When I left my job at a large credit union eight years ago, I traded in tops, skirts, and heels for what I think of as my “Mom uniform”-t-shirts and jeans in the summer and fall, sweatshirts and jeans in the winter and spring. My clothing purchases, except for one outfit to wear to a funeral, have been limited to the sale racks at Target and all of the racks at local thrift stores.
However, maybe because I’ve turned 40 and am having a mid-life crisis or something, in the past year I have become my own worst critic when it comes to getting dressed in the morning. I dread having to pick from the same three pairs of pants and six shirts over and over. Not that there’s anything wrong with having a limited wardrobe; if those pants and shirts were classic, well-fitting, easy to accessorize pieces, that would be quite different.
When Parent Bloggers Network asked for volunteers to read and review The Little Black Book of Style, I volunteered hoping to pick up some fashion tips. What I found instead was an eye-opening revelation regarding my clothing-it does NOT have to be trendy! I don’t have to pick up whatever the latest fashion being sold at Macy’s is, unless it’s something I really love. What I need to do, quite simply, is choose clothes that make me feel confident.
The Little Black Book of Style is written by Nina Garcia, a judge on Project Runway, and fashion director at Elle magazine. So you know she knows style! The book is short, just 142 pages, and divided into six sections. The illustrations are by painter, sculptor and illustrator Ruben Toledo, and although the women in the illustrations are all Barbie-doll slender, they are all individually, uniquely, and impeccably dressed. I found myself drooling over a few of the handbags in the illustrations as well!
The advice is simple: Be your own muse, meaning, wear what makes you feel confident. Choose clothes that tell the world who you are. Next, purge your closet of everything that doesn’t look fabulous on you, that isn’t the right size, that you’re keeping just because it was expensive, or because you “might” fit into it one day. I am insanely guilty of that last one, by the way. Invest in the “ten staples”, clothing that transcends time, and will still be wearable five years from now. And not the trendy versions, the classic versions:
- A Little Black Dress (which I have no use for, seriously, so I’ll skip this one)
- A classic men’s white shirt-I feel fantastic in button-down shirts. Yes please!
- A cashmere cardigan or turtleneck-Hmm. Cashmere is a little pricey.
- A trench coat-I have one with a removable lining so it can be worn all year.
- Denim-But I assume she does not mean the elastic waist Mom jeans I’m currently wearing, right?
- Diamonds-She says diamonds, even fake ones, are perfect for day or night, casual or dressy, winter or summer, with other jewels or alone. I know what I want for Christmas!
- Ballet flats-I tried this one, I really did, but the backs of the cheapo Payless ones I bought tore up the backs of my heels! Maybe if I spent more than $16.00?
- A classic high-heel pump-Only if my husband buys us tickets to the theater this year.
- A great bag-My favorite!! Garcia says every woman should have a tote or shoulder bag, a clutch, a medium-size handbag with a chain-link strap, and one of the “must-have” bags-Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, a Birkin. Hmm. My birthday is in January! OH, and can anyone tell me what kind of bag that is in the illustration on page 27? Because I WANT IT.
With just those pieces, Nina Garcia says I have the foundation for a fabulous wardrobe. I also appreciated the “Cheap thrills”, that is, clothing that does not have to be expensive to be stylish: White Hanes t-shirts, an L.L. Bean Tote (there’s that birthday idea again!), a white button-up shirt, khaki pants (but NO PLEATS!), Flea-Market finds, vintage steals, and surprisingly, clothes from H&M and Target, which she calls “first-rate style at cut-rate prices”.
The rest of the book is equally interesting, with sections on which movie stars and musicians have influenced fashion, and what to wear organized by dress code. My one criticism of the book is the interviews with fashion “insiders”, some of whom I recognize as being clothing designers, and others who’s names I don’t recognize at all. It would have been helpful to have one line under each name explaining who the person is. And some of their answers to the questions-well, they left a little to be desired. For example, Garcia asked Zac Posen, who I know dresses Natalie Portman among others, “Who are some of the most stylish women you know?”, and what was his answer? “They know who they are”-UGH. Come on Zac, you had your chance to give shout-outs to all the celebs who wear your clothes!
In conclusion, I am hoping that this book will inspire me to try harder with my clothing choices. If you would like to see what other bloggers are saying about The Little Black Book of Style, visit the Parent Bloggers Network.
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Oh see, now I’m going to HAVE to read this book. I’m a huge fashion disaster and this book sounds great. Thanks for the review hun.
Hey Elizabeth – just wanted to let you know that I linked to this blog and to your Table for Five blog! I will be reading more of you!
Jo, this book is much less intimidating than I thought it would be. I thought she would say I had to go buy the most expensive everything, so it really surprised me to see Target mentioned! Glad you liked the review, too
Stacey, thanks so much for the links! I’m glad to have you as a reader!!!
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