CATMOPOLITAN
Ilene Hochberg
Metro Books
Fiction, Humor
Themes: Anthropomorphism, Felines
****
Description
Human women who want to be on the cutting-edge of fashion and living have COSMOPOLITAN to guide them. Now, the social-minded lady cat has CATMO.
Advice columns, horoscopes, and fashion specials mix with scandalous centerfolds and an exposé on the hidden shame of catnip addiction, with dozens of
appealing ads for everything a cat needs to stay trendy and beautiful.
(This is a parody of fashion magazines, with cat products and information featured in magazine format.)
Review
Hochberg is a former fashion and visual merchandising director, and her experience in the field gives CATMO hilarious accuracy. There's a little actual information on cats here, and many of the items and books featured actually exist, but mostly it's a send-up of the fashion industry with a feline flavor. I loved the ads for such products as Purrfect purfume (by Esteé Longhair) and Maidenfur lingere. A very enjoyable parody for anyone who, like me, finds actual fashion magazines like COSMO ridiculously superficial.