Fashion lit without guilt! Picked it up because it included Sandra Tsing Loh. Only recognized three or four other names, but particularly enjoyed Sherilyn Connelly and Nicole Georges. (In fact, I came across a Georges book two days after reading this and thus bought it.) There were definitely repeating themes and tones, but I was expecting that. Good balance of humor and anger. It helped that I'm about the same age of a lot of the writers, in terms of fashion memories. ( )

This is a fantastic book. As you would have to expect with any collection of essays, some are better than others. But all are a fresh, interesting, often humorous, look at the place of fashion in a woman's life. This is not some frivolous look at how to wear a lipstick. Nor does it stray into semiotics or hard-core theory. There are many feminist takes on fashion in here, and yes, feminists can enjoy fashion guilt-free.

Many of the authors are lesbian and/or transgendered. I personally would have liked a few more entries from women who worked in less alternative type jobs (there seemed to be very few office workers, or teachers, or nurses, or uniformed ...) and perhaps a few more from mothers of children of either gender. But considering the author, it may have been a case of her approaching people she knew/people in her circle to write for the book, and therefore most of the authors came from the same social milieu.

Read this book if you are ‘into fashion’. Especially read this book if you struggle reconciling your love of fashion with feelings of guilt or confusion about the role of fashion in the life of modern women who are constantly told we should not worry about our looks if we want to be taken seriously, or develop feminist sensibilities. Then put on the most rockingest shoes you own, throw on an outfit that makes you feel fantastic, and go share your look with the world. ( )