The Little Black Book of Style

I should have known better than to buy this book but, there were five stars reviews. This book is junk. There is nothing of substance here. You have heard all of this before. There is nothing of interest here.

As Nina points out "confidence is captivating, powerful and it doesn't fade, and that is endlessly more interesting than beauty." Her book is all about developing that confidence with clothing, which is part of a person's overall impression, the package they present to the world, and upon which they are judged. You never do get a second chance to make a first impression. It is a faster paced society, people move in and out of contact with each other in brief seconds, and this means the impression you leave says more and more about you, as we talk less. I've read my way thru decades of fashion magazines, rarely finding much of value. They are all about finding this season's "it" bag while Nina explains why you might not want to look for this season's "it" bag, why finding your own style might work better (and be cheaper and more satisfying too). I am not a Project Runway viewer, never saw it, not interested in the life of a fashion model in the slightest but I love dressing well. This guide transcends current fashions, and gives timeless advice. Yes, some of it we've all heard before, but then again, not everyone who buys this book will be fluent with Vogue, Elle, Lucky, Harper's Bazaar and the like. Some things bear repeating. The most useful sections I found to be the first part on finding your confidence and projecting style. She has a list of basic concepts in there that are worth the price of the book in my opinion. Things like; How to edit (your wardrobe, your buying habits), How not to be a fashion victim, Buying Drama, How to mix it up, How to be imperfect. That last one is a bit tricky. On first glance most women groan that they've got that nailed! But here she is talking about the kind of relaxed imperfection that comes across as simply stunning. And she gives guidelines! Her list of the classics is fun. She includes the ubiquitous little black dress, the classic man tailored white shirt, cashmere (turtle neck or cardigan, trench coat, jeans, a man classic styled watch, diamonds, ballet flats, high heel pumps and a great handbag. This is a great current guide on the lines of the classic book A Guide to Elegance by Genevieve Dariaux. Buy both. And those illustrations are wonderful. I've so enjoyed that artist's work in Vogue. Great book all round.

Once you start reading this book you are trapped by the fluent and fun to read language. The advice she gives are practical, easy to follow, and mainly she helps with this book to build your own fashion style. However this book is not only about fashion but about self-confidence, and self esteem. She makes us learn that the best way to build a style is to feel o.k in your own skin. Its worth reading. I read it in only one afternoon.

I was so surprised to see how fabulous this book was. It is truly a fashion 101 with great advice. I loved the illustrations and the quotes throught the book. She gives you some fashion history, her view and the basics or the "bones" to what fashion should be. I love that she feels we shouldn't follow trends. Confidence is key. All together an outstanding addition to my fashion and art book collection. Thank you Nina for such a great little read. Great job!

i bought this book only because nina garcia is amazing on project runway. being a shopoholic i really didn't think i needed any "style" help. but after reading it i feel inspired and am digging deeper in my fashion arsenal everyday to make each outfit stand out. i also did a huge purge after reading this. she helped me part with a lot of items that for one reason or another i couldn't seem to get rid of in the past. two thumbs way up nina!!!

This book is quite a fun and informative read. Nina Garcia keeps her voice light throughout, with a few funny moments that genuinely surprised me. Though I am a huge fan of the 'Project Runway' judge, I had honestly expected her book to be dry and even condescending -- this is the infamous Nina Garcia, after all. But I was quite surprised. Especially around my first laugh-at-loud moment, when she discusses the importance of buying shoes that actually fit your feet and not just your budget: "Toes spilling out of a pair of strappy, sexy sandals is a very painful sight. I do not wince out of sympathy for your feet. I side with the shoes." The rules of style never really change. But Nina Garcia does a great job at giving you the tools to edit your closet, your shopping habits and helping you discover and create your own style. Aside from the usual advice one gets from style manuals, she provides a chapter on finding your fashion inspiration, complete with bulleted lists of movie and rock fashion icons. She also has an entire chapter of quick question and answer sessions from fashion professionals such as John Galliano, Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera, Oscar De La Renta, etc. The only issue I had with the book was that it was too short. I wanted to read more of her own experiences with style and fashion. These moments in the book were by far the high points. While I did like the inclusion of so many lists, her voice was lost sometimes among all of the bullet points. Which is a shame, because some of her life stories are truly unique, such as the one about her mother's live-in seamstress. Overall, this book was a fun, informative read that left me smiling for the rest of the day. I highly suggest it, no matter what your level of fashion or style experience may be.