Despite a little help from friends in high fashion places, including a foreword written by Manolo Blahnik, Morton's follow-up to her debut book How to Walk in High Heels
is an unsuccessful pastiche of historical facts, shoe styles, recipes and juxtaposing tips like “How to be A-list” and “How to say something meaningful.” The book is arranged in calendar form, with each month including cultural tips and information and a “Muse of the Month” profile of famous women like Jane Austen and Cleopatra. While trying to appeal to both sides of the Atlantic, the London writer misses the mark by trying too hard to be all-inclusive, especially where holidays are concerned. The sheer volume of historical facts—including when Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross, when Disneyland opened in America and when Mata Hari was born—seem like they were compiled purely to fill in the bits between international dispatches from famous fashionistas like Giorgio Armani and Diane von Furstenberg and are out of place next to a section titled “How to moonwalk the Michael Jackson way.” B&w illus. (Nov.)
