You Drop Shop Or Not Celebrity stylist/author Phillip Bloch dishes on his book, The Shopping Diet. Suzanne Chessler I Special to the Jewish News S hopping for Chanukah — party clothes and gifts — won't be a last-minute rush for Phillip Bloch, author of The Shopping Diet (Gallery Books; $15). The high-fashion stylist-model-actor knows he will be wearing a classic look, probably blazer, shirt, tie and jeans. He also will be thinking in advance about apt gifts for those close and not so close. "We know Chanukah is coming so we have to think ahead to avoid wasting money and doing a lot of running at the last minute says the 40ish Bloch. "People shouldn't put themselves out on a limb and in debt so that they're miser- able until Passover. They should be able to shop for the holidays and have something left over. "The index in the back of my book tells a lot of places to shop and breaks down how to shop on the Internet. It gives the practical side of shopping ahead, and a lot is just common sense' Bloch's book, a general guide to budget- wise clothes purchases and maintenance, gained publisher attention as the economy tightened. "Five years ago, I came up with the idea for the book and nobody was interested:' explains Bloch, also a writer for the top style magazines. "People didn't seem to be worrying about saving money. "Four years ago, the same thing. Three years ago, I had a few people interested. Two years ago, when I went around to try and sell the book, four publishers wanted to buy it." The Shopping Diet, which comes after his Hollywood-focused text Elements of Style, asks readers to assess their personal body types, wardrobe personalities and what in their closet needs to be kept, updated or tossed. "I was a little bit of my own inspiration for the book:' says Bloch, who has ward- robe-advised a long list of stars, including Sandra Bullock, Drew Barrymore, John Travolta and Charlie Sheen. "I tend to see myself as a binger (some- Overnight Accommodations Hotel Packages Dining at the Rugby Grille Drinks at the Corner Afternoon Tea In-room dining One Hundred Townsend Street • Birmingham 248-642-7900 nsendhotel.corn GG48 November 18 • 2010 one who binges). I won't shop for months and then I'll do something excessive. The other day, I bought five ties. They are things I use, but I didn't need five. "I think holiday time is a good time to be aware of a shopping diet. Because it's a time of year when we all spend, we can be a little more conscious of spending:" Although Bloch recently had a brief fall from his personal shopping diet, he was reminded that people can revive clothes they already have, know where the sales are and ask sure-to-be gift-givers for what they need. While reviving can mean changing but- tons on a black blazer, updating for this season can include vests for women and men and leopard accessories (scarves, belts or purses) for women. Red will be a big color, says Bloch, who did the style makeover for Barbie's Ken and has designed fine jewelry, men's shoes and an eyewear collection. "I wear turtlenecks a lot. I think they're great to throw under jackets to get classic looks that can be dressy or casual. They're very transfor- mational." Discussing dress beyond the holiday, "transformational" is crucial to Bloch's advice. Outfits are cost-wise if they can be transformed from one type of occasion to another. Bloch, whose TV appearances have • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • reached from Extreme Makeover to America's Next Top Model, knew he wanted to work in fashion and film after seeing the movie Mahogany with Diana Ross. He found work as a model in New York and moved on to styling with related appear- ances on TV. Films, such as Wall Street 2, followed. Jewish, with Orthodox heritage from his mom and Reform heritage from his dad, Bloch became active with United Synagogue Youth and has come to believe religious jewelry gifts can be wonderful when given appropriately. "Religious jewelry is very personal and can look great:' he says. "It's important that the person giving the gift is not buying what he or she would want. The buyer must give what the recipient would actually use. "Red strings (worn by Kabbalists to keep away negative energy), for exam- ple, have to speak to the people who will be wearing them:' When Bloch plans mass gifts for business associ- ates, he likes to combine candy with a note that explains charitable donations have been made in honor of the people getting the candy. "I like things that are useful': he says. "I like to do the present and do good:' CI ecol gy It doesn't have to hurt to be beautiful 239 S. 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