Style Strategy

Just wanting to share with you on a really brilliant book that I finished reading over my summer holidays.

This book was written by Nina Garcia (Yes one of the judges on the hit series Project Runway). The book entitled The Style Strategy was published some time back and this book in my opinion should be the basic 'Bible' for us fashionistas or fashionista wannabes. In fact, every female should own this book, doesn't matter what body size you are, it is a great book of reference. It really is for ALL!!

In this book, Nina is able to explain in simple terms on the basics of style, what it takes to be stylish as well as how to take good care of everything that is in our personal wardrobe...and I mean everything!

The first 2 chapters of the book teaches us to take a good look and how to re-organise our wardrobe but not everything can be thrown out. Fashion style changes dramatically fast but it doesn't mean that you have to get rid of the past fashion styles in order to make way for new styles. Many of us can't do this unless we are Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian. Nina teaches us to be creative and find ways to give some of our old clothes a new look by either adding or removing something. A perfect example of this was of course my favourite Princess Diana. And now many royal beauties and celebrities follow suite.

  

For some of us the weather/season dictates our wardrobe. So recycling our wardrobe is important so that we are always ready whatever the weather brings.

Also Nina advices to take time to sort your wardrobe. It shouldn't be a rush job or you might regret it doing so. She also suggests some fun ways to reorganise your wardrobe, so that it won't be such a chore. Heyyy...you might just even renovate your entire wardrobe to become your dream wardrobe!

In the next few chapters, Nina explains the needs of a woman in terms of what items should be in every woman's wardrobe or what are the basic colours every woman should have if you are just starting up your fashion collection. Black, white, red, blue and grey are always the very basics that every woman must have and from there, she is able to build her own style. Same goes for her outfits, example in every woman's wardrobe, you are sure to find these items :

1. Black dress (LBD)

2. White/cream coloured blouse

3. Black pencil skirt

4. A pair of court shoes in each basic colour of black, white, red and blue

Nina also introduces a mantra that all fashionista should always remember...

Shop smart, stay chic and make it last

Which brings us to the next topic of making our purchases lasts as long as it can. As a fashionista myself, I cherish each every purchase of mine. Whenever I go shopping or online shopping, I must 'fall in love' before I make my purchase so that I don't feel guilty...or minimal guilt as possible...*wink wink! But always search for a good bargain. In her book, Nina does give some good tips on this.

No matter what we buy whether it is cheap, expensive or branded item, the quality must be good for it to last a very long time. Quality has to be taken into account whenever we purchase something.
But note that not all branded or expensive items are of good quality....I learned that from my experiences.

In her book, Nina calls this 'investment'. I very much agree with her cos buying a really good piece of clothing, it will last a very long time if you take good care of it. So here she teaches us how to identify and know the difference between cheap, inexpensive and bargain items. She also gives us a little education about shoes...aahhh...my favourite...mad about shoes! Anyway, this area of topic covers from A to Z about what we ought to know about our wardrobe and how to take care of it effectively so that we make our long term investments worth every penny.

  

   

In her few final chapters of this book, Nina also explains that we women would love to have a lot of things but we must always remember to ask ourselves 'What do we actually want'? It's great if we can buy everything we set our eyes on but we can't. We must stick to shopping smart and having balance, moderation and rationality. These make up the basis of Style Strategy. A true fashionista will always know what she wants and find ways possible to control her spending and at the same time keep up her chic style as well as staying happy always.

Style isn't just about the clothes, handbags and the shoes. In order to look chic and stylish always no matter what age, a women must also take other areas connected into account as well...such as make-up, hairstyle, skincare, perfume, overall well-being even right down to her nails. All these are explained in great length in the book.

 

In her final few chapters, Nina illustrates further on her tips on caring for your wardrobe collections, from shirts to dresses to coats to shoes...you name it. She also gives tips on how and where to get the best bargains, well of course it's mostly centred in US but am sure we fashionistas would know where to go in our own home country. But I always believe in having friends all over the world cos whenever you are in town, you would have someone whom you can trust to take your around for the best bargains and not fall into being the tourist fool.

Nina also managed to interview 2 top designers on the topic of shopping and their answers are quite surprising and inspiring at the same time.

So no doubt at all that I got this amazing book to read and to be able to share it is such a joy. Now I can't wait to get my hands on Nina's other book...

Contact : elizaabyrne@gmail.com