It

certified tumblr hood classic

same level as that bad instapoet book

I'm a huge fan of Alexa Chung, mostly based on her style and witty personality. Having said this I was largely disappointed by this book- It's pretty to look at but has very little editorial value. As much as I would like to believe Alexa has significant talent, this book shows little of it.

As a biography (which this was labeled as such at the library), this book fails. As a print out of a blog, this book is brilliant. Let me explain why: If you don't know already, Alexa Chung was (still is?) an all-time IT Girl who peaked in the mid-late 2000s. She went from being a model to a TV co-host to being famous for dating a frontman, to being a TV Host of her own show on MTV, to being a fashion designer among other things. People who were in tune with fashion/music/etc. from across the pond during this period were kind of into her, especially young women (me, personally as a younger teen had a love-hate perspective of her since she was dating said frontman who I happened to ADORE). She was notorious for saying that she didn't care for blogs of any kind (in Tumblr heyday, mind you) and it kind of pissed off some of her die-hard fans (like the people who had blogs dedicated to her). I think it's so funny that her debut book is mostly a physical print out of a Tumblr blog - especially in the fact that she had felt so indifferent about at her peak. She dives into who her fashion icons are - since Chung is known for her fashion sense this makes sense - and just like most on Tumblr, provides a blurb of how this affected her personally/personal style underneath or near a photo of a subject (i.e., Spice Girls, Diane Keaton, etc.) These texts are intertwined with more personal, long-form stories about adolescence, heartbreak, and how-tos or tips in relation to fashion. Then there are random doodles Chung drew along with photographs that she took of herself, her friends, random objects (on a film camera for the most part because OF COURSE). It reads as a blog would, and it was indeed an amusing trip down memory lane when I too was experiencing gawky growth in growing up, had an obsession with the Beatles and rock 'n roll from the 60's-70's, and the unwavering need to go to Glastonbury. Not to mention the fashion from that time - Chung and I both wore biker shorts and pantyhose for an "outfit." Thankfully, Karl Lagerfeld didn't witness my fashion atrocity. The same cannot be said for Chung. Chung has a wit to her writing that I can appreciate in such a non-traditional book and I never felt she whined or got boring when she juggled different topics. I will admit that this would make a lovely coffee table book, but is no more than a fun, one-and-done read.

3.5 stars. I liked her writing and all the references but I wished this book was bigger or at least had some more depth (which happens when she mentions heartbreak). It's a good book for a light reading and I think I may go looking through it again for inspiration and movies to watch.

A quick read full of insights into fashion model Alexa Chung’s personal style. Small peeks into her childhood, aesthetically pleasing photographs (of and by Chung), and details about her biggest inspirations are sure to delight those with an interest in the world of fashion. If you enjoy this book, I recommend Style by Kate Spade & What Would Audrey Do and Audrey Style by Pamela Keogh (and I’m sure there there are many others in a similar vein I’ve yet to discover)

not much text but a great book for visuals and inspiring photos!

Wtf is this and who decided to label it as a book?