while they tell you what a bombshell is, they apply no pressure for you to change your life all around to become one. They are simply trying to let you know why Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Kim Novak, Rita Hayworth, Heddy Lamarr, etc... did what they did they way they did it. A great read. Even for men.

I have decided to give this book to a great transvestite that I know. The book seems like a manual for a woman who does not know much and needs some schooling. The only problem is to be a Bombshell one shouldn't read a book, they should just be, but thats another story. This is light reading and meant for fun/rec purposes. Do not take this book seriously. It is adorable. One problem though (I DO LOVE DREW BARRYMORE), but Drew doesn't belong in this book. Granted she is great and beautious and all...but she is far too contemporary to be noted in the book. Get the book for fun facts, but don't see it as a guide to ultimate sex appeal.

Charming from cover to cover, this book has become a fixture on my bookshelf. Light-hearted, witty and elegant, the advice on scent, fashion and poise is old-fashioned but hardly dated, as well as desperately needed in these times when trashy is chic. This is the secret that we've been waiting for--how to be feminine, witty, seductive. In short, a how-to on being a Bright Young Thing. This is sex appeal that isn't cheap, intelligence that isn't blasé, femininity that is anything but apologetic. Embrace your inner Bombshell, pull out that eyeliner and those sling-back heels and strut. The Bombshell Manual of Style will show you how.

If this had been marketed as a kind of amusing anthropological study rather than a manual of style, I would have rated it a five. As it is, it's a well-thought-out, well-organized study of the 30's to 50's Bombshell, and those who imitate them, but style manuals usually include more how-to. From the title and description I expected more things like how to do your hair like Rita or your makeup like Marilyn, or at least how to keep your seams straight. The author's observations are witty and fun to read, and you may be able to add or reconfirm some of the details if you're going for that look and attitude, but Bombshell How-To it is not. Die-hard fans of old Hollywood Glamour movies or individual bombshells will be more entertained than I, but I'm more into the mysterious Femme-Fatale Vamp than the bubbly Bombshell to begin with, so I'm admittedly a little biased in that regard. (I loved the presentation and the writing, so would love to read "The Vamp Manual of Style" if they ever tried that subject!)

...book that ended up being a major let down. It seems that Stover is trapped in the 50's, and is trying to give advice to modern day women on being a "bombshell". For example: 1. She claims that bombshells do not own a calculator, or a cell phone. COME ON! How ridiculous is that notion. If my car breaks down in the middle on the interstate, how am I supposed to fix it? Let me guess, put my right leg in the middle of the street, and flag down a car? I don't think so. Also, I don't know about anyone else, but I like to keep my checkbook balanced and my bills paid on time. You better believe I'm going to pull out a calculator. 2. Bombshells do not wear panyhose. Oh yeah, accordig to whom? I refuse to wear a suit without panyhose, or clothes that are tight and 2 sizes smaller. I will project an image, if I follow her guidelines, but it will not be a "BOMBSHELL". 3. Bombshells take their shoes off when it rains. Maybe Stover should walk the dirty streets of NYC before making that statement. Besides, I was not born on a barn, why would I walk bare-foot in public? 4. And where does Stover get off telling me what I should and should not read. Because Marilyn Monroe liked "Birth of Venus", so am I? And most of the women she referenced are either dead, or "over the hill". This book obviously is geared for the wrong decade, I would have loved it if I lived in the 60's. However, I did find the illustrations charming. So I gave it 2 stars for that aspect.

I'm a sucker for these kind of books. I loved Swell, The Bad Girl's Guide to Getting What You Want and even found Three Black Skirts to be informative, though a bit preachy. I'm also a sucker for old movies. And I reluctantly admit that I am 65% Bombshell, but this book is totally unrealistic (hiking in heels?!). It hardly applies to modern life. There are only a few techniques I'd care to apply to my life (like keeping perfume and nailpolish in the refrigerator). This book could have been really funny, but it fell short. What I was hoping would be cute movie star advice ended up being a sort of extended profile of my favorite movie stars. And not even a very good profile. I really wanted to like this book, and I'm glad I have it for my collection, but I won't even lend it to my Bombshell girlfriends. A better and funnier book of this genre would be Miss Piggy's Guide to Life.

This is a great book. It's not a good book if you're looking for a guide to dress like Lindsey Lohan or how to put together a work appropriate wardrobe. It's a fun and funny book about the concept of the bombshell. The concept that started with Marilyn, Sophia and Kim, and continues today in some of the sexier and smarter women out there. Being an old movie buff certainly helps in the appreciation of this guide. If you can't stand black and white movies, and think that Marilyn was fat and over-rated, do not bother.

While reading this book, I felt like I was floating through the world and my interactions with people. I felt graceful, peaceful & calm. Isn't that what every girl wants? After borrowing this book from a friend, I had to have my own copy. (p.s. I would have given this book 5 stars instead of 4, but some of the stuff I had a hard time relating to. I am a vegetarian and into animal rights and the book gives a few meat recipes and encourages one to wear fur - not for me. But over was good.)

Okay, I'll come right to the point. The best thing about Bombshell is the illustrations by Rueben Toledo. He's fantastic and the Toledo girls are cuter than cute. As for the book, read it but don't take it seriously. If you try to live like this you'll end up broke or dead. Actually, as I read I couldn't help but check off in my mind how the bombshell's the book holds as ideals ended up: Marilyn-- dead in rented room, Dorothy Dandridge--- dead on the bathroom floor, Rita Hayworth--- a lifetime of misery, Ava Gardner--- a really horrible, selfish woman, Jayne Mansfield-- dead on the road and at a low point in her career where Hollywood was laughing at her, not with her, Jean Harlow-- a victim of a nightmare marriage that may have led to her death at 26--- I didn't want to relate to any of this at all! Fashion wise, if you dress like a bombshell, expect to be called into HR or fired. It's just not a practical book. Cute but useless.

Holy cow! This book is entertainment. The author is not suggesting that we take every word as gospel. It is a lighthearted look at women who are a bit glam. Apparently, lots of dry, humorless feministas and women who live in sweats and big sneakers were not happy with what they found between the covers of this little gem. Too bad. This is a cute little book for those of us who still don't pump gas, wear high heels everyplace, and like being perfumed and pretty. Some of us can be playful and glam while still being smart and capable. What a shame that there are women out there who think we must be one or the other. For me, it was a thrill to find a book in which I see myself. We are bombarded with these ideas of what women should be, (more like men) and quite truthfully not all of us fit the mold. What a shame that some see bombshell types as throwbacks; we are not. [...] Before those who berate bombshells shun us, perhaps they should think of how they would feel if the feather-toe slipper were on the other foot: If they went back in time a few decades, they would be treated as odd because of their beliefs, appearances, and behaviors. There is room for all of us in the 21st century, get with the program. This is a cute book. That said, it is time to put on my Ella Fitzgerald cd and take a bubblebath. :)

In a time when fashionistas prescribe either cookie-cutter, sexless Anne Taylor fashion or outfits that scream "$50 an hour, me love you long time!", the return of the bombshell is long overdue! Sexy but never trampy, playful but never moronic, intelligent but not at the cost of sensuality, the bombshell is an archetype that European feminists never crucified - although it suffered more stateside. I hope this book heralds a new interest in the joyful balancing act of the bombshell. This IS a how-to book, despite what some reviewers have said. It is, however, more of a description of a paradigm than a cookie-cutter prescription - with some concrete advice on shoes, scent, clothing, attitude, lifestyle, etc. Sometimes tongue-in-cheek, high-spirited, sensual, unapologetically feminine, delighted - with a little spritz of irony- this book is a fun, fun, fun read. I loved it - treated myself to a bottle of Coco by Chanel to celebrate, and the next day I wore a just-knee length b& w polka-dotted skirt with a fitted black top and new red open-toed 1940s heels that I hadn't previously been brave enough to wear to the office. Celebrating a kinship with the Bombshell makes me feel fabulous! You might even say... liberated! Liberated to be playful, sexy, whimsical, feminine, capricious, sentimental, *and* intellectual. The Bombshell is the well-balanced, thinking woman's Cosmo Girl. The only things I wasn't too keen on were the critiques of certain artists and authors as not-for-bombshells. As far as I'm concerned, the bombshell can read as much as she wants, and whatever she wants - and the same goes for art appreciation. A Bombshell with a Ph.D. might find it a bit naff to have sex appeal linked to reading material - but then again, maybe wrapping a copy of Being and Time in a Men Are From Mars dust jacket would appeal to her whimsical sense of irony. Never mind me, though - just go get the book and see what you think!

I love this book. Not as a how-to guide, which I think many people seemed to hope it was, or an expression of modern womanhood, which it isn't. It is a case study of that rare form of woman, the bombshell, whose hayday was earlier in the century but who will never go away. And, as that, is it a lovely, informative, witty, and touching book. I'm sorry that it seems many people didn't get that. I bought this book when I was at a self-esteem low point in my life, when I felt anything but pretty and the myriad magazines and beauty guides did nothing to help. This book did, by showing in the very first chapter how being this kind of glamorous has far more to do with attitude. No matter what people think you look like, it is your own confidence and attitude that will determine how you are thought of. This is an incredibly powerful and important thing to hear for many people, especially young girls who think they'll never live up, and this book is a masterclass in that. Buy it for the shy, bombshell-loving girl you know, I think they need it.

I really couldn't wait to delve into "The Bomshell Manual of Style". I expected a frothy confection of "bombshellism" with perhaps some tips to incorporate into my life. Sadly, I found the beautifully designed cover, illustrations and quips on the back of the dustjacket to be the best part. Yes the author shares ideas on how a bombshell behaves, eats etc. But all the examples are dated, and the author fails to translate them to today's society. If I were to wear some of the outfits the author suggests, like a large, bold print polka dotted dress with super high heels shopping I am sure I would get stares but they would not be flattering ones. The author Laren Stover uses Elizabeth Taylor, Jayne Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe frequently as examples through out the text. Certainly these women are renowed for their beauty and style. But what played then doesn't work now, even for a bombshell. Had the author also used more comtemporary "stars" with style and glamour such as Jodie Foster or Sharon Stone and reported on how these ladies imbue star quality and that bombshell quality to their lives, the book would be much more relevant. Suggesting that a bombshell goes on a diet as her doctor won't give her anymore pills is an insult to all modern bombshells who know the best way to lose weight is a good support group and everything in moderation. The movies a bombshell watches, books a bombshell reads, and especially the clothes a bombshell wears according to the author are in many cases limited and old fashioned. Many of the perfumes the author suggests a bombshell use are way too heavy for today's modern times. This book is so beautifully designed and so well conceived it's a great disappointment that it fails at its attempt. Should the author care to make it relevant to today and show the reader how to incorporate sassiness and style and charm into today's world it would be an excellent, fun read. But this little book will not help anyone fufill their bombshell aspirations!

I have had this haunting feeling lately that most women today are lacking something, or trying too hard. We don't seem to express our vulnerability or our sensuality- we just show a lot of skin-- low-cut tops, lowrise jeans. What is real sex appeal? For that matter, what is real va-va voom? Finally, an adorable, tongue-in-cheek book about the classic goddesses who overcame bad childhoods and multiple marriages. They believed in dreams, they made us believe in dreams. The authors say you don't even need to be busty, or blonde, it's state of mind, a consciousness. This book is glamourous, sweet, empowering and made me laugh, too. (I ran out to Saks Fifth Avenue and bought Jicky perfume, very old school sexy.) There's even a quiz and a cute website which I found on the web when I looked up the book title. I only wish there had been a little more on exercise, but I guess the book was too honest for that....bombshell weights do go up and down but a bombshell is a bombshell because she believes I herself more than her scale. (I am buying this book for my depressed friends, it's better than Prozac.)

I enjoyed this book, I also enjoy black and white movies. It seems as if society has made women so hard and tough that their afraid to be bomshells. I think this book is going to be a classic for all women to read. This book lets you know how women should be treat themselves. After all we are all special aren't we? I think if you are a true bombshell in the making, you can get some valuable hints, and then again if you are one of those women who think less about looks (yours) and more about society views, then maybe you should try reading something else. However junior bombshells read on.

I have always believed there are four basic kinds of women. There are the Divas, the Sex Kittens, the Bombshells and I haven't figured out the name of the fourth...but they do a lot of the number/fact type stuff. This book is a study on the Bombshell personality. I was attracted by the cute pictures and the whimsical lettering. I read the entire book on a five hour plane trip and found myself laughing, giggling, tearing up from trying not to be so obviously tickled (pink, of course)by the many anecdotes and comparisons that are scattered throughout the book. My husband, who was sitting next to me, kept spying over my shoulder, and as I would share little insights, he too would laugh and then comment how true this was and how he knew he had married a bombshell. I have been handing these out to friends and even marriage counselors that I know. Toledo has put together some of the best sketches of lifestyle glimpses, while Stover does such a good work at bringing out generalities that are very much a part of this persona. It is very encouraging to compare other women who have excelled at who they are and note that some of us in mainstream America can also enjoy our "fun, cool sensual, sexuality, complete with feathers and sequins." Then at the end of the day, we can curl up in our puffy polka-dot chairs and toss our shoes off our feet and across the room as we pick up the Wall Street Journal and catch up on the Headlines for the week. Bombshells unite!

I was more than a bit disappointed with this book. The general idea of living like a cross between Marily Monroe and Catherine Hepburn is more than appealing, but the tips and advice dished out by the book are circa 1957. Very unhelpful for a 27 year old in 2006! Might I suggest "Swell" by Cynthia Rowley - it's made for the modern girl on a realistic budget. The Bombshell Manual is just a bit of a flop.

Okay, I'm jealous. I'll never be a bombshell, but at least I now smell like one. After glancing at the perfume chapter in the bookstore, I realized what fragrance was haunting me from my childhood. I immediately went out to buy it. At that point, the book was worth the money. This was a really fun read. For those women, unlike me, who aspire to be a bombshell, this book can be used as a manual.

I must say that there is a little bombshell in all of us. And this book helps you to discover it. You don't have to follow each advice from this book, but read it as a fun and inspiration! And guess what somewhere inside you this little hidden bombshell is going to raise! I love this book and read it over and over. I bought too many copies of this wonderful illustrated book and presented as a gift to the special friends, and they all love it!

I absolutely love this book! I think that I have read it four or five times. If you love Marilyn, Jayne, Rita, etc. you will love this book. Even though slightly unrealistic, it is a great book to read when lounging about your pool or bathtub (the bombshell's favorite place to be). It has fun fashion and beauty advice, profiles all the greatest perfumes, and even tells you what a bombshell should think about and read. If you have ever wanted to be a bombshell, this is a must-read!

I ADORED this book. In our current time where MTV dominates the american public's perceptions of how a girl should dress, act...etc, I found this book extremely refreshing and it gave me hope for our sad, sad times! People think that to be sexy one must dress like B. Spears or Lopez...this not only makes girls insecure about their bodies but also encourages them to be trashy! This book is a breath of fresh air, reminding us of the great beauties of the past who mixed "sexy" with class! This book encourages one to be confident and love being truly feminine and...themselves!!!! Trust me, it guides you there and it has been proved that the true gentleman will appreciate a modern day Audrey Hepburn!

Wow, I had suspected I was a closet bombshell for a long time and found the affirmation of the fact in this book! This is both a "how to" and a heck of an entertaining read! Some of the history of the bombshell was fascinating and I loved the Sophia Loren quote "all that you see I owe to spagetti". Yes, girls can be smart, sexy, cute, silly (in a good way) and wrapped up in a complex and enchanting Chanel scented, pink package. Now ,I DO have taxidermy in my house but they are named and usually trimmed with flowers or silly hats. Oh well, even a bombshell can have her lapses.

I had been waiting most impatiently,for this book to arrive;ever since I had heard about it a couple of months ago.I was so excited when I finally recieved it that I read it in one sitting.It is true to its title, it is most certainly a manual.I do believe that many portions of it were written tongue-in-cheek.It is very much based on the bombshells of the past-as though there haven't been any for the last thirty years, perhaps the only exception is that Kim Basinger is mentioned in the book, but not nearly as much as Kim Novak, or Marilyn Monroe. I really liked this book, and will adapt some of the suggestions into my life,like trying to set a mood,and pleasing my man more(lucky him!)by wearing silky clothes.Or nothing.I really liked the music suggestions included, and most especially, the bombshell zodiac chapter(I'm a Libra).I did NOT care for the 'cookie cutter' makeup method mentioned.I think it is waaay too much, and men nowadays love a more natural look.It won't rub off on the sheets!!Also, I think a woman that knows how to cook is sexy.How can you stay thin eating out all of the time? Ps.I started a club on Ya-who for 'modern bombshells'.(Hint-hint)

I came upon this book at a friends house and read it over, not a big fan. The cover looks intriguing, but the book book is another story. Instead of giving practical advice ladies in this economy can use how to "bombshellize" your life for 2009, this is just a manual that gives unuseful and unrealistic advice, IE its ok to throw tamtrums because ladies did it in 1950's movies ( READ: movies), its ok, you won't get arrested or looked down upon. Wish this advice would be geared more towards ladies of this day and age, not ladies 60 years ago. There is advice to wear provacative clothing to work, and also encouragement to not work at all, and spend you days shopping at very expensive boutiques, not in this economy!

Please, people, obviously Ms. Stover never intended this book to be some sort of self help endeavor. She is actually a very intelligent woman if you've ever bothered to read anything else she's written. Anyway, this book is about deconstructing and examining what it is to be a bombshell, the whole idea behind the image. And none of the women discussed in the book would anyone consider to be "slutty" or "bimbo-esque" as has been suggested in other reviews. Also I think another over-arching point of this book is that women don't have to dress and act like a New England prep or intellectual snob to be an intelligent, powerful, vivacious woman. If you like old movies and are fascinated by the bombshell persona then this is absolutely a book for you. Very easy to read a la cart with lots of interesting anecdotes about all those bombshell women.

Bought this book at an airport news stand and by the time I reached JFK from LAX I had finished the entire thing. It's funny and reminded me much of myself in many ways, (except that my fridge isn't a vanity on ice - I find that being able to whip up a gourmet meal, (or at least order one,) is a tre chic trait. I know lots of people don't get the connection between Patricia Arquette/ Drew Barrymore to some of the great ladies of the silver screen, but their bubbly personalities and often kittenish personalities certainly made sense to me. Certainly not meant to be a "style guide," however someone living in mid-America that is looking to spice up their life will find this just as helpful as a Sex and the City DVD.

I have to take offense at so many of the reviews that are suggesting this is a "how to". Contrary to that opinion, this is a "tell all" more than a "how to". If you are not born a Bombshell, no amount of makeup tips or appetizer recipes will turn you into one. I was a Bombshell at age 2, performing Santa Baby on my grandmother's stage in the bar. This book was taken right out of my head. Any of you out there that think it is "outdated" to be a certain type of woman are just jealous. You are the women who won't be friendly to me because you think I will seduce your man. (Even though I have never stolen a boyfriend in my life). No, I don't do everything the authors have stated-I too enjoy a French manicure every once in a while and I don't hate camping-but the key to the Bombshell is her spirit. The spirit of a time gone past, the glamour girl who didn't die out with the age. I own every Sinatra recording ever made and know that if I had only been able to befriend Marilyn, she may have found a kindred spirit. Those of us who despair do so because of how misunderstood and mistreated we really are. How many true friends do you think Marilyn had? (Too many people around her probably shared some of the reviewers opinions about "bimbos" and "floozy's") Shame on all of you who stand up for women's rights to be whatever they want but put down women who want to be womanly! It is impossible for me to make friends with women who aren't as attractive or more attractive than me because none of them will even speak to me. Most give me the cold shoulder but I have completely shrugged it off because I am who I am and my pink strappy stilletos will NOT be retired because you think they are too sexy, too flashy or threatening. Men love me, they have always loved me and I love them. No, I'm not a tramp, yes I have a husband but I don't dress up for men-I do it for me! It's who I am! My husband, when we were dating, loved the little outfits; the tight pants, the low tops-yet married, he once gave me hell because we went to a wedding of a friend and I wore a hot number (and got hit on by some of his friends). I put my stilletoed heel down that night to let him know when you marry a Marilyn don't expect her to turn into a Debbie Reynolds! He hasn't done it since and has decided, wisely, to be proud to have the hottest wife in the room. So, if you're one of the women who normally wouldn't speak to me, give it a try next time. We don't steal boyfriends, and generally don't have many girlfriends which can get lonely-but we know LOTS of single men, ladies, whom we couldn't possibly date. Get smarter-befriend a Bombshell-she can do wonders for your date book. Favorite Bombshell quote: "A man being rich is like a girl being pretty. You may not marry a girl because she's pretty but, my goodness, doesn't it help?" ~Marilyn Monroe~Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

For girls with a bit of an attitute....chutzpah. Wanna be a bombshell? I do. This book is fun...with lots of trivia about bombshells from the past....Marilyn, etc. Cute illustrations, feminine colors, easy reading, fun suggestions. Get it for a laugh....and discover your glamourous self! Lots of fun!

ok, first and foremost, it's a great book, blah, blah, it's my bible and everything. now, for those who are complaining about it being really "outdated". look around you. look up the word bombshell in [any search engine], anywhere. ... search for "bombshells" in amazon's search engine. what do you get? the females of Turner's Classic Movies. the first definition of a bombshell would have to be a female movie star dating back into the days of the black-and-white film. that's a *real* bombshell. of course, the term is used to describe pretty women, but first and foremost, it refers to the *classic* people of the jazz age up to the 80s. which is why this book is such a hit. it's a CLASSIC.

I purchased this book expecting a fun read....and yes, it is quite fun. However.....please.....ladies, do NOT purchase this book as some kind of 'style guide'. This is not about style and how stylish women dress. The last thing we need is for American women to look even trashier (no bra under your sweater to the office and fishnets during the day, indeed!). On a positive note, the book design and illustrations are just divine. Congratulations to the creative team. References to the old Hollywood starlets are both hilarious and inspirational......but I fail to understand the relevance of quotes by Patricia Arquette and Drew Barrymore! These ladies are hardly bombshell material. The fashion and beauty information is a little misguided (unless you're a drag queen) and the disparaging remark about redheads is just plain weird. THIS ONE IS STRICTLY FOR LAUGHS.

I have owned this book for years and I absolutely love it. My daughter has read it, and I have given a few to friends as gifts. What fun. I enjoy the fact that I am relatively intelligent. But, I love being girlie. I love perfume, make-up, lingerie, all of it. Bombshells are not stick thin waifs who don't eat. Real bombshells are real women with appetites and curves. Bombshells refered to in the book are Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, to name a few. Women who look like women, not women who look like little boys. Perfume and make up are wonderful things. This book mentions classic fragrances. Chanel Number 5 will be around long after I am gone. It also mentions the classic fragrance of Tabu. Which I adore. It's sets me back all of eight dollars, and I get so many compliments on it that I have to laugh. After reading this book probably 60 times in the last few years it just keeps reminding me that there is nothing wrong with being a bombshell. Bombshell is a state of mind. And while I think women's lib is a good thing, I have to admit, I LOVE having males open doors for me. I love having a man offer me his arm when I am walking in heels on ice. I love having a man offer me his hand when I step out of the car. I have reached the conclusion that a lot of men like women who look like women. I think secretly, men like women to wear dresses and look pretty. Mostly, tho, a bombshell is sincere and caring in her heart. A bombshell cares about others. Most importantly, at the end of the book there is mention of how a bombshell leans in to listen to the person she is speaking too. That may be called a "bomshell-ism", but, in reality it is just good manners. I couldn't imagine a bomshell talking to someone while looking over their head to see what else is going on in the room. I'm thankful I was a self-made bombshell before the book. Reading the book keeps me on my toes. And I am thankful that my daughters are also bombshells. Because in my mind bombshells are women who are comfortable with being women, and who also have some manners.

I started reading it and with every page I found myself more and more dissapointed. I am an advice junkie and if some people thinks they can actually write I guess with all my expirence in reading advices, tips over the years I can also become and advice book critic. My advice if you are into this type of reading buy 3 black skirts it is a better book with more interesting tips and more close to reality from 1 to 10 it is a 9.5, you can also buy Swell the only problem is that it is very plain, the advices about flowers are good, but they need more deep research. It is a 7. The Bombshell manual of Style uhm.. well Save your money and your time, I bet you have better things to do.

This book is fantastic! To those who think it's outdated, name for me a 'modern bombshell'? Jodie Foster? Please! Bombshellism is about being unabashadly feminine, sometimes innapropriate yet always a woman.... Do not purchase this book as a step by step guide. Purchase this book to remember how much fun it can be to be a girl! Don't like the perfumes they list? Go buy one you like. By the way, when was the last time you wore perfume? This little gem of a book reminds us that it's fun and sexy and girly to wear perfume! That is what this book is all about. ...

This book was very...amusing, sometimes comical. It's not for "today's woman" that's for sure. If I had to describe the book in one sentence it would be: "If you want to be Marilyn Monroe or a helpless bimbo (or any other glamourous actress/sex symbol from that time)this is the book for you. I did enjoy the book, but I think it is due to the fact that I hold a certain nostalgia for the 1950s and the lifestyle described in the book. It is well written, easy to read, and made me laugh out loud several times. My favorite section was bombshell makeup and what a bombshell has in her bathroom, they actually list Ponds cold cream as a beauty must have! The only person I know that uses cold cream is my grandma! This is not a book for someone looking to be a lady, or a bombshell today, it's about how to be a bombshell 50 years ago.

I LOVED this book! It is a great read for any person that appreciates old Hollywood and all of it's glamour. I don't think this book was meant to be taken as a serious "fashion guide" for frumpy housewives looking for "Advice" on how to BE a bombshell.

I love this book! What is so great about this book? Well, everything. The book is much like a bombshell, it gives and then gives some more. I definitely was NOT a bombshell, and yet by following the advice Laren Stover gives in this delightful book, I suddenly transformed into a creature that sometimes I don't even recognize!!! I almost would like to keep this book a well-known secret, but it's so great I recommend it to everyone.

I was expecting a lot from this book, a celebration of strong, beautiful and elegant women. Instead there is this thrash that instead of empowering women's feminity, just descrive them as stupid,weak and whinny...up to even faking emotions because it looks "good". This book just made me gag. I don't see a bombshell as being anything else than free and out of the restraints of the cliches this book describes.

After going blonde recently, some co-workers dubbed me "the Blonde Bombshell", so I decided to find out what that means exactly. Well, this book showed me the stuff it takes to be a real bombshell! I began renting the old movies it makes reference to and tuning up my inner bombshell, as well as dressing the part. My boss is beginning to wonder why I no longer wear pantyhose,( but if you read the book, you'll know!) I highly recommend it for all women who have a bit of a bombshell inside.

I read the Bombshell Manual cover to cover. It's really an adorable book. My favorite part was the section on 15 Road-Tested Outfits. I'd love to see all these curvy blondes walking around New York in anachronistic looks. That was the best part--the blur between sincerity and irony, elegantly-written prose and easy-to-read lists. I was touched when I imagined the ink in the bombshell's diary smuged with tears. (We'll know that bombshell mania is in full effect when Niagara Falls tourism skyrockets).

A gift for my daughter and she LOVES it!

It could have been a lot better. If you buy a book like "The Bombshell Manual", you're expecting some light and fluffy reading. Well, good because that's what you're getting. There were some parts that I found interesting, but more parts that I found too long and tedious like the bombshell horoscopes. Yuck. And who says that redheads don't make good bombshells?

This is the cutest book I have ever read. It has helped me come in touch with my "Bombshellism." I think that if you want to read a book about style, fashion, and lifestyle, you should buy this book. It will really make you feel feminine! It is also a great coffeetable book. I enjoyed it so much, I bought it for all of my friends. There is really nothing more to say.

This is an excellent little read! It seems to me that it was inspired by Marilyn Monroe and the author is speculating on what she'd be like if she were alive today. There are many interesting Marilyn tidbits here and some on her imitators like Jane Mansfield, et. al. Best thing is, there's no mention of the ultra-phony(and trampy)Pam Anderson.I love the illustrations! Very nice. Would make a wonderful gift for women to give among friends.

What a surprise - this little gem proved to be more delightful with each page. The illustrations are terrific and the book's message has something for the bombshell in each of us. Not only was I entertained by it's wit and wisdom, but I enjoyed the tidbits about Marilyn Monroe, et al. ALL women are bombshells, we just needed a reminder. Thanks Stover and friends for showing us the way. Va-va-voom!

Oh I think this book was amazing! I totally related to all of it. Being a bombshell are one of the things we can enjoy in life. I learned a lot of how to brush up on a few things, but I feel good when I read this book. I think that you would too. I am a member of the club modernbombshells on yahoo clubs. It is very informative. There hasn't been very many people in it lately though. I give this book 5 stars all the way baby!

I absolutely love this cute, charming, adorable little book, and I find myself referring to it when I need a pick-me-up and a smile. It's not gospel, it's an homage to the immortal bombshell and everything she stands for. Magnifique. Mwah!

In this sad day of feminism I am totally refreshed by this book that says it is OK to be woman and to embrace womanly charms! I loved this book. I'm tired of apologizing for dressing like a woman where the regional uniform is uni-sex T-shirts & Jeans! Sure, much of the book is tongue & cheek, but a true bombshell knows the difference. So with that, I spritz my Chanel No.5 and perch upon my chair, a pointy mule dangling from my polished big toe! My champagne glass is lifted to Bombshells everywhere!

Cute book, but much more applicable to earlier generations. Maybe our mothers aspired to be Jane Mansfield, but I'd like to hear what Jennifer Lopez is doing. More modern comparisons and advice would be great for bombshells of the new generation. Better keep looking...

"The Bombshell Manual of Style" by Laren Stover was a major disappointment. It's one of those schlocky "empowerment through high heels" things that have unaccountably become popular lately -- and not even a particularly good example of its ilk -- made even worse by combining it with schlocky nostalgia, a la the movie "Swingers". I kept waiting for the book to turn into a bitter parody of itself, i.e., "The Bimbo Manual of Style, 1957 Edition" (which at least would have been entertaining), but it never did -- or not intentionally. If only Ms. Stover had been content to let the book remain a frothy romp through vintage-style glamour, instead of also trying to make it a how-to book. It aimed for glitzy, missed, and ended up embarrassing, like reading old issues of "Cosmo". "Bombshell" encourages its readers to derive self-worth from that which is dumbest, silliest, and most trivial about femininity. It pretends otherwise, telling us that bombshells are intelligent, authentic, compassionate, etc. -- then suggests prancing into a job interview braless in a tight sweater. I can't see intelligent, authentic, compassionate women like Marie Curie or Rosa Parks or Mother Theresa doing that; so while a bombshell might be *permitted* to be intelligent, authentic, and compassionate, those qualities are clearly secondary -- what she's *required* to be is a busty floozy. I'm well aware that women have hearts and bodies as well as minds -- that we can be smart, strong, and functional while also enjoying love, sex, men, and traditionally feminine pursuits -- and three cheers for all that. I also want to make clear that I usually enjoy frivolous fun and/or "girlie" books. I loved "Kiss my Tiara", "Sex Tips for Girls", and "The Sweet Potato Queens' Guide to Life". I enjoyed "The Grrl Genius Guide to Life", "Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts", "Miss Piggy's Guide to Life", and most of "The Bad Girl's Guide to Life" (all these books, by the way, do what this book tries to do, with far more amusing and helpful results). But there are limits. First of all, "Bombshell" assumes that 1950s-style femininity is good clean fun; innocent of social/cultural baggage, and bravely persevering despite a conspiracy of spoilsports to forbid it. I like dressing up and flirting as much as anyone; I'll admit that cleavage flaunting and the occasional tantrum have their place; and I work out faithfully, get pedicures, and wear perfume. What I find baffling and irritating is the notion that this is somehow rebellious -- as though there were Orwellian puritans prowling the streets, slapping lipsticks out of women's hands. I've never encountered anybody like that; but every single day of my life, I encounter movies, TV shows, magazines, advertisements -- and yes, books -- telling me in blatant and subtle ways that I should wear makeup, dye my hair, get "cosmetic" surgery, etc. Whether or not I comply is optional (so far), but one can't have it both ways. An image mandated by all of corporate capitalism, all of the mainstream media, and all of popular culture, cannot possibly be considered rebellious -- or even original. Fishnet hose may be fun, but they're not "fighting the power". Secondly, "Bombshell" is off-puttingly dated. Almost nothing in it postdates 1960. For example, one chapter is devoted entirely to perfumes popular between 1920-50 ("Jicky"? OK, Collette wore it, but where do they even sell it nowadays? In one shop in Paris?), including an elaborate, gushing description of one that no longer exists ("My Sin"). Everything introduced after 1980, no matter how popular it is/was, gets lumped together in a one-sentence dismissal, apparently because the fragrances of that era are too old to be trendy -- but, unlike the equally untrendy perfumes the author praises, are not yet old enough to be nostalgic. Thirdly, "Bombshell" conveniently overlooks the fact that being a bombshell went out of style for a reason -- it didn't work. Women have had the past few thousand years (surely a fair trial period for testing a theory) in which to act like shallow airheads, and it hasn't done us or anyone else any good. We still don't have world peace, comparable pay, or even a decent parking space. Stilettos and simpering only worked for beauties and movie stars -- and usually, not even for them. Marilyn Monroe, whom "Bombshell" constantly cites, had a miserably unhappy life, abused drugs and alcohol, and died, probably of suicide, while she was still in her thirties. So did Dorothy Dandridge, another of the book's "role models". Elizabeth Taylor has been divorced -- what, eight times? -- and in and out of rehab repeatedly. I don't wish to be unkind to any of the ladies in this book, but their combined track record suggests that its methods produce less than successful results. There's also a strangely artificial feel to "Bombshell". It has the same relationship to actual women as Ralph Lauren ads have to actual cowboys. Real-life women don't dress or act that way. With the exception of a few starlets and showgirls, nobody did, not even in those days. This book isn't about women in the 1950s -- it's about *movie characters* in the 1950s. Retro can be charming and fascinating in its own way, and there are several good books about various elements of retro style. "Bombshell" wasn't one of them. Those who don't enjoy this sort of thing should skip it. Those who *do* enjoy this sort of thing should *also* skip it, because they'd be better off watching Marilyn Monroe videos, listening to Frank Sinatra CDs, or reading hard-boiled detective stories (since those always seem to have at least one bombshell "dame" in them). Ms. Stover should have put together a coffee table book about vintage clothes, music, and movies; and gotten it out of her system. The illustrations in this book are delightful -- but otherwise, this "bombshell" is a dud.

Ok, I was a bomb shell to begin with but its nice that other people understand that too! This book is so funny and enlighting that I could not put it down and had it read in the first night! This book allows us to bring out the hidden bombshell! This is a must read.... again and again!

Dear Ms. Stover, I want to thank you for writting the book "The Bombshell Manual Of Style". I refer to it constantly for a pick-me-up. Just knowing somebody understands the type of person I am enough to write an intire book is very comforting. Again, thank you. Love, Melissa

Don't search for a Bible -- a born bombshell already knows, or feels most of it, and a woman who isn't meant to be one just won't see the point. So -- enjoy it if you can. Or dare :)

This book was alright. It was rather impractical and not what I was really looking for. Although, it was slightly entertaining and I decided to keep just because I am thinking of doing some of the things that were mentioned in the book just to see what reactions I recieve.