Swell: Girls Guide to the Good Life

by Cynthia Rowley and Ilene Rosenzweig

The American embodiment of the French expression joie de vivre is to be a "swell" shows them how to combine style & spirit with the panache of a modern day Holly Golightly. Today's girls (age 18 to 50) need to navigate life with a little swagger & a lot of grace & this book shows them how to combine style & spirit with the panache of a modern day Holly Golightly.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446524565
• ISBN13: 9780446524568
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Warner Books (NY)
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 7.2" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Martha Stewart it's not, and that's why it's GREAT!

Here I was, under the impression that being chic, refinedly fun, and, well, swell could only be accomplished with an army of caterers and years of contrived practice. Cynthia and Ilene share their "swell" advice and anecdotes about everything from tipping to running in high heels to morning-after etiquette. It's sort of like reading a book written by that one friend (and we all have one) who seems to know just what to do and how to do it with style.I definitely hope to see more from these gals!

it's good to be swell!

I got this book for my friend for Christmas and now I have to have my own copy. It has some great creative ideas for parties, dates, road trips, etc. along with funny anecdotes from the authors. Their upbeat attitudes and desire to please themselves and be happy shine through the entire book. Young modern women of the '90s need more books like this which encourage us to be innovative, active, independent, and most of all, just have fun. One last note - I think it has a fairly wide age appeal - I bought it for my 22 year old friend and I'm going to buy it for my 31 year old sister as a birthday gift. I think even my mom would appreciate a lot of the tips in it! Get it for all of the wonderful women in your life!

What fun!

I'd share this book with all my friends, if I didn't want to dazzle them by using the tips inside. It's a fun read that inspired me, helped me develop some confidence (or at least some bravado!), reinforced some of my quirks, and taught me new tricks. The women who contributed to the book are classy, courageous, happy dames -- ones I'd welcome into my circle of friends. And reading the book, I felt like part of theirs. Pretty darn swell.

Excellent. Highly Entertaining AND Informative

I thought this was a great book: Lots of funny and useful ideas--on tipping, being the best hostess you can be (in your budget), the "purse essentials", remembering all the great scenes in your life, and eating oysters on a date. I loved how even though you look great in heels, you better be able to run in them, just in case you need to catch a bus. Their ideas on being a "swell" is the both realistic and glamorous! I can sum it up in their words: "Just because a girls's got a big caboose doesn't mean she can't be a looker. I highly recommend to your women friends. And although I wouldn't dare eat oysters on a date, if I were to, at least I'd know how to look good doing it!

SWELL - I loved it, great advice and helpful hints:)

I truely think this is a terrific book, there are so many great ideas, like that there shouldn't have to be a reason to have a party, just get everyone together and PARTY FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON. The section on Happy Wallow Days in the Love chapter hit very close to home - being receintly dumped after 7 years, it helped to get me to laugh for a little while, which I haven't done too much of lately - THANKS:) A girlfriend of mine had me borrow it and I am ordering it for all my girlfriends for the Holidays. Thanks for all the SWELL ideas, gifts, neat dressing tips and mostly for being real and two swell gals!