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“How to Pack. Travel smart for any trip” by Hitha Palepu

How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip Book Cover How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip
Hitha Palepu
travel
Clarkson Potter
March 7, 2017
Hardcover
128


When I ordered the book, I did not expect how quickly I will have to put all the knowledge from the book in practice. Now, getting ready for a new adventures in my life, I am happy with gained confidence in packing for five days away from home each week...

Do not get discouraged by the size of the book. It is a small format and "only" 128 pages. Within those constraints, the book has all the information you need - and more, on packing and surviving the trip, organized by travel timeline.

It starts about a week in advance your travel, from choosing the luggage and additional "packing accessories". I never heard of "packing accessories before, but I learned a lot from this section. And it comes with added bonus - recommendations for tried products!

Next, the book goes into creating your perfect packing list and selecting wardrobe, tips for packing cosmetics, electronics and other essentials, actual packing it all together (folding vs rolling) and how to refresh your clothing on the go. It ends with gives plenty of travel tips for various stages of your actual trip. Just keep in mind the all the travelling tips are highly relevant only to air travel, though.

The material in the book is very logically organized, very visual way, with illustrations, tables, flow charts and, of course, templates of packing list for various occasions.

I strongly recommend not only to those who often travel for work or take plenty of far-away vacation, but also those who need just struggle with putting together work outfits during the week!

I have received a free copy of the book for the purpose of this review from Blogging for books. The links in this post may contain affiliate codes.

“How to Get Dressed” by Alison Freer

How to Get Dressed. A Costume Designer's Secrets for Making Your Clothes Look, Fit, and Feel Amazing Book Cover How to Get Dressed. A Costume Designer's Secrets for Making Your Clothes Look, Fit, and Feel Amazing
Alison Freer
non-fiction, style
Penguin Random House
April 14, 2015
trade paperback with round corners
256

 

"How to Get Dressed" by Alison Freer was laying on my shelf for over a year. When I got it from Blogging for Books last summer, I had really high expectations. I was looking forward learning all about, well, dressing up. I wanted to know how to find my style in my wardrobe. How to mix and match various garments, patterns and colors. Learning about timeless pieces and statement pieces.

The author came well recommended, too. With years of experience as costume designer for Hollywood, who would know better?

Yet, the book disappointed.

First, the author's writing style did not go well me at all. I did not relate to her, nor to her humor. Personal preference, yes, but it made it hard to continue on reading.

Next, there are hardly any illustrations in the book. Here we are, in chapter 2, talking about blouses, dresses and jackets, and the previous knowledge or using Google is required to figure out what styles we are reading about. Very disappointing.

Yes, granted, there is a number of good advice, even in those two and a half chapter I read. For example the suggestions of taking your new purchase to alterations shop for perfect fitting. By itself, it did not make me want to continue on reading. Page 42 is as far as I went, and the book was on the shelf since.

I have received a free copy of the book for the purpose of this review from Blogging for books. Links in this post may contain affiliate code.