The Pocket Stylist: Behind-The-Scenes Expertise from a Fashion Pro on Creating Your Own Unique Look

A read a lot of fashion magazines and fashion books but this small book is great. Easy to understand, good tips and great illustrations, I have purchased a few to give to my girlfriends, I think it is a classic.

Hold on, I'm serious. There are plenty of picture heavy books which demonstraight to you how to and not to dress and IF you happen to look like the models in the photographs you are in luck. If you don't...well... This book is much more wordy then your typical style guide, with general illustrations that cover the basic body types as well as the plus side equivalents. It begins with the very basic basics, which include weeding out the undersireables in your wardrobe and creating the "almighty unbroken line". Simply put: Do your clothes really fit and flatter? They should. But how do you know for sure you're getting a good fit? Considering the number of women who wear the wrong sized bra everyday, a lot of us are a little clueless or afraid to find out what are actual measurements are, but whatever numbers are, there are good and bad looks and good and bad fits. This book can help you find yours. Several excellent tips are presented, including a complete disreguard for what the number on the tag says, since manufacturers are at best guessing what those numbers mean anyway. Tips on finding a professional tailor are included and what he/she can do for you as well as how affordable tailoring service can be. Start with clothes that fit you REALLY fit you, in styles that flatter what you like and conceal what you don't. The most wonderful message in this book: When clothes don't fit women tend to think there is something wrong with their bodies, they never think there is something wrong with the clothes. That advice alone has made my occasional shopping trips more enjoyable. It's simple, but it works..if you are fashionably challenged or a diva extradonaire, this is a great resource on creating your own look.

I bought this book about 8 or 9 months ago, and I've found it to be a great resource. In one of the initial chapters, Farr has you take very simple body measurements to determine what kind of body shape you have. Subsequent chapters give detailed guidelines on how to dress and look great depending on your shape. I already suspected some of the information she gave, but it was nice to have a systematic explanation of what looks good and why -- and to have really detailed lists of what to buy and what to stay away from! She also includes plus-sized figures, which means that this book is really useful for a wide range of shapes and sizes. As some reviewers have mentioned, she does tend to assume that the reader has unlimited resources and can afford designer brands and custom-made clothes. She also does not include pictures or photos of clothes, as other reviewers also mentioned. Overall, though, there is enough practical, useful information in here to more than make up for these weaknesses. I've gone back to this book again and again for ideas, and really love it! The book is small enough to take with you when out shopping, but I actually wrote down a list of my do's and don't's on a 3x5 card and just keep it in my purse for when I'm out shopping. Highly recommended book!

I am a French woman living in the US and have been looking for a book to teach my teenage daughter all the things that French women know about dressing well. This is THE book. It has everything. It covers subjects that may be covered elsewhere such as body type and flattering style, fit, how to build a wardrobe, what to invest in and what to have fun with. What I found most valuable, though, was how the author dispels the myths that fashion magazines promote. For example, she tells you how she prepares for a photoshoot and erases the myth of effortless good looks. She advocates that looking good is not about wearing the latest fashion, but knowing what makes you look good and wearing it. She outlines a basic wardrobe of timeless high quality basics that flatter and supplement with trendier and cheaper items that are fun but will not last as long in your wardrobe. This is how I dress and I can testify that it works. I will be for ever grateful to my grandmother for teaching me to recognize when a garment fits and when it does not. Therefore, my highest mark in this book goes to the two pages explaining how to tell if a jacket fits. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! If you want just one book to teach you how to be stylish, this is the one. If you want to further explore how French women dress, look at "Chic and Slim" by Ann Baronne.

In the sea of so called 'fashion experts', Farr is a real standout. Her approach to style differs greatly in that it instructs women how to honestly assess their wardrobes and logically pinpoint their individual body type. She clarifies how to flatter any figure (including plus sizes), incorporate trends and individual style, mix and match pieces, shop on a budget and avoid falling victim to common fashion mishaps. The book isn't limited to just clothing - bras, stockings accessories and tips from beauty experts are also thoroughly covered. Best of all there are pages and pages of tips, places to shop and stylist secret weapons that even the most fashion savvy girl probably doesn't know. My favorite section of the book is 'Your Tailor is Your Best Friend' which details everything from having a garment fit to having a piece custom made. Unlike other guides I have read, this book is written without condescension and truly aims to make all women feel beautiful and stylish. This book is not only an incredibly useful tool but is also a great read. Farr writes with humor and gives the reader a number of hilarious personal, real women and celebrity anecdotes. This is without a doubt the fashion guide to buy. I have given a few copies as gifts and my friends loved it too.