The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style: How to Wear Iconic Looks and Make Them Your Own [Paperback]

I have many of the more recent fashion "how to" type books (US Secrets of Celebrity Style, The Pocket Stylist, Victoria Beckham's That Extra Half Inch, Glamour's Big Book of Do's and Don'ts, Harper's Bazaar Great Style, etc.). What makes this book different is that instead of telling you how to pick a hot designer bag (ugh) or how to dress according to your age, this book explains clothing according to overall iconic styles; ie, American Classic, Euro Chic, bohemian, etc. Each chapter has the "must have" pieces for a particular look, outfits, and people who are interviewed as being representative of that type of style. The whole look and feel of the book is so beautiful and inspiring, I could barely put it down the day after I bought it.

(Rating: 4.5)

A veritable adult picture book for fashion lovers, "The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style" is filled with glossy colorful photos of clothing, accessories and fashion icons. Written by the notable editors of Lucky shopping magazine, this book is the highly anticipated follow up to "The Lucky Shopping Manual" which was released in 2003. The new book takes style to the next level by focusing on ten unique iconic looks and teaching readers how to achieve them. You don't have to be a trendy fashionista to appreciate this book's style advice and helpful hints. Rather, it is a guide that will help you identify which styles you like best as well as aid in achieving the appropriate balance between the different looks. Each section showcases a different `iconic look' along with essential clothing pieces and accessories, Lucky Girl profiles of women who embody the particular look and suggested stores to visit. There is also a mix and match section (modeled by Lucky magazine's staff members - `lucky' them!) that shows you how to combine the looks while remaining true to your own style. In the spirit of the Lucky magazine tradition, the book also offers exclusive discounts and giveaways for its readers in the last few pages.

My only complaint about the book is that it does not provide specific brand information for the clothes and accessories it includes, making it a challenge to find a particular item that one might want to purchase. Granted this book is a style guide and not a catalogue and thus the intentions are not necessarily to sell its contents, I would have still liked for product information to have been included nonetheless. Although I would assume that most of the designer items would be too expensive for the average consumer, myself included, I still think the inclusion of the specific labels would have been beneficial.

This book makes for a really fun addition to anyone's library, even those who consider themselves fashion-challenged (or perhaps, especially those who consider themselves fashion-challenged). It is a great resource that can be pulled out at any time and practically incorporated into one's daily style choices.

The following are the 10 iconic looks featured in the book:

1. Euro Chic (think Catherine Deneuve and silk blouses)
2. California Casual (think Farah Fawcett and denim cutoffs)
3. Rock and Roll (think Debbie Harry and leather jackets)
4. Posh Eclectic (think Helena Christensen and pink ruffled skirts)
5. Mod (think Twiggy and A-line mini dresses)
6. American Classic (think Jackie O and the little black dress)
7. Bombshell (think Marilyn Monroe and fitted pencil skirts)
8. Arty Slick (think Bjork and asymmetrical tops)
9. Bohemian (think Stevie Nicks and peasant tops)
10. Gamine (think Audrey Hepburn and trench coats)

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I don't usually read style-guides but this book is so good. It is clear, visually and textually and I actually stayed up last night thinking about what I already own that I can put together in new ways. It's a really nice, encouraging book that has the same supportive tone of the magazine and the same wealth of ideas. I love this book and am definitely giving it as gifts this X-mas.

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