Don’t just live well—live better than practically everybody else

kelly-freakin-fabulousThere’s no shortage of people ready to tell you how to be a better you. Teachers, bosses, spouses, parents, grandparents, little sisters, big brothers… even cousins you see maybe once a year. But few can do it as succinctly, entertainingly and spot on accurately as Clifton Kelly.

As co-host of TLC’s What Not to Wear, Kelly routinely transforms fashion disasters into well-groomed, confident success stories. But looks can only take you so far. To help transform just about every other aspect of your life, he gives us the unapologetically confidently titled Freakin’ Fabulous: How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, Entertain, Decorate, and Generally Be Better than Everyone Else.

And in about 250 pages, he delivers on all the promises the title makes. Freakin’ Fabulous is the really helpful older sibling or worldly wise aunt telling you what to do with your napkin in a restaurant [place it in your lap as soon as you’ve been seated]; all those little grammatical quandaries you slept through in school [like who vs. whom, fewer vs. less and lay vs. lie]; and that fashionably late only applies to cocktail parties.

Only Kelly is much more entertaining than your sibling or aunt. On dressing for a day wedding, he says, “When you show up looking like Morticia Addams, you’re basically telling the happy couple, ‘Congratulations, you’ve started down a path of shared misery and unmet expectations,’ which may be true, but it’s best if they discover that for themselves, God bless ’em.”

He also shares cooking tips and recipes, which gives me an excuse to tell you about this wonderful book here at Blue Kitchen. His “Ten Other Freakin’ Things You Need to Know” include tips on how to chop garlic, poach an egg, make mayonnaise or tell when a steak is done. And his “Five Recipes You Can’t Screw Up” include Steak au Poivre, Sole Picatta and Cream Puffs. There are even more recipes in his “How to Entertain” section—I’m totally ready to try the Spiced Sweet Potato Fries with Mascarpone Dip or the Cucumber Sandwiches his grandmother makes.

I think what I like most about Freakin’ Fabulous: How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, Entertain, Decorate, and Generally Be Better than Everyone Else, though, is that what Kelly seems to mean by “generally be better than everyone else” is to be happy, be successful and not be a jackass. That combination isn’t always a given these days.

12 thoughts on “Don’t just live well—live better than practically everybody else

  1. You ever hear Clinton call a woman’s ugly brown shoes, “baked potatoes”? He cracks me up! I hadn’t heard of his book, so thanks for the heads up. If I decide to order it, I will do so through your site.

  2. You know I’ve never seen this guy…but I have to admit that I love these kinds of books. Until now I’ve always reached for Colin Cowie’s Chic when I wanted a little pick me up, but I’ll have to give this one a try now that you’ve brought it up!

  3. Thanks, Rocquie! I get my Amazon commissions in the form of gift certificates that help support the family’s bookaholism.

    Laura—I’ve never seen his TV show. We just stumbled across the book one day and were immediately entertained by it.

    altadenahiker—Joke if you like, but we all have those little things that, when we hear others say them, we automatically subtract 10 IQ points. I can tell from your writing that you love language; I’m quite sure you’ve got a comprehensive list you use.

    Hi, evi! Glad you’re back.

  4. I think I might assign this book to my college English students–could be the best education they ever get!

  5. You know, EMC, that thought kept occurring to me as I read it. It really is a well written, entertaining collection of random useful information that, taken together, can not only make readers seem more polished, but help them feel comfortable in their own skin. Both are important, often hard won achievements at any age, but for young adults, they can be invaluable.

  6. I thought I was on the wrong post! I’m actually a fan of What Not to Wear (TV junkie that I am), but would never have imagined something from one of those ridiculous cable TV show hosts appearing here. That can only mean that this book really is Freakin’ Fabulous! I can already think of a few friends and family members who will enjoy getting this for Christmas. Thanks for the tip!

  7. Lisa—I know, right? I am so the anti-cable guy. In my defense, I’d already gotten sucked into the book before I realized Kelly has a cable TV show. Also in my defense [and to quote from his bio], Kelly has “a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and has worked as an editor at several noted fashion publications, including Marie Claire, Mademoiselle, and DNR, a weekly men’s trade magazine.”

  8. Hi Terry – I never knew about this book and I LOVE Clinton Kelly. And the bonus is someone very near and dear to both our hearts gave me a book store gift card for my birthday..so now I know what I’m going to buy with it! Pat

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