Nina Garcia: The Style Strategy and The One Hundred

I love fashion:  It's a quick and easy way to express your creativity, your mood, your style, and personality.
How you look should not be the most important part of who you are, but it does make a difference and you should make some effort.

Your appearance can affect how you behave, how you are perceived by others, and even how you feel about yourself.

When I wear clothes that don't fit me well/ aren't very flattering, I can feel a little insecure and end up constantly thinking about my clothes.
When I dress up/wear clothes that are flattering, I feel prettier, more confident, and the day seems more special. 

I also tend to get a lot more compliments~ which is always nice   =D

I've never been one to follow trends.  I never wore the super baggy Jnco's, nor did I wear flannel in the 90's... although I did rock the 80's T-shirt tied in the corner thing  ;)

I like clothes that I won't look back and say "OMG... WTF was I thinking?!?!".

Don't be a slave to fashion by following trends.  Figure out what looks are classic and timeless.
More importantly, find out what works for your style and personality.

There are certain style rules all women should know and clothing staples that all women should own.
There are those that don't know the basics of Fashion. 

There are those that live and breathe Fashion: From one spectrum to another, a great source is Nina Garcia's The Style Strategy and The One Hundred.

These are two books that can teach you the Fashion basics for the Fashion Faux Pas Female, or is a great refresher course and quick read for Fabulous Fashionista's.

If you've watched Bravo's Project Runway, you'd probably recognize Nina Garcia as one of the judges.

She was also Fashion Director at Elle Magazine and is currently at Marie Claire Magazine.

With all that experience, she definitely knows what she's talking about when it comes to Fashion and Style.

I recommend The Style Strategy for Basic Fashion 101 for everyone.

She combines the book into 3 chapters: What Do I Have, What Do I Need, What Do I Want?

The book has lots of useful information, fun fashion facts, recommendations for high and low budgets, and great illustrations by artist Ruben Toledo.

"I believe in giving you the tools to discover what it is that you bring to the table and how you can dress that special something up so you can truly shine"

A short list of the Classic Must-Haves that Garcia recommends consists of:

• 
  
  Classic High-Heeled Pumps
• Ballet Flats
• Trench Coat
• Classic White Shirt
• The Little Black Dress (LBD)
• Cashmere Cardigan or Turtleneck
• A Great Bag
• Denim

"Learning to make the most of your wardrobe and beauty routine are the most obvious elements of personal style, but true style entails marchign to the beat of your own drummer, and enjoying it.  Remember that fashion is fun.  Feel good about yourself, and style will radiate from within you"

The One Hundred is a bit more detailed and is great for people that love fashion.
Nina Garcia gives us her essential 100 most important fashion items that are her fashion pillars.
The book gives fun fashion facts, information about how to wear certain items, product recommendations, where to shop for the basics,  and how to shop smart.

Fun Facts:
1916: Jeweler Jacques Cartier bought his Manhattan store by trading a double strand of cultured pearls for the building
1996:  Jackie O's $80 strand of fake pearls sold at auction for $211,500

"Today's Fashion Cycles are getting shorter and frighteningly fast.  there are more trends and more choices, and it seems that we are always under pressure to keep up.   Do not be the woman who gets caught up in the fads.  You are no fashion victim. You are an original. Start dressing like one"

So, these are my two quick reads for all things fashion.

It's Fashion. It's Fun.  It's Fabulous.

*~ Have a Beautiful Day! ~*