Get Nina Garcia- For Free

Her latest book, that is.

Whenever someone gives away piles of free books it's usually a sign the book isn't doing too well on its own. In the case of Nina Garcia's latest book, The Style Strategy, I'm not surprised. The book was redundant and gave the feeling it was compiled from scraps and drafts for the previous two books (both were quite good), and it looks like people shopped smart and avoided buying it.

Now Nina Garcia (and her employer, Marie Claire magazine) has teamed up with Lancome for a joint promotional event at Saks 5th Avenue in NYC. If you RSVP to this event (November 12th at 5 PM) you will get The Style Strategy for free, as well as the latest Marie Claire issue and a couple of Lancome skin care samples. Ms. Garcia will be on hand to talk about whatever.

Maybe someone can ask her about the incestuous relationships between magazines and their advertisers and when if ever we'd get to see an honest review of beauty products in her magazine.

Get Nina Garcia- For Free

Her latest book, that is.

Whenever someone gives away piles of free books it's usually a sign the book isn't doing too well on its own. In the case of Nina Garcia's latest book, The Style Strategy, I'm not surprised. The book was redundant and gave the feeling it was compiled from scraps and drafts for the previous two books (both were quite good), and it looks like people shopped smart and avoided buying it.

Now Nina Garcia (and her employer, Marie Claire magazine) has teamed up with Lancome for a joint promotional event at Saks 5th Avenue in NYC. If you RSVP to this event (November 12th at 5 PM) you will get The Style Strategy for free, as well as the latest Marie Claire issue and a couple of Lancome skin care samples. Ms. Garcia will be on hand to talk about whatever.

Maybe someone can ask her about the incestuous relationships between magazines and their advertisers and when if ever we'd get to see an honest review of beauty products in her magazine.

Get Nina Garcia- For Free

Her latest book, that is.

Whenever someone gives away piles of free books it's usually a sign the book isn't doing too well on its own. In the case of Nina Garcia's latest book, The Style Strategy, I'm not surprised. The book was redundant and gave the feeling it was compiled from scraps and drafts for the previous two books (both were quite good), and it looks like people shopped smart and avoided buying it.

Now Nina Garcia (and her employer, Marie Claire magazine) has teamed up with Lancome for a joint promotional event at Saks 5th Avenue in NYC. If you RSVP to this event (November 12th at 5 PM) you will get The Style Strategy for free, as well as the latest Marie Claire issue and a couple of Lancome skin care samples. Ms. Garcia will be on hand to talk about whatever.

Maybe someone can ask her about the incestuous relationships between magazines and their advertisers and when if ever we'd get to see an honest review of beauty products in her magazine.

The Style Strategy By Nina Garcia- A Book Review

Nina Garcia's two previous books, The Little Black Book Of Style and The One Hundred were fun to read as well as a very good resource for anyone looking for information and direction in building a stylish and enduring wardrobe. Her new book, The Style Strategy- A less is more approach to staying chic and shopping smart- a presumptuous shopping guide for tough economic times, lacks both the charm and, ironically, the practicality of its predecessors.

Let's start with the basic premise: the need for such guide. If you've read Garcia's other books, you already know what are the basics of a good and stylish wardrobe, how to accessorize in a smart way, what's worth splurging on, where you can fake it, and how and where to shop for vintage. In short: you already have a strategy and you know how to fill the gaps in your wardrobe in the most efficient way. So, what's the point of this book?

Unsurprisingly, The Style Strategy repeats a lot of the ground already covered in the older books. Do we really need a repeat of the LBD, trench coat, classic white shirt, dark denim, pencil skirt, tailored blazer and cashmere sweater chapter? Tim Gunn has already written a book and created a TV show around this. The magazines have printed countless of instant makeover articles about these items and we all know you can pair said cashmere sweater with the pencil skirt for work and your jeans on the weekend. And the LBD can be dressed up or down. Seriously. If you've been paying attention to the other books you already know how to shop smart and not waste money on unnecessary items. There's no need for the shrill and almost hysterical tone of the first chapters of The Style Strategy (not to mention spending the money on it...). It feels heavy-handed and hastily written and edited. There are too many repetitions and redundant paragraphs, and it looks like someone was a bit too frugal with editor hours.

Nina Garcia's famous sense of humor and subtle snark seems to have evaporated. Is it the economy? The move to Marie Claire and TLC? Who knows. But even Ruben Toledo's charming illustrations and the style icon quotes (everyone from Miss Piggy to Elizabeth Hurley and way way way too much Michael Kors) can't save this book from itself. It's even worse when Ms. Garcia tries to be inspirational. We don't pay her to be faux-deep and talk about priorities in life; I had to laugh at her advice to make a mall excursion with friends and family into a blissful bonding experience with those who matter most. Obviously, she's never been to a Jersey mall.

The wardrobe guidance is schizophrenic at times and a bit contradictory. What to keep? What to toss? She tells us to get rid of too trendy items that can date the look and be costumy, but also to save them and wait till the trend comes back and makes these clothes and accessories "vintage". I'm sorry, but one needs a really good inherent sense of style to know when these things work, and you rarely learn this from books. Some of the advice here would land you on "What Not To Wear" faster than you can say "Lady Gaga". Parachute pants? schoolgirl kilts? Seriously?

There's also an issue of lifestyle. In Nina Garcia's line of work, cocktail parties and making an impression in glitzy events are a regular occurrence. It makes sense that she would put the serious money into the dresses and shoes she wears on this occasions, while skimping (maybe, if you actually believe her, which is another problem with this book) on everyday items. However, most of us have slightly different needs. It's the regular pumps you wear to the office that need to be of the highest quality you can afford and would prove a smart investment. And I don't know about you, but I only have one "serious" cocktail dress. It's very pretty, from an indy designer and I've worn it exactly three times during the three years I've owned it (and it will forever be known as "the dress I wore when I met Tim Gunn"). On the other hand, I have many dresses that fall into the "day to night category" and have proven time and time again they were an excellent investment. For some reason, Ms. Garcia has completely skipped this category. She refers to casual dresses as "little extras", which makes me raise my eyebrow. If these are just "extras", what exactly are we supposed to wear?

I also have issues with her advice about allowing yourself to splurge on drugstore makeup and cosmetics. This attitude creates the exact problem The Style Strategy is supposed to tackle. There's nothing wrong with buying a drugstore lipstick here and there, but when this kind of impulse shopping becomes a habit and one finds herself with 38 bargain lipsticks but not even one amazing luxury item that makes her look and feels truly fabulous, there's something very wrong with the picture. I have no doubt Nina Garcia knows this, but her pampering advice is so scattered and all over the place she has completely missed the mark.

I've combed through the book over and over trying to find some piece of truly original advice. There's one: Top quality hosiery can make an outfit. There are great deals on luxury tights in the spring, so take advantage and stock up on the best brands during their sales.

There you have it.

Bottom line: Save your $22 and buy a Dior lip gloss.

Image: Hoovers- the apron dresses of the Great Depression, named after President Hoover. One of the few amusing fashion facts in the book.

The Style Strategy By Nina Garcia- A Book Review

Nina Garcia's two previous books, The Little Black Book Of Style and The One Hundred were fun to read as well as a very good resource for anyone looking for information and direction in building a stylish and enduring wardrobe. Her new book, The Style Strategy- A less is more approach to staying chic and shopping smart- a presumptuous shopping guide for tough economic times, lacks both the charm and, ironically, the practicality of its predecessors.

Let's start with the basic premise: the need for such guide. If you've read Garcia's other books, you already know what are the basics of a good and stylish wardrobe, how to accessorize in a smart way, what's worth splurging on, where you can fake it, and how and where to shop for vintage. In short: you already have a strategy and you know how to fill the gaps in your wardrobe in the most efficient way. So, what's the point of this book?

Unsurprisingly, The Style Strategy repeats a lot of the ground already covered in the older books. Do we really need a repeat of the LBD, trench coat, classic white shirt, dark denim, pencil skirt, tailored blazer and cashmere sweater chapter? Tim Gunn has already written a book and created a TV show around this. The magazines have printed countless of instant makeover articles about these items and we all know you can pair said cashmere sweater with the pencil skirt for work and your jeans on the weekend. And the LBD can be dressed up or down. Seriously. If you've been paying attention to the other books you already know how to shop smart and not waste money on unnecessary items. There's no need for the shrill and almost hysterical tone of the first chapters of The Style Strategy (not to mention spending the money on it...). It feels heavy-handed and hastily written and edited. There are too many repetitions and redundant paragraphs, and it looks like someone was a bit too frugal with editor hours.

Nina Garcia's famous sense of humor and subtle snark seems to have evaporated. Is it the economy? The move to Marie Claire and TLC? Who knows. But even Ruben Toledo's charming illustrations and the style icon quotes (everyone from Miss Piggy to Elizabeth Hurley and way way way too much Michael Kors) can't save this book from itself. It's even worse when Ms. Garcia tries to be inspirational. We don't pay her to be faux-deep and talk about priorities in life; I had to laugh at her advice to make a mall excursion with friends and family into a blissful bonding experience with those who matter most. Obviously, she's never been to a Jersey mall.

The wardrobe guidance is schizophrenic at times and a bit contradictory. What to keep? What to toss? She tells us to get rid of too trendy items that can date the look and be costumy, but also to save them and wait till the trend comes back and makes these clothes and accessories "vintage". I'm sorry, but one needs a really good inherent sense of style to know when these things work, and you rarely learn this from books. Some of the advice here would land you on "What Not To Wear" faster than you can say "Lady Gaga". Parachute pants? schoolgirl kilts? Seriously?

There's also an issue of lifestyle. In Nina Garcia's line of work, cocktail parties and making an impression in glitzy events are a regular occurrence. It makes sense that she would put the serious money into the dresses and shoes she wears on this occasions, while skimping (maybe, if you actually believe her, which is another problem with this book) on everyday items. However, most of us have slightly different needs. It's the regular pumps you wear to the office that need to be of the highest quality you can afford and would prove a smart investment. And I don't know about you, but I only have one "serious" cocktail dress. It's very pretty, from an indy designer and I've worn it exactly three times during the three years I've owned it (and it will forever be known as "the dress I wore when I met Tim Gunn"). On the other hand, I have many dresses that fall into the "day to night category" and have proven time and time again they were an excellent investment. For some reason, Ms. Garcia has completely skipped this category. She refers to casual dresses as "little extras", which makes me raise my eyebrow. If these are just "extras", what exactly are we supposed to wear?

I also have issues with her advice about allowing yourself to splurge on drugstore makeup and cosmetics. This attitude creates the exact problem The Style Strategy is supposed to tackle. There's nothing wrong with buying a drugstore lipstick here and there, but when this kind of impulse shopping becomes a habit and one finds herself with 38 bargain lipsticks but not even one amazing luxury item that makes her look and feels truly fabulous, there's something very wrong with the picture. I have no doubt Nina Garcia knows this, but her pampering advice is so scattered and all over the place she has completely missed the mark.

I've combed through the book over and over trying to find some piece of truly original advice. There's one: Top quality hosiery can make an outfit. There are great deals on luxury tights in the spring, so take advantage and stock up on the best brands during their sales.

There you have it.

Bottom line: Save your $22 and buy a Dior lip gloss.

Image: Hoovers- the apron dresses of the Great Depression, named after President Hoover. One of the few amusing fashion facts in the book.

The Style Strategy By Nina Garcia- A Book Review

Nina Garcia's two previous books, The Little Black Book Of Style and The One Hundred were fun to read as well as a very good resource for anyone looking for information and direction in building a stylish and enduring wardrobe. Her new book, The Style Strategy- A less is more approach to staying chic and shopping smart- a presumptuous shopping guide for tough economic times, lacks both the charm and, ironically, the practicality of its predecessors.

Let's start with the basic premise: the need for such guide. If you've read Garcia's other books, you already know what are the basics of a good and stylish wardrobe, how to accessorize in a smart way, what's worth splurging on, where you can fake it, and how and where to shop for vintage. In short: you already have a strategy and you know how to fill the gaps in your wardrobe in the most efficient way. So, what's the point of this book?

Unsurprisingly, The Style Strategy repeats a lot of the ground already covered in the older books. Do we really need a repeat of the LBD, trench coat, classic white shirt, dark denim, pencil skirt, tailored blazer and cashmere sweater chapter? Tim Gunn has already written a book and created a TV show around this. The magazines have printed countless of instant makeover articles about these items and we all know you can pair said cashmere sweater with the pencil skirt for work and your jeans on the weekend. And the LBD can be dressed up or down. Seriously. If you've been paying attention to the other books you already know how to shop smart and not waste money on unnecessary items. There's no need for the shrill and almost hysterical tone of the first chapters of The Style Strategy (not to mention spending the money on it...). It feels heavy-handed and hastily written and edited. There are too many repetitions and redundant paragraphs, and it looks like someone was a bit too frugal with editor hours.

Nina Garcia's famous sense of humor and subtle snark seems to have evaporated. Is it the economy? The move to Marie Claire and TLC? Who knows. But even Ruben Toledo's charming illustrations and the style icon quotes (everyone from Miss Piggy to Elizabeth Hurley and way way way too much Michael Kors) can't save this book from itself. It's even worse when Ms. Garcia tries to be inspirational. We don't pay her to be faux-deep and talk about priorities in life; I had to laugh at her advice to make a mall excursion with friends and family into a blissful bonding experience with those who matter most. Obviously, she's never been to a Jersey mall.

The wardrobe guidance is schizophrenic at times and a bit contradictory. What to keep? What to toss? She tells us to get rid of too trendy items that can date the look and be costumy, but also to save them and wait till the trend comes back and makes these clothes and accessories "vintage". I'm sorry, but one needs a really good inherent sense of style to know when these things work, and you rarely learn this from books. Some of the advice here would land you on "What Not To Wear" faster than you can say "Lady Gaga". Parachute pants? schoolgirl kilts? Seriously?

There's also an issue of lifestyle. In Nina Garcia's line of work, cocktail parties and making an impression in glitzy events are a regular occurrence. It makes sense that she would put the serious money into the dresses and shoes she wears on this occasions, while skimping (maybe, if you actually believe her, which is another problem with this book) on everyday items. However, most of us have slightly different needs. It's the regular pumps you wear to the office that need to be of the highest quality you can afford and would prove a smart investment. And I don't know about you, but I only have one "serious" cocktail dress. It's very pretty, from an indy designer and I've worn it exactly three times during the three years I've owned it (and it will forever be known as "the dress I wore when I met Tim Gunn"). On the other hand, I have many dresses that fall into the "day to night category" and have proven time and time again they were an excellent investment. For some reason, Ms. Garcia has completely skipped this category. She refers to casual dresses as "little extras", which makes me raise my eyebrow. If these are just "extras", what exactly are we supposed to wear?

I also have issues with her advice about allowing yourself to splurge on drugstore makeup and cosmetics. This attitude creates the exact problem The Style Strategy is supposed to tackle. There's nothing wrong with buying a drugstore lipstick here and there, but when this kind of impulse shopping becomes a habit and one finds herself with 38 bargain lipsticks but not even one amazing luxury item that makes her look and feels truly fabulous, there's something very wrong with the picture. I have no doubt Nina Garcia knows this, but her pampering advice is so scattered and all over the place she has completely missed the mark.

I've combed through the book over and over trying to find some piece of truly original advice. There's one: Top quality hosiery can make an outfit. There are great deals on luxury tights in the spring, so take advantage and stock up on the best brands during their sales.

There you have it.

Bottom line: Save your $22 and buy a Dior lip gloss.

Image: Hoovers- the apron dresses of the Great Depression, named after President Hoover. One of the few amusing fashion facts in the book.

The One Hundred by Nina Garcia- Book Review

Nina Garcia's Little Black Book Of Style was a fun read, though not the iconic fashion guide it aspired to be. Her second book, The One Hundred- A Guide To The Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own, might be even more ambitious, but is also delivers better.

Basically, it's a wardrobe checklist of one hundred items Ms. Garcia believes every woman must have in her closet. From the A-line dress to a zippered hoodie, she goes through classics and modern clothes (and also shoes, accessories, gadgets and beauty items), explains their importance, offers advice on how to wear them, where to shop and also tells stories and expands on their history, making this a more detailed and in-depth book than one would expect.

There's a lot of valuable information about brands, when to buy high-end and when it's OK to skimp, noteworthy designers, how to shop for vintage. The chapters are peppered with little quotes, bits of trivia and Nina Garcia's typical dry quips ("From time to time, you may see a girl wearing her black opaque tights as pants. There are, in fact, not"). It all contributes to making The One Hundred both informative and fun to read. As for her choice of these 100 items, for the most part I think she is spot on. Garcia names the cuts, styles and landmark designers (DVF, Pucci, Missoni) one should collect to build a stylish wardrobe. She doesn't forget the simple things, like basic white t-shirts (here she goes for Hanes), Spanx or sneakers (where she allows both Converse and Vans). I'm not sure what Champagne is doing as part of this guide and the beauty advice is flawed (only red, pale pink or black nail polish?). As a perfume nut, I'd rather ignore the recommendation to find a signature scent and stick to it. And, of course, I hate that fur is included (though she isn't against fake).

In the introduction, Nina Garcia reminds us to adapt each item according to individual style, body and personality. She states that there is no ultimate list and true style allows a woman to assert herself through her choices. Thus, we can make personal choices, edit according to our needs and make these items our own. I prefer my t-shirts and sweaters to have a v-neck, I don't own even one pair of khakis and I favor biker boots over cowboys. As long as one remembers to make such adjustments, the book can be a great resource.

The One Hundred by Nina Garcia ($21.95, about $15 on Amazon) is available from every bookseller online and in store. I bought it from my local Barnes & Noble.

Photo by Paulo Roversi

The One Hundred by Nina Garcia- Book Review

Nina Garcia's Little Black Book Of Style was a fun read, though not the iconic fashion guide it aspired to be. Her second book, The One Hundred- A Guide To The Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own, might be even more ambitious, but is also delivers better.

Basically, it's a wardrobe checklist of one hundred items Ms. Garcia believes every woman must have in her closet. From the A-line dress to a zippered hoodie, she goes through classics and modern clothes (and also shoes, accessories, gadgets and beauty items), explains their importance, offers advice on how to wear them, where to shop and also tells stories and expands on their history, making this a more detailed and in-depth book than one would expect.

There's a lot of valuable information about brands, when to buy high-end and when it's OK to skimp, noteworthy designers, how to shop for vintage. The chapters are peppered with little quotes, bits of trivia and Nina Garcia's typical dry quips ("From time to time, you may see a girl wearing her black opaque tights as pants. There are, in fact, not"). It all contributes to making The One Hundred both informative and fun to read. As for her choice of these 100 items, for the most part I think she is spot on. Garcia names the cuts, styles and landmark designers (DVF, Pucci, Missoni) one should collect to build a stylish wardrobe. She doesn't forget the simple things, like basic white t-shirts (here she goes for Hanes), Spanx or sneakers (where she allows both Converse and Vans). I'm not sure what Champagne is doing as part of this guide and the beauty advice is flawed (only red, pale pink or black nail polish?). As a perfume nut, I'd rather ignore the recommendation to find a signature scent and stick to it. And, of course, I hate that fur is included (though she isn't against fake).

In the introduction, Nina Garcia reminds us to adapt each item according to individual style, body and personality. She states that there is no ultimate list and true style allows a woman to assert herself through her choices. Thus, we can make personal choices, edit according to our needs and make these items our own. I prefer my t-shirts and sweaters to have a v-neck, I don't own even one pair of khakis and I favor biker boots over cowboys. As long as one remembers to make such adjustments, the book can be a great resource.

The One Hundred by Nina Garcia ($21.95, about $15 on Amazon) is available from every bookseller online and in store. I bought it from my local Barnes & Noble.

Photo by Paulo Roversi

The One Hundred by Nina Garcia- Book Review

Nina Garcia's Little Black Book Of Style was a fun read, though not the iconic fashion guide it aspired to be. Her second book, The One Hundred- A Guide To The Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own, might be even more ambitious, but is also delivers better.

Basically, it's a wardrobe checklist of one hundred items Ms. Garcia believes every woman must have in her closet. From the A-line dress to a zippered hoodie, she goes through classics and modern clothes (and also shoes, accessories, gadgets and beauty items), explains their importance, offers advice on how to wear them, where to shop and also tells stories and expands on their history, making this a more detailed and in-depth book than one would expect.

There's a lot of valuable information about brands, when to buy high-end and when it's OK to skimp, noteworthy designers, how to shop for vintage. The chapters are peppered with little quotes, bits of trivia and Nina Garcia's typical dry quips ("From time to time, you may see a girl wearing her black opaque tights as pants. There are, in fact, not"). It all contributes to making The One Hundred both informative and fun to read. As for her choice of these 100 items, for the most part I think she is spot on. Garcia names the cuts, styles and landmark designers (DVF, Pucci, Missoni) one should collect to build a stylish wardrobe. She doesn't forget the simple things, like basic white t-shirts (here she goes for Hanes), Spanx or sneakers (where she allows both Converse and Vans). I'm not sure what Champagne is doing as part of this guide and the beauty advice is flawed (only red, pale pink or black nail polish?). As a perfume nut, I'd rather ignore the recommendation to find a signature scent and stick to it. And, of course, I hate that fur is included (though she isn't against fake).

In the introduction, Nina Garcia reminds us to adapt each item according to individual style, body and personality. She states that there is no ultimate list and true style allows a woman to assert herself through her choices. Thus, we can make personal choices, edit according to our needs and make these items our own. I prefer my t-shirts and sweaters to have a v-neck, I don't own even one pair of khakis and I favor biker boots over cowboys. As long as one remembers to make such adjustments, the book can be a great resource.

The One Hundred by Nina Garcia ($21.95, about $15 on Amazon) is available from every bookseller online and in store. I bought it from my local Barnes & Noble.

Photo by Paulo Roversi

The Little Black Book Of Style by Nina Garcia- A Book Review

I didn't expect to like Nina Garcia's book, The Little Black Book of Style. As a matter of fact, I bought the book months ago but haven't touched it and let the pile of books sitting on top of it grow so tall until Miss Lizzy Kitten knocked them all down every time she jumped on top. The truth is that while I love Project Runway, Nina Garcia isn't the reason. She doesn't annoy me nearly half as much as Michael Kors does, but honestly, aren't we all there for Tim Gunn?

I tried to remember anything special she wore on the show, but only came up with "sleeveless", "black" and " an oversized necklace". My impression was that she's always well put together, but doesn't steal the show, which is probably a sign of both good taste and common sense. When you think of it, the 42 year old future fashion director of Marie Claire (Elle Magazine gave her the boot recently) is a pretty good source for style guidance. And she's a proud non-blonde, despite the perfect highlights.

The book puts some flesh on the glossy image. There are a few biographical notes from her Colombian childhood and New England prep school education. We get a glimpse of the elements that shaped Ms. Garcia's fashion sense, and I found myself becoming fond of her, despite her endorsement of fur. Probably because I share many of her ideas regarding style: wear things that fit you perfectly and make you look good while ignoring ugly trends, don't be a fashion victim, don't play safe unless the occasion demands it, go for interesting accessories that speak to you personally, mix things up and buy lots and lots of shoes.

The book expands on all of the above, explains the basics every woman needs (very similar to Tim Gunn's ten essentials: trench coat, cashmere sweater, the LBD, a well-cut dark pair of jeans, a white shirt and more), speaks about finding inspiration (actually, I'm getting fed-up with the Audrey Hepburn talk. Yes, she was amazing. Yes, she was gorgeous. Yes, she was the chicest of them all. But, in reality, unless your name is Natalie Portman, you can't pull it off).

I loved Nina Garcia's definition of a fashion victim (besides her obsession with the "it" bag, a concept she and I both despise): "...count the designer pieces she's wearing. She'll usually help you out by putting the labels on conspicuous display". It reminded me of this photo from two weeks ago (courtesy of Hollywood Rag):


There's some good advice about dressing right for different occasions (Q: What to wear for a wedding? A: Don't be a bridesmaid), she deciphers the mystery of event dress code (what exactly is "creative black tie" or "smart casual"?), encouragement to invest in lingerie and cliff notes of fashion history (I wish this section of the book was longer and deeper, as I find it more inspiring than talking about Uma Thurman's white shirt in Pulp Fiction). The part I found most useless, though, was the brief interviews with designers and other prominent fashion figures (blahblahblah confidence blahblahblah be yourself blahblahblah Audrey Hepburn blahblahblah black turtleneck. You've heard it all before).

Bottom line: a fun read that actually makes sense. A fabulous gift for the young or for yourself if you've been stuck in a rut for too many years and need to find a new path. Worth reading if you find yourself having to pass some time at Barnes & Noble on a rainy afternoon.

The Little Black Book of Style is available from every book seller. I got mine from Amazon (cover price is $17.95, you'll probably find it for less).

The Little Black Book Of Style by Nina Garcia- A Book Review

I didn't expect to like Nina Garcia's book, The Little Black Book of Style. As a matter of fact, I bought the book months ago but haven't touched it and let the pile of books sitting on top of it grow so tall until Miss Lizzy Kitten knocked them all down every time she jumped on top. The truth is that while I love Project Runway, Nina Garcia isn't the reason. She doesn't annoy me nearly half as much as Michael Kors does, but honestly, aren't we all there for Tim Gunn?

I tried to remember anything special she wore on the show, but only came up with "sleeveless", "black" and " an oversized necklace". My impression was that she's always well put together, but doesn't steal the show, which is probably a sign of both good taste and common sense. When you think of it, the 42 year old future fashion director of Marie Claire (Elle Magazine gave her the boot recently) is a pretty good source for style guidance. And she's a proud non-blonde, despite the perfect highlights.

The book puts some flesh on the glossy image. There are a few biographical notes from her Colombian childhood and New England prep school education. We get a glimpse of the elements that shaped Ms. Garcia's fashion sense, and I found myself becoming fond of her, despite her endorsement of fur. Probably because I share many of her ideas regarding style: wear things that fit you perfectly and make you look good while ignoring ugly trends, don't be a fashion victim, don't play safe unless the occasion demands it, go for interesting accessories that speak to you personally, mix things up and buy lots and lots of shoes.

The book expands on all of the above, explains the basics every woman needs (very similar to Tim Gunn's ten essentials: trench coat, cashmere sweater, the LBD, a well-cut dark pair of jeans, a white shirt and more), speaks about finding inspiration (actually, I'm getting fed-up with the Audrey Hepburn talk. Yes, she was amazing. Yes, she was gorgeous. Yes, she was the chicest of them all. But, in reality, unless your name is Natalie Portman, you can't pull it off).

I loved Nina Garcia's definition of a fashion victim (besides her obsession with the "it" bag, a concept she and I both despise): "...count the designer pieces she's wearing. She'll usually help you out by putting the labels on conspicuous display". It reminded me of this photo from two weeks ago (courtesy of Hollywood Rag):


There's some good advice about dressing right for different occasions (Q: What to wear for a wedding? A: Don't be a bridesmaid), she deciphers the mystery of event dress code (what exactly is "creative black tie" or "smart casual"?), encouragement to invest in lingerie and cliff notes of fashion history (I wish this section of the book was longer and deeper, as I find it more inspiring than talking about Uma Thurman's white shirt in Pulp Fiction). The part I found most useless, though, was the brief interviews with designers and other prominent fashion figures (blahblahblah confidence blahblahblah be yourself blahblahblah Audrey Hepburn blahblahblah black turtleneck. You've heard it all before).

Bottom line: a fun read that actually makes sense. A fabulous gift for the young or for yourself if you've been stuck in a rut for too many years and need to find a new path. Worth reading if you find yourself having to pass some time at Barnes & Noble on a rainy afternoon.

The Little Black Book of Style is available from every book seller. I got mine from Amazon (cover price is $17.95, you'll probably find it for less).

The Little Black Book Of Style by Nina Garcia- A Book Review

I didn't expect to like Nina Garcia's book, The Little Black Book of Style. As a matter of fact, I bought the book months ago but haven't touched it and let the pile of books sitting on top of it grow so tall until Miss Lizzy Kitten knocked them all down every time she jumped on top. The truth is that while I love Project Runway, Nina Garcia isn't the reason. She doesn't annoy me nearly half as much as Michael Kors does, but honestly, aren't we all there for Tim Gunn?

I tried to remember anything special she wore on the show, but only came up with "sleeveless", "black" and " an oversized necklace". My impression was that she's always well put together, but doesn't steal the show, which is probably a sign of both good taste and common sense. When you think of it, the 42 year old future fashion director of Marie Claire (Elle Magazine gave her the boot recently) is a pretty good source for style guidance. And she's a proud non-blonde, despite the perfect highlights.

The book puts some flesh on the glossy image. There are a few biographical notes from her Colombian childhood and New England prep school education. We get a glimpse of the elements that shaped Ms. Garcia's fashion sense, and I found myself becoming fond of her, despite her endorsement of fur. Probably because I share many of her ideas regarding style: wear things that fit you perfectly and make you look good while ignoring ugly trends, don't be a fashion victim, don't play safe unless the occasion demands it, go for interesting accessories that speak to you personally, mix things up and buy lots and lots of shoes.

The book expands on all of the above, explains the basics every woman needs (very similar to Tim Gunn's ten essentials: trench coat, cashmere sweater, the LBD, a well-cut dark pair of jeans, a white shirt and more), speaks about finding inspiration (actually, I'm getting fed-up with the Audrey Hepburn talk. Yes, she was amazing. Yes, she was gorgeous. Yes, she was the chicest of them all. But, in reality, unless your name is Natalie Portman, you can't pull it off).

I loved Nina Garcia's definition of a fashion victim (besides her obsession with the "it" bag, a concept she and I both despise): "...count the designer pieces she's wearing. She'll usually help you out by putting the labels on conspicuous display". It reminded me of this photo from two weeks ago (courtesy of Hollywood Rag):


There's some good advice about dressing right for different occasions (Q: What to wear for a wedding? A: Don't be a bridesmaid), she deciphers the mystery of event dress code (what exactly is "creative black tie" or "smart casual"?), encouragement to invest in lingerie and cliff notes of fashion history (I wish this section of the book was longer and deeper, as I find it more inspiring than talking about Uma Thurman's white shirt in Pulp Fiction). The part I found most useless, though, was the brief interviews with designers and other prominent fashion figures (blahblahblah confidence blahblahblah be yourself blahblahblah Audrey Hepburn blahblahblah black turtleneck. You've heard it all before).

Bottom line: a fun read that actually makes sense. A fabulous gift for the young or for yourself if you've been stuck in a rut for too many years and need to find a new path. Worth reading if you find yourself having to pass some time at Barnes & Noble on a rainy afternoon.

The Little Black Book of Style is available from every book seller. I got mine from Amazon (cover price is $17.95, you'll probably find it for less).