The Silhouette Solution: Using What You Have to Get the Look You Want

Product Description A radically simple and universally flattering system for getting dressed, from the Emmy Award–winning stylist who turned Fran Drescher of The Nanny into a fashion icon“Brenda’s capsule wardrobe system is a lifesaver. I will never look at my clothes the same way again!”—Fran Drescher, star and co-creator of The Nanny Using your existing clothes plus a splash of something new, The Silhouette Solution provides a method that transforms how you’ll view your wardrobe, your style, and ultimately, yourself. With just four tops, four bottoms, and a few pairs of shoes, Brenda Cooper shows you how to create the foundation for a fabulously functional wardrobe. Regardless of your age, size, body type, or budget, you’ll have a set of modern, versatile, mix-and-match pieces that work for every occasion of your life. Learn how to effortlessly: • Coordinate comfortable, stylish outfits• Discover your true style ID• Accept your body with loving kindness• Reinvent your wardrobe• Know exactly what to shop for• And enjoy a newfound fashion freedomWith The Silhouette Solution’s strategy, you’ll get out the door in a fraction of the time, feeling beautiful and at home in your body. That kind of empowerment is always in style! Review “Brenda Cooper has style, flair, and humor, and she is an incredible teacher and mentor, urging me to try new ideas. She says that style is simple and with the right guidance you can feel really good about yourself, and, yes, because of her, I do have style.”—Jamie Lee Curtis“Brenda is simply an original. Listen to her! Heed her advice!”—Rita Moreno“Brenda didn’t just change my clothes. She changed my life.”—Chonda Pierce About the Author Brenda Cooper is an Emmy Award–winning fashion stylist, costume designer, color expert, and inspirational image coach. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. IntroductionThe Silhouette Solution was born out of necessity. When I landed the job as head costume designer and stylist for The Nanny in 1993, it became my responsibility to create the entire look of the show. This meant I had to come up with 40 to 50 outfits every week for the lead, Fran Drescher, as well as for all the supporting actors and guest stars. Delighted as I was to be a part of this fantastic series, there were many challenges. We had an extremely slim budget (to put it mildly), as the show was not yet a proven success. Our production schedule seemed to move at the speed of light, allowing only three and a half days each week to shop the whole of Los Angeles and New York in search of the right clothes for each character. Once I had the appropriate pieces, every item had to be refitted perfectly for each personality and body type, coordinated into complete outfits, and often redesigned and embellished for each cast member. I had to figure out a way to create an endless variety of stylish, fun, and distinct outfits that took minimal time to put together and could be done on the cheap. To find the solution, I looked to my past. As a young girl growing up in England, I was captivated by the movies I watched with my mother on Sunday afternoons. It was the simple, sleek, and unique stylings of Academy Award–winning costume designer Edith Head that caught my attention in particular. The stars she dressed always looked timeless and elegant, whether they were wearing a nightgown or an evening gown. Inspired by this chic simplicity, I set out to strategically gather a group of garments that I knew from experience were timeless and universally flattering: four terrific tops, four beautiful bottoms, four flat shoes, and four heels. These practical and complimentary pieces form the basic canvas for dozens of outfits that can be repurposed and accessorized to ultimately make each woman look completely original. Actors I worked with were thrilled to avoid the exhaustive hours of trying on endless racks of clothes to find the right look. Shape and fit were no lo