Book of the month: Always Pack a Party Dress by Amanda Brooks

Its no secret that i love reading; it's a luxury that i've fully indulged upon this holiday. Today i thought to myself; i've frequently shared the track I've been replaying on Spotify, so why not the book I've had the pleasure of reading? Which brings me to this book; Always pack a party dress. I'll be honest with you. This book probably isn't for guys. It is a biography slash style guide written by Amanda Brooks; style icon, photographer, "gallerina" at the famous Gagosian gallery, and fashion director for Barney's New York. If you liked Girl Boss by Sophia Amoruso, you'll love this one.

Ironically, my mother picked up this book for me to "look at the pictures", which she deemed "completely original and very inspirational". Little did she know that i actually ended up reading and finishing the entire book in just two sittings!

Now, if you're thinking that this book is yet another frivolous style guide, (I know, I've read quite a few already and regretted them for the most part) you're in for a treat. Its really not. Amanda Brooks interweaves her personal experiences growing up, including her marriage, with career advice and inspirational life lessons picked up during her career take off (and times where she crashed and burned). 

Amanda Brooks is someone who knows fashion, and i mean 'knows' literally. She's met Phillip Lim, DVF (and dated her son Alex!), patronised Celine, Alaia, and attended the Met and Fashion week too many times to count. Heck, she's even written for Vogue and posed for their photoshoots. This book will inspire readers with the sophisticated scene of international fashion; and challenge Singapore's tried and tested code of dressing.

Her advice when it comes to interviews, the importance of confidence, necessity of failure and rejection, or even putting forward your charging rate should you decide to venture into freelancing, spoke to me. To prevent it from becoming too serious, she throws in the occasional "Style Influence", Ie. people she's met whose fashion spoke out to her, or "Fashion Lesson(s)" titled 'the brilliance of white shoes' or 'recycling trends to make them last a lifetime'.

Always pack a Party Dress is authored with both a gracious and humble personal voice even though it comes from one of the most prominent socialites. She is also one of my role models.

Quote 1:

"If you don't build your own dream, someone else will hire you to build theirs."

Quote 2:

"Don't worry. All women need a good dose of humility from time to time. Few things are as effective as a bad haircut." -DVF

Its funny because i can completely relate to this, having chopped off a good five inches of hair two weeks before i found this book. The five inches of length was alright. In fact, it was refreshing and i loved the change. It was the fact that my hairdresser took two inches off my fringe, and i was stuck with the awkward above the eyebrow bangs as you could probably tell from my recent post on my school's drama production. Sigh. I was severely and resentfully humbled.

'I'm sure most women can relate to going for a dramatic new haircut and being horrified with the result. I wonder, why do we do this? Are we looking for a new identity? Or to shake ourselves out of a rut? Is it boredom? What is it?"

What can i say; she knows the story of our lives.

Quote 3

"What i do realize is that it's possible to have it all, but over a life time. Having it all at once.. Besides, what's the rush? It's nice to have something to look forward to."

Being someone who wants it all in terms of well, life in general, this was a gentle reminder to myself that it's not always possible all of the time. In fact if you expect it to be so, you're most definitely in for a disappointment. This book is extraordinarily relatable, and i believe it is so not just for me.

Thank you,  Amanda Brooks, for your refreshing insight and loving and practical encouragement.

XX