A unique and diverse book that will appeal to teens. 98 pages with green call-out pages for DIY or historical reference. Beautiful spreads of photography from traditional Ojibway ribbon-sewing, plus-sized cosplaying at Comic-Con, activism on eyelids, men in high heels to Fendi hijabs make up much of the book. Fashion as activism is talked about but not nearly enough, although I appreciated the distinction Allaire makes between cultural appropriation and collaboration. Some chapters on designer zit stickers (yes, you cover them over your zits) and co-splay clothing are bedazzling. No inappropriate content and would be suitable for middle school and high school students. Reluctant readers will find it fun and accessible.

Gorgeously illustrated but too short book on how young fashion designers are claiming and reclaiming their cultural inheritance expressed in fashion and makeup. I learned a lot (especially about indigenous ribbon work and makeup and hair challenges for African Americans) but I would have love to have learned more about the historical traditions that are being honored and updated. Really intriguing stuff and the photography is amazing.

Was delighted to interview Christian Allaire on this thoughtful, wide-ranging, and encouraging book for a feature profile in Style Advisor, The Globe and Mail newspaper's monthly glossy magazine. The interview can be found at this link.

This is such a fabulous book. I loved learning something new about fashion and culture by giving a voice to this diverse cast of people expressing their individuality and style. It's so colourful and the photos are gorgeaous. The book could have been longer but all in all it's great for the classroom and I already have someone in mind who this is the perfect present for.

I love the ribbon clothes! The book was way too short and will look much better in color. Needed more models, too. but over all the hair styles, clothing, make-up, models were fabulous! Love the eyelid art work! Awesome!

What a great book. I loved seeing how different people and groups can connect to their communities and show who they are through style. It was really pretty. The one thing I think might have been included that wasn’t was disability in style, but sit being a small book the omission was unfortunate but still didn’t ruin the book for me. I appreciate this book and what it is trying to show

I am beyond excited to use this book in my classroom. It includes well-researched essays and interviews on a variety of topics within the fashion and beauty worlds. Each section has a strong and unique point of view, culminating in an argument that is much more nuanced than instagram infographics or common talking points.

I can imagine using this in my classroom as a
- mentor text for research projects
- mentor text for fashion writing
- jigsaw reading & presentations

I ffind fashion and what it says very interesting. I liked the topics that were covered in this book, but felt like there just wasn't enough content.

This book delivers on its promise to reclaim culture through fashion. With a youth / young adult centred focus, Christian’s work highlights the amazing folk of varying ethnicities and backgrounds making much needed change in the world of fashion. The images are gorgeous capturing models, creators, and artists of all shapes and sizes. And easily readable font makes this work extremely colourful and accessible. Thoroughly enjoyed reading through this work. I think it would be a beneficial teaching aid for elementary and high school students.

I picked up this book because the topic sounded interesting. Fashion as a tool for activism is such a cool idea. I had hoped this would be an in-depth look at the battles against cultural appropriation in the fashion world and the ways we can empower marginalized communities.

The Power of Style is more like a photo essay or magazine article. It is split into parts discussing various elements of fashion such as hijabs, natural hair, high heels for men and queer people, etc. Lots of photographs, typography and short reading sections. Nothing really goes in-depth, it's more akin to brief summaries of certain elements of fashion. I'd say the target audience is kids but I'm not even sure that's the intention.

I was mildly surprised that the author decided to portray cosplay as an example for plus-sized fashion. Surely a better example would be the bikini and lingerie movements? In general, can we consider cosplay an element of the fashion world? How does cosplay reclaim culture?

There's so little critical thinking here. Obviously, that's not what this book set out to do but I was still disappointed. The subject matter is so interesting but this book just doesn't do much with it.

All in all, if you're looking for an aesthetic magazine-like book about fashion, I imagine this could suit you. Don't let the title and description fool you, this is a summary, rather than an analysis. As always, thanks to Netgalley for offering me a copy of this book in return for my review!

<b> The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. </b>

3/5

What a lovely book! It was way more broad than I expected, including pictures from diverse Indigenous/Native American fashion, but also about natural hair, cosplay, make-up art, fashion with hijabs. Even little sections with "When is it cultural appropriation vs. cultural appreciation?". It reminds me a little bit of the informative books on different subjects in the library. Not too long, to the point, and a great starting point to explore further.

Would've liked some people with disabilities included as well. Overall, the pictures are stunning and this was a nice pick-up inbetween books.

This book was received as an ARC from Annick Press Ltd. in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book from cover to cover. I was waiting for a fashion book that embraced the unique lifestyles of the everyday person. Not all of us are blessed with fashion model bodies and it's hard to embrace our body type and find our style when all we see in magazines and commercials of models with perfect bodies surrounding us everywhere. I am so glad Christian Allaire comprised this book and mentioned all of the women that are not afraid to embrace who they are and show the world. It was very refreshing to read this book and see all of the different styles of the men and women featured in this book.

We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

This book of style features groups that often ignored or marginalized in mainstream fashion editorial and industry. Featuring natural hair, hijabs as a person choice of expression, cosplayers, and indigenous designers, this book is a celebration in multiculturalism.

There's even a section about cultural appropriation vs appreciation, and a guide for everyone on wearing high heels.

If you love fashion, pick this one up.

Outstanding read and one that I will purchase for my library because of the inspiration ith will provide and the conversations to be had around bringing your culture into your work. Especially loves the story behind Ribbon Dresses. This will also be a book that our Cosmetology teacher would want in her classroom.

A beautiful, vibrant book about fashion that celebrates culture and diversity. This book features wonderful photos and information covering different cultures, hairstyles, makeup, gender and body diversity, etc. I loved the focus of fashion in this book being about empowerment through personal and cultural expression.

Thank you Annick Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a beautiful and much needed book that I think so many of our teens and young adults will love. The only thing I would change is taking out the photo of Ezra Miller following his assault allegations. Everything else is *chef’s kiss*

This book was absolutely fantastic. Beautiful, engaging, and educational. Put together by an Ojibwe creator, he curated a whole book with great photos about the culture, history, design and art in fashion made in by people in the BIPOC community. Everything from use of ribbon by his people to hijabs to cosplay. It was excellent. Beautifully done with excellent interviews, this book was more than I could have hoped for and I’ll be talking about it for months to come.

When I read the description for The Power of Style and learned that Christian Allaire created the book because he never saw himself appropriately represented in the fashion industry, I was excited to learn more about Allaire's story and Ojibwe roots. What I got while reading The Power of Style wasn't just one perspective, but an intersectional call for inclusivity. Allaire and other indigenous fashion creators are represented, but so are members of the Black, the LGBTQIA+, and Asian communities. It was so refreshing to see a fashion book focused on a truly diverse cast of creators and models. Cultural hairstyles, religious garments, and diverse bodies are truly celebrated in this book. While fashion universally has the ability to inspire, this book did not come with any guilt with how someone should look or present themselves. It was so uplifting to see models, actors, and creators being vulnerable with the reader in order to uplift the entire fashion community.

On a much smaller note, it was really cool to see how innovation affects the fashion industry. I was really interested in the story of a scientist who went from their chemistry training to shoe designing in order to break down gender roles. I also had a lot of fun learning about the origins of cosplay and what cosplay has become now as inclusivity and creativity is becoming more and more accepted in the craft. I have never been a cosplayer or even a great consumer of fashion, but this short fashion book was refreshing and a great informative read. I've learned that fashion is so much more than consumerism, but can be an honest celebration of diversity, acceptance, and pride.

I received a free e-ARC from the publisher/author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
(Review will be live on my blog on 26 April 2021.)

The Power of Style is a beautiful book about the ways fashion can be used to "promote cultural activism, empowerment, diversity, and inclusivity."

The author, Christian Allaire, is an Ojibwe man, and style writer for Vogue. This book seems to be a work of the heart for him, and indeed, it is a celebration of many cultures, genders, skin tones, and body types.

In the words of the author, “Style is not just the clothes on our backs - it is self-expression, representation, and transformation.”

Though it's a bit hard to tell from the eARC, I imagine this is going to be sort of a coffee table book. The images are really meant to be the draw card, which then invite you to read more about the topics. And let me tell you, the photos are absolutely stunning.

Peppered throughout the book are important definitions (such as the difference between appropriation and appreciation), how-to-guides (how to walk in heels), and interviews relating to the various topics (such as ways hair is important to different groups such as drag queens wearing wigs, Black folk celebrating their natural hair, and Indigenous men keeping their hair long). Some of these topics included Indigenous ribbon work, hijab and modest fashion, queer men wearing heels, henna art, and plus size women using cosplay - all as forms of self-expression.

I really enjoyed the range of topics that were covered, and found the whole book to be an celebration of humanity. It's all about the ways fashion can be used to reflect and uplift who we are, as opposed to changing or covering up things we don't like about ourselves. The whole message is that fashion doesn't have to be one single thing that is dictated by some amorphous, elite, mainstream entity. We decide what is fashion. And it should be used to celebrate all the different parts of us.

I love this book and would love to see it end up in every middle school and high school library. The author is an Ojibwe vogue fashion editor and he presents a variety of ways that people are reclaiming fashion to embrace their cultures, differences and identities. Designers are profiled who make fashionable hijabs, ribbon costumes, heels for men, etc. from their own communities. There are profiles of such diverse, beautiful people who are reclaiming fashion, makeup and hair and making it so much more personal and impactful. I loved it.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.