François Nars- Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself- Book Review

Ten years ago François Nars released the first version of his book Makeup Your Mind, featuring 63 professional model of varying fame level with and without makeup, to show how transforming makeup can be and how to create and apply the looks. This spring Nars brings us Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself, where 60 men and women plucked from the Manhattan sidewalks serve the same purpose

The book is not all Nars, for better and for worse. It was art directed by Interview magazine editorial director Fabien Baron. It's probably a good thing, because I often kvetch and complain about some of Nars' ideas and the way he views women. Still, there's no denial Francois Nars is a wonderful artist- both in makeup and photography. His finished work is beyond impeccable and the chance to learn something about the way he works, his techniques and ideas is absolutely priceless.

The book is divided into three sections: “Play,” “Perfect,” and “Polish, ”and addresses what Nars calls the “everyday needs” of women in their twenties, thirties, and beyond. Whatever. I'm here to see and learn makeup. After the introductions, tips and general advice (more on that later) comes the main event: before and after photos of each person, taken in exactly the same light, angle and size with a transparent plastic overlay between each pair of images that has a template of the makeup used, exactly as it was placed on the subject. It's better than the standard face chart you get at (good professional) makeovers. If that's not enough. in the end of each section there are detailed how-to instructions for each look, including the brushes used.

The photographs are a feast for the eyes and the information would delight any makeup lover. I really like how Nars tells you not just which product/shade he used, but also what kind of color each item is. This way you not only understand exactly what he's done but also can find the right thing in your existing makeup collection, even if your matte black is something from Laura Mercier and not NARS Pandora. The book is not just for Narsaholics and one doesn't need to be closely familiar with the line, though I admit it helps and probably enhances the experience. If you don't know what kind of product and texture is a "multiple" Google is your friend. Be prepared though for some coveting to ensue, even if you already own an extensive amount of makeup. I now know I must get my hands on the single eye shadow in Sophia, a plum brown. Nars uses it in many looks and not just as an eye shadow. Apparently Sophia makes for an excellent blush.

Between the photos, details and general advice, this is in excellent book, both for long-time makeup enthusiasts and those who are just beginning their journey. Nars is surprisingly practical and sensible and comes off very sincere in his desire to teach. The book is so rich with ideas and inspiration I'm going to keep it at arm's reach when doing my makeup.  The one thing I'd urge you to skip is the inanely written foreword by Simon Doonan, the creative director of Barneys. It appears that Mr. Doonan thought he was tasked with composing an email newsletter campaign and not a thoughtful introduction to the work of an artist. He crammed every retail cliche he could find into his three pointless pages. The first time I opened the book it nearly put me off the entire thing. That said, I'm glad I just made a face at Simon Doonan and turned the page to enter the world of François Nars.

Bottom Line: Je t'aime, François.

François Nars- Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself, $24.19 on amazon.com.

Tim Gunn- Gunn's Golden Rules- A Book Review

A few years ago when reviewing Tim Gunn's Guide to Quality, Taste & Style I said "The crisp suit is there, but the real man is missing". It almost feels like someone listened, because Gunn's Golden Rules ($14.39 on Amazon) definitely fills up many of the gaps and allows us a more intimate look at one of the most interesting and deserving TV personalities of the last decade.

It's a little irritating that once again the publisher is trying to package Tim Gunn's message as a guide or a book of rules, and that the book has a co-author (this time Ada Calhoun).  I'm somewhat of a groupie and would have preferred to get Mr. Gunn's story unfiltered and in a pure autobiography format. Don't be misleaded by the "Rules" thing- this is a very personal book of stories and anecdotes about the author's life, family and career. Tim Gunn shares with us his philosophy, spirituality, encounters with luminaries such as André Leon Talley and views on human sexuality. He's a big advocate of etiquette and kindness but doesn't confuse manners with owning fish forks (he doesn't). He talks about his own gaffs (regifting!) with the same humor he uses when telling a hilarious story about Diane von Furstenberg and a hotdog.

It's interesting to note how even when telling gossipy stories, Mr. Gunn doesn't crosses the lines into malice territory. That includes the now infamous Anna Wintour anecdote (she was carried by her her bodyguards down five flights of stairs and tried to get Tim Gunn to retract the story until other witnesses came forth), or when criticizing the people who make the wardrobe choices for Suri Cruise. There are some fun Project Runway behind-the-scenes stories (he disliked Kenley just as much as we all did), but it's far less about the dirt and more about the lessons one can learn from it.

The best parts, though, are the more personal tales from Tim's childhood, painful adolescence and career as a teacher. It's fascinating to read about the evolution of the shy and stuttering boy from Washington DC into a worldly fashion authority. The book, like its author, is inspiring in a feel-good way. It's a little flawed (a couple of typos and maybe not enough Project Runway stories) but very human.  Fans of Tim Gunn will find it quite satisfying, at least until he takes the next step and releases a real memoir.

Photo of Tim Gunn signing his own bobbleheads by Gothamist LLC, 2006.

Mad Men: The Illustrated World by Dyna Moe- Book Review

I don't know about you, but I'm already in serious Mad Men withdrawal. I want to know what happens next and just see more. More Don, more Joan, more of Pete Campbell's giraffes. The last TV series that grabbed me like this was Buffy The Vampire Slayer; I own almost every official and unofficial guide and tie-in book as well as collections of essays on cultural and philosophical issues raised in the show. Seriously.

Mad Men has been generating its own crop of related books. As far as I know, Mad Men: The Illustrated World  by Dyna Moe is the first officially licensed tie-in to the show. Dyna Moe is the artist responsible for the Mad Men Yourself cartoons that everyone and their mother used as their Facebook profile picture last year. The book is based on  illustrations she created for the first three seasons (you can view them on her Flickr account) with some added content.

The thing to remember about Mad Men: The Illustrated World is that for better and for worse, this is the cartoon version. It doesn't take itself  seriously and neither should the reader, no matter how hard are the Mad Men withdrawal pains you're experiencing. The book has chapters dedicated to office culture, fashion and beauty, food & drink (including some recipes that would have been hilarious if we didn't know that people really used to eat this stuff) and the occasional historical and biographical anecdote. There are also a couple of contributions from people who actually work on the show, especially notable is actor Rich Sommer's account of mastering the bow tie.

The book is at its best when it offers real content about people, events and trends. I wish there was a lot more of that and less tongue-in-cheek stuff like the part about office equipment and etiquette. Out of the beauty & fashion section, the bouffant how-to is quite funny while the makeup guide was obviously written by someone who is not into makeup or vintage aesthetics. The Joan paper dolls are beautiful, though, and make me want to take them to my seamstress and plead with her to make me each one of the outfits.

Bottom Line: Superficial but fun. No worse than the Mad Men Barbie dolls.

Mad Men: The Illustrated World by Dyna Moe ($15 retail, $10.20 on Amazon) is available from most booksellers. A review copy was sent to me by the publisher.

Illustrations: Dyna Moe

Chiutensity/Whispers book is now available!

Imaginism's 12th book "Chiutensity/Whispers" is now available for purchasing. This book is half Kei Acedera and half Bobby Chiu. It's all about the late night sketches and paintings Kei & Bobby do as well as some great stuff they've never published in their previous books.

3 great reasons to purchase this book now.
*1. Purchases before August 15, 2010 will be signed by both Kei Acedera & Bobby Chiu.
*2. Limited to 1000 copies printed.
*3. Free Shipping worldwide.

*CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION

San Diego Comicon We'll be at G6 & 7 with our Life Drawing Book

Hi all,
Who's going to COMICON this year?
Kei and I (Bobby) will be at tables G6 & 7 (same as last year).
I just learned that we'll also have our newest book "Life Drawing"! Come get them quick because we could only manage to get 100 copies there.

We wanted to make this life drawing book is different. It concentrates on COSTUMED figure drawing with only a few nude poses. Chalk full of tips and words of wisdom from Kei and I.

Unfortunately, we won't be selling the book online until a week or more after Comicon. The books will only be available at Comicon until the full shipment of books arrives at our studio. When the book is ready to be purchased online, people that make a purchase within the first week will get an autographed copy. After that, the books go to our distributor and will not be signed. I'll post more info after the Comicon.

We'll also have a very very limited supply of Water Worlds and Ancient Japan Sketches at the con. These books are currently sold out but I found a few extra copies in a box when we moved to our new studio a couple of weeks ago. I apologize but these will not be available online as well... only at the Con.