The Little Black Book of Style | Nina Garcia | this is a guide to personal style, avoiding the...

The Little Black Book of Style | Nina Garcia | Excellent

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The Little Black B...

	The Little Black Book of Style Nina Garcia Collins Living, 2007 - 160 pages average customer review:based on 50 reviews view larger image
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this is a guide to personal style, avoiding the fashion victim look while cleaning up personal image.

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.

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Excellent

This Book is excellent for someone wanting to revamp their wardrobe or gain a true sense of style. Her book is one of the few books that actually list in detail the wardrobe staples needed. I found her persona narratives to be very interesting. ANd she even went over movies that influence fashion. This book is excellent

LET DOWN YOUR HAIR. NOW TAKE OFF YOUR GLASSES. IT WORKS IN THE MOVIES? (from film, Lover Come Back)

I, having an eye for fashion (whoops! style),love this book. Its lite and its light, and before even reading it, or flicking through the pages, it has a feel of elegance. The covers look and its title are classy. The content is fast and flowing, and the water colors are exquisite. I feel like I'm reading a flapper book from the 20's. Its a book that should be on every female political candidates Christmas list, and I already mentioned it to a few. Although one, already in office, meets its standards (Hint, I only vote for female blonds). Nina's story about her first hitting the East Coast private girls school, from her home in South America, surely must have been a shock to her style-wise. As it was for the main character in the film, Legally Blond. I do agree with her that the first thing you should buy is a trench coat and black dress. But, I'm now favoring a motorcycle jacket or a maxie coat(where are they) and a red dress. Relating to the look you'll find of the women that drape themselves over the cars in Rat Rodz Magazines, or the red dress in the Fergie video, Clumsy, on Youtube . A few tattoos won't hurt either now-a-days. (Bernard does charity work, sorta. He provides women with fashion encouragement by transforming them style-wise to the point that they are now in successful relationships and are living affluently, thanks to Bernard. Now with Nina's book, they need no one.

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its a Like Like, not a Love

while i did enjoy this book, in the same way i enjoy project runway, i have to say i sometimes i find her a little full of herself, in the kind of "hit in the face" kind of way. i like watching it on tv because you can make fun and laugh along with your friends... it look a little weird when you are mocking her in the book... by youself... on public transport.
ok that was mean, i did enjoy this book and all the lovely illustrations. as a fashion devotee, it was a very good read, and a good insite into "investment shopping".
a good boook to purchase if you are just starting out on your own in the world and want to have those lush items in your wardrobe, but want you well earned pennies to last longer.
i would buy this for a friend or relative close to me age (20's)

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Interesting, but lightweight

Nina Garcia has an interesting viewpoint, but pads this very slim book shamelessly with cliches from various designers, as well as a very text-light graphic design. This provides about a magazine article's worth of information/opinion.

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, page 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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