Glamour Dressing for All Women

En español | In the same way that fashion designer Carmen Marc Valvo elegantly combines texture, fabrics and colors in his evening wear creations, he blends his personal story, a tribute to the art of fashion design and dressing techniques in his book Dressed to Perfection: The Art of Dressing for Your Red Carpet Moments (Rizzoli, February 2011).

Valvo, a favorite among A-list celebrities on the red carpet — Eva Longoria Parker and Queen Latifah among them — offers readers practical tips on how to select a dress that will not only enhance a woman’s best features but also help her feel her best.  “A wonderful dress,” writes Valvo, “can infuse a woman with a confidence and inner beauty, empowering the way she moves and feels.”

From the ball gown to the little black dress — whether organza, lace or fur; embroidery, pleats, bows or ruffles; Indian or Asian accents — Valvo covers it all in 176 pages, stamped with beautiful photographs and a knowledge of fashion developed over his 30-plus-year career.

A fashion-industry book tailored to seamstresses, fashionistas, Hollywood celebrities and any woman who just likes clothes, Dressed to Perfection makes the cut as a coffee-table book, fashion consulting reference and elegant dressing manual.

Valvo, a colon cancer survivor, is donating all personal proceeds from the sale of his book ($50 hardcover, $29.95 paperback) to the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance.

Q&A With Carmen Marc Valvo About This Book >>>

En español

Carmen Marc Valvo answers a few questions about his first book:

Question: Your career as a designer and your new book, Dressed to Perfection, is a tribute to women. We know your work is inspired by women, but how did you come up with this book project? And why?

Answer: I have always believed that there are many “red carpet moments” in one’s life: weddings, bar mitzvahs and other celebrations of life. I wanted this book to help women prepare for these special events in their life through the use of beautiful photographs and helpful hints.

Question: Your book goes beyond offering readers tips for dressing; it touches on women’s self-esteem. Can you give us an example of how you have seen clothes affect a woman’s well-being?

Answer: Taking center stage can be a very intimidating experience. Most women, unlike movie stars, don’t usually stand in front of paparazzi on a regular basis. Choosing the right dress for the right woman can elevate a women’s self-esteem so that she feels confident, beautiful and secure for her red carpet moment.

Question: You talk about infusing glamour into everyday life. Can you offer a few simple suggestions for those who don’t have many opportunities for elegant and red carpet moments?

Answer: It’s very simple to infuse some glamour into one’s normal routine. A fabulous pair of sunglasses can easily give you movie-star appeal. A scarf tied ever-so-nonchalantly around the neck can elevate a look from the ordinary to something special. Accessorize to glamorize!