The glitz, the glamour, the bizarre designer clothing...I can't seem to get enough of fashion industry memoirs. Thank You to Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of Amy Odell's Tales From the Back Row in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT- Fashion editor and blogger, Amy Odell, recalls her industry experiences that range from standing in the back at fashion shows, to being invited to sit in the front row. She experiences fashion highs, like interviewing with Anna Wintour and lows, like discovering that designer sweatpants do not belong at brunch with her future in-laws. Odell not only shares her personal stories, but she also gives excellent advice for those looking to start a career in fashion. What exactly does a stylist do? What's up with all of the pregnant Victoria Secret Angels? How do you land that coveted front row seat during fashion week? Odell answers all.
LIKE- Amy Odell is hilarious. Tales from the Back Row is like going out for a gossip over cocktails with your best friend. Not just your best friend, but that person at every party who always seems to have the most entertaining stories and is the funniest person in the room. That's Odell. I was giggling, snorting and flat out belly laughing nearly the entire time. Seriously funny stuff.
Odell positions herself as someone who can see the absurdity in fashion, but who still loves it. She can mock it, but does so with a true affinity for the art. She creates the persona of someone who is part "industry insider" and part "fish out of water", which as a non-fashion person, I found highly relatable.
Beyond Odell's "voice", her stories were throughly entertaining. I really enjoyed reading about her margarita lunch with Chelsea Handler and her stressful job interview with Anna Wintour. Odell fills her book with celebrity encounters and crazy fashion.
DISLIKE- The only thing that I disliked is that Tales from the Back Row was too short. I breezed through it and was left wanting more. I really hope that Odell has follow-up book in the works, but in the meantime, I immediately began to follow her on Twitter. I'll take what I can get.
RECOMMEND- YES!!! Although it helps to have an interest in fashion, I don't think it's a prerequisite to enjoy Tales from the Back Row. Odell is so engaging and hilarious, that she could read the phone book and I'd listen.