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The Bombshell Manual of Style Hardcover – May 16, 2001

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 196 ratings

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In this glittering beauty and lifestyle guide packed with pearls of wisdom, Laren Stover has compiled everything a woman needs to know to live the Bombshell life: from how to dress and make an entrance to what to eat and where to shop. It tells readers what makes a Bombshell tick; road-tested outfits for 25 occasions; must-have Bombshell sleepwear, handbags, and fragrances; what's in the Bombshell library; and what she looks for in a man. With scads of little-known facts about real-life bombshells like Liz, Mae, and Lana this fun and ever-so-practical little book is certain to bring out the inner Bombshell in every woman.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"By Laren Stover, it offers advice to all women, brunettes and redheads included, on how to detonate the inner bombshell." -- New York Times

"Stover, Forrest and their colleagues are . . . shrewd and insightfully observant field anthropologists . . ." --
Tom Robbins

"With prose and perception of rare and natural grace . . . deserves a place beside Neumann's
The Great Mother . . ." -- Nick Tosches

About the Author

Laren Stover is currently editor-at-large of Contents and was associate creative director of advertising at Bergdorf Goodman. She has been a resident at Yaddo and Hawthornden Castle and received the Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation grant for fiction in 1991. She lives in New York City. Ruben Toledo has created witty, incisive illustrations for L'Umo Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Details, Paper, the New York Times, Visionaire, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany. He lives in New York City.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hyperion; First Edition (May 16, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 190 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0786866942
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0786866946
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 8 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 196 ratings

About the author

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Laren Stover
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I write fiction, nonfiction, short plays, poetry, letters, postcards...Prefer pen and ink and have a manual typewriter but confess to writing my most recent books on a PowerBook. I've published three books and write for The New York Times and The New York Observer. I went to art school in Baltimore, took photographs, painted and fell in love with Japanese woodcuts. Instead of writing classes, studied Ancient Egyptian Grammar and Biosocial Aspects of Human Sexuality at Johns Hopkins, French at Peabody. Drink tea steeped in vintage teapots-- it fuels the fury. What I'm writing-- stay tuned for something about Marilyn Monroe inspired by my visit to Christie's basement.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
196 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable and well-written. They appreciate the beautiful illustrations and sketches. The book is described as bubbly and airy, a tribute to strong and independent women who embrace their femininity.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

26 customers mention "Readability"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and lighthearted. They appreciate the bright, joyful illustrations. Readers mention it's a neat and nice read for little tidbits on the lives of these celebrated figures.

"...It's a lighthearted, frivolous, bit of a read, but I quite enjoyed it! Even if it was a bit of..." Read more

"...As in Stover's other work, the illustrations are bright, joyful and just as delicious as the text; the whole book is beautifully designed...." Read more

"...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!" Read more

"...good: building confidence, dancing to your own beat, and feeling good about yourself...." Read more

17 customers mention "Illustrations"17 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's illustrations. They find the illustrations charming and witty, with cute ideas. The book covers topics from fashion to travel to exercise and wildlife. Readers describe the advice as old-fashioned and girly.

"...Deja Vu encountering it again. The advice is old fashioned, very girly, and quite hysterical!..." Read more

"...As in Stover's other work, the illustrations are bright, joyful and just as delicious as the text; the whole book is beautifully designed...." Read more

"...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...." Read more

"Warning: this book is outdated. There are cute things in here, but the truth is, most Bombshell / Pinup / Retro / Vintage / Rockabilly gals have..." Read more

3 customers mention "Bubble content"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's bubble content. They describe it as airy and fluffy, like a meringue.

"Ah, this is a treat. It's as airy as a meringue, yet with a satisfying crunch and sweetness...." Read more

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

"Fun, Fluffy Book..." Read more

3 customers mention "Femininity"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's feminine perspective. They say it's an homage to strong and independent women who embrace their femininity. The book depicts women as complex creatures with potent sexuality, intelligence, kindness, and an ability to enjoy life.

"...symbols of all time were actually complex creatures, a combination of potent sexuality, intelligence, kindness and exuberance as opposed to pure eye-..." Read more

"...it gives a nice reminder to kick back sometimes and just enjoy life and our femininity." Read more

"...it's more an homage to women who are strong and independent enough to embrace their femininity, sometimes to the point of hillarity...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2012
    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.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2018
    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!
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2006
    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.
    58 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2005
    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!
    10 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Circle of Peace
    5.0 out of 5 stars I can cross my legs elegantly now....
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 24, 2019
    I got very strange looks when reading at work...I am an ancient hippy who lives on a boat. Maybe it is too late for me...sighs.
  • "vulgarity"
    5.0 out of 5 stars 爆笑
    Reviewed in Japan on November 2, 2004
    私は昔のゴージャス・ハリウッド女優を見るのが大好きなので非常に楽しめました。しかし現実にこのマニュアル通りにやってる女性がいたら皆ひくでしょう。ブラをつけずにニットを着た女性が職場にいたら…会議にドレスを着てくる人がいたら…雨の日に傘を差さずに裸足で歩いてる女に出くわしたら…かなり怖いです。
    なんにしても久々のヒット本でした。
  • Soo
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must for all beauties
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 3, 2019
    Wonderful little book full of humour and cute tips to preserve and present your inner bombshell
  • Violetta Purple
    4.0 out of 5 stars Schmunzelnd...
    Reviewed in Germany on September 18, 2007
    ... hat Frau einfach einen sehr lustigen Nachmittag beim Lesen dieses Buches.

    Eine wundervolle, sexy aber dennoch unnahbare Ausstrahlung fasziniert die meisten Menschen, maennlich wie weiblich - und das unabhaengig von "Size-Zero" oder "Barbiegesicht", wie viele "Goettinnen" beweisen, z.b. Laetitia Casta

    Dieses Manual gibt eine unglaubliche Fuelle von Tipps und Checklisten, was eine "Sexgoettin" so zu tun, zu lassen hat, wie man sich pflegt, kleidet und einrichtet und vor allem, wie man die Herren der Schoepfung Schlange stehen laesst!

    Nicht alles sollte man also ernst nehmen und manches ist nicht zeitgemaess, bzw. nicht fuer die normale arbeitende Frau umsetzbar, aber viele der Tipps sind anwendbar und danach hat man einfach ein gutes Gefuehl! Alleine das hat ja schon einen enormen Einfluss auf das eigene Wohlfuehlen und damit auf das Auftreten - und die Reaktionen der anderen geben einem Recht! Man muss halt mit den boesen Blicken der anderen Damen und einigen Laestereien umgehen koennen, aber das macht ja eine Sexgoettin aus, oder?
  • makimoon
    4.0 out of 5 stars 気分はレイディー
    Reviewed in Japan on July 21, 2004
    この本はなかなかヒットでした。
    実際のところ、実用書としては全く使えないけど、日々、忙しく髪を振り乱して働いていたり、あまりにも変化がない生活で、このままババァになっていくのかと不安を覚えたりする時に、こういう本がいいのではないでしょうか?マリリンとかにイメージされるようなセクシーダイナマイト系の女性(でも、決して意地悪じゃない)になるための本です。実際にこれを地でやる人はこんな本など読まないだろうけど、こういう本を読んでちょっと非現実世界でワクワクする気分を味わうのはいいと思う。私は何気にこの本に載っている香水を購入してしまいました。
    女性ってマニュキュ一本で気分転換出来たり、プチハッピーになれるのがいいところだと思う。この本も、そんな可愛いさでいっぱいです。