Things a Woman Should Know About Style

Rating:
Summary: Nothing much new here
Review: If you're already a "classicist" you'll just roll your eyes and skim through this. Be forewarned-- there is a LOT of blank space and large type in this book. The 160 page description is deceiving. I read this book in 1/2 hour. It's more like a magazine article in book form.

I couldn't quite get the writer's obsession with CAFTANS. Ghastly garments-- and guaranteed to make ANYONE look fat. She also mentions white high heels, which most women would do well to avoid; except perhaps on their wedding day.

Rating:
Summary: Only for the style-clueless
Review: The cover and title hint that we'll learn things about style in this book, such as how iconic women like Audrey Hepburn (pictured on the cover) wore what suited them best. The photos are sparse, however, much of the copy is pointless for American readers (do you really want an evaluation of what the Queen of England wears?), and the rest of it consists mainly of things you probably know already--or have considered but found your own, more flattering, solutions. Do we really need another book advising everyone to wear black, for example? There are several more appealing neutrals. Unless you're starting completely from scratch, you'll be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Good read
Review: This is a very good style source. One caveat. It's a British publication written in "British" English. Can be difficult at times for U.S. readers(e.g. "trainers" = sneakers)to plow through.

Rating:
Summary: For All Audrey Wannabees
Review: This is possibly the best book on style ever. It is not a book on fashion. It is about classic, tasteful elegance and, in my view, is quite superb. There are very few pictures other than of the divine style icons - Grace, Audrey, Katharine, Marilyn etc - and this lack of pictures emphasises the point of the book. Spare, witty and enigmatic.