Color Me Confident

I have had this book checked out of the library for 6 weeks, and it will make it into my permanent library. Color Me Confident by Veronique Henderson and Pat Henshaw is one of the best books I have read on color and style in one's wardrobe.

The book covers making a change, finding your best colors, finding the right shapes for your figure, hair and make-up, and building a wardrobe.

What I learned:
Buy investment clothes in neutral colors. For me, those colors are chocolate, pewter, moss, gray-green, bronze, charcoal, light navy, rose brown, taupe and stone.

Make-up colors to try:
eyeliner: moss
eye shadow: melon, fawn, khaki, grayed-green, peach
lipstick: terracotta, pecan, and copper, sandalwood, spiced peach, nutmeg
blush: cognac, sienna

I finally have the right name for my style, creative. Although I was an education major in college, everyone always thought that I was an art major, because of the way that I dressed. This has not changed as I have gotten older. Things that I can use to reflect this style are unusual belts, unusual jewelery, interesting buttons, wear a hat. I thought the list was interesting, because these are already things that I used to do on a regular basis.

Capsule wardrobes
For business
4 suits, 6-8 tops, 3 shoes, 2 handbags
Casual
4 jackets or cardigans, 6 skirts, trousers or jeans, 8 tops, 4 pairs of shoes, boots or sneakers, 2 handbags
Dresses can be substituted for the skirts.

Nothing To Wear

I just finished reading Nothing to Wear? A 5-Step Cure For The Common Closet by Jesse Garza and Joe Lupo. This is not a book that will tell you what styles look good on your body shape, but is rather a book about finding your style, then reorganizing your closet. It contains much valuable information and is a good read.

The authors have 5 main style categories, classic, chic, whimsical, bohemian and avant-garde. In their system, I fall into the whimsical style, combining colors and patterns with too few neutrals in my wardrobe. As a woman who has a whimsical style ages, the authors suggest more neutrals and incorporating classic and chic pieces into every outfit. I want to achieve what they describe as the look for a 50 year old woman... tastefully sexy, subtle, elegant, assured, and self-possessed.

One of the interesting things I learned by reading this book is which designers fall into which style categories. I think this information will be useful for others, so I want to share it with you.

Classic
Brooks Brothers, Agnona, Akris, Anne Klein, Ann Taylor, Burberry, Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, J. Crew, Kiton, Luciano Barbera, Liz Claiborne, Toro Piana, Ralph Lauren and Talbots.
Chic
Gucci, Armani, Banana Republic, Hugo Boss, Chanel, Club Monaco, Kenneth Cole, Express, H&M, INC, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Laundry, Max Mara, Narciso Rodriguez, Ele Tahari, Valentino and Zara.
Whimsical
Etro, Benetton, French Connection, Mac Jacobs, Betsey Johnson, Nanette Lepore, Moscihino, Zac Posen, Prada, Lilly Pulitzer, and Louis Vuitton.
Bohemian
Chloe, Abercrombie & Fitch, Anna Sui, Anthropologie, Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana, Eskandar, Matthew Williamson, Miu Miu, and Urban Outfitters.
Avant-garde
Yohji Yamamoto, Balenciaga, Comme des Garcons, Costume National, John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier, Lavin, Alexander McQueen, Roenza, Schouler, Top Shop, Victor & Rolf and Issey Miyake.

The authors give these tips for shopping, but I think they can be easily adapted for home sewing as well.
1. Create a shopping list of the things you need and fill in the gaps in your essential wardrobe before you buy the fun stuff.
2. Buy essentials at the beginning of the season and get the extras later when they go on sale.
3. Know your shape and what looks best on you.
4. Bring things you need to match with you to the store.
5. Spend the most money on things you will wear frequently.
6. Buy things that fit into multiple categories of your wardrobe needs, for example a jacket that can be worn to work or with jeans.
7 Shop realistically, don't be a fashion victim.

Women's Wardrobe

My latest read is Women's Wardrobe by Kim Johnson Gross and Jeff Stone. This is a very useful book. I think it would be very beneficial to someone who is just learning about style. It is a very difficult book to review, but I do highly recommend it. This would make a great gift to a friend that is interested in fashion, or a young woman just building her wardrobe. My only problem with the book is that the typeset is very annoying; they got out of hand trying to be creative, and it is difficult to follow.

The book is divided into the following sections: style, elements, clothes first aid, and where to find clothes.

My favorite thing about the book is that they show entire outfits, head to toe, including appropriate jewelry and shoes. They also take each fabric and place it in a category from sexy to quick-dry. The authors also teach the reader how to spot a quality garment. Each type of garment is described individually, with tips for wearing each style of that garment. They also have a great glossary of fashion language.

The first aid section is great. It lists different fabrics and how to care for them, how to get rid of stains, even the best way to store everything.

A Guide To Quality, Taste and Style

I just finished reading A Guide To Quality, Taste and Style by Tim Gunn. Although it was a fun read, the information was not that useful for me.

My favorite line in the book is that if you wouldn't want to run into an ex-lover in what you are wearing, get rid of it. He stresses fit, finding a fashion role model, and posture. My physical therapist would love him. He reminds the reader to open up the chest and bring the shoulders down, same advice my PT gave me.

An interesting comment in the book is about the current trend for adults to try to dress like teenagers. The author notes that in times past boys moved from short to long pants, and girls got their first high heels. Children looked forward to moving into "adult" clothing as an indicator of their transition into adulthood. Today with adults wearing the same thing as children (men in shorts and women in flip-flops), there is not that important moment in a child's life. I can relate to the significance of that moment. I came of age in the days before pantyhose, I can remember the first time I got to wear a garter belt and hose instead of ankle socks. Even though I am nearly 55 years old, I have never moved into an adult wardrobe, except for work. I am currently searching out my "adult" look. I am finally ready to grow up.

What Not To Wear

I have been "reading" What Not to Wear by Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine. I put reading in quotes as this is really a picture book on style. The photos clearly illustrate the principles of what not to wear for different figure problems. Although the information in this book is good, I really don't like the writing style of the authors. If you are a visual learner, this book is appropriate; however, be aware that the language used in this book is rather coarse.

What I learned:
1. I should not wear a trench coat, as they are not flattering to a large chest and waist.
2. A large cuff bracelet will make my arm look larger.

Plus Style

I finished reading Plus Style, The Plus-Size Guide to Looking Great by Suzan Nanfeldt. What a great book! I am all inspired. This book is very comprehensive and stresses fit, something that has been overlooked in the other books that I have read.

What I learned from this book:
1. People make a number of value judgments within 7 seconds of meeting a new person based on their appearance.

• Economic Level
• Trustworthiness
• Level of Sophistication
• Economic Heritage
• Educational Heritage
• Educational Level
• Social Position
• Level of Success
• Social Heritage
• Moral Character

2. Using prints in clothing needs to be carefully thought out.

• A regular pattern that fills the available space will make one appear smaller than a widely spaced pattern.
• Use pattern to balance proportions.
• Match the "personality" of the print to the style of the garment.
• The smaller, more subtle and muted the print, the more sophisticated and enduring it will be. (Think of the wild prints of the 1970's).

3. A skirt must be longer than it is wide to be properly proportioned, so a shorter skirt needs to be tapered at the hem.
4. Rules for a capsule wardrobe:

• Use 4 or 5 colors maximum, 2 neutrals and 2 accent colors.
• All colors should work together.
• The patterns should coordinate.
• The styles and scale should be compatible. Can the blouse be worn under the jacket.
• Each piece should be appropriate for the same lifestyle function.

5. Catalog your clothes by clothing type, garment, season/fabric, color, what else it works with, and any accessories that will work with it.

Staging Your Comeback

I most recent read to determine how to improve my look has been Staging Your Comeback, A Complete Beauty Revival for Women Over 45 by Christopher Hopkins. I really like the way this book is organized. It breaks down typical fitting problems, and gives suggestions on how to address them. It also has a questionnaire to determine one's image profile, either classic, casual, romantic, dramatic, innovative or alluring and suggests how to bring that style into one's 4th decade and beyond. It also discusses hair and make-up as one gets older. This book is definitely worth reading, especially if you have trouble choosing styles that flatter your body shape.

What I learned from this book:
1. The best blouses for a full chest: gathered yoke, tailored, raglan, bell sleeve, peasant sleeve, surplice wrap. Don't wear short sleeves.
2. To apply shadow on drooping lids, look straight ahead and apply a dark shadow just above the lash line. Raise your eyebrows and blend.
3. Wear a long-leg shaper to get rid of visible panty line.

Color Me Beautiful

I have been reading Reinvent Yourself with Color Me Beautiful, 4 Seasons of Color, Make-up and Style by JoAnne Richmond lately. I highly recommend this book, especially if you have never tried to determine what colors look best on you. I took the book with me when I went shopping with a friend Friday. We tested the theory with what was available in the store. The color theory definitely works, but there was little available in the store for either my friend or me in our colors. Summer is definitely the season for "winters." Neither my friend or I can wear white, so we couldn't wear half the store.

Several women came up to us and wanted to know what we were doing, and wanted us to figure out what colors they should wear. I think a retailer could get a lot of women in their stores by offering color services. Apparently I wasn't the only one who was confused.

I have now gone through my fabric, and I have found that most of it is not in colors that are flattering on me. I will be much more careful with future purchases. Nothing in my wardrobe is the right color. I guess I need to start over.

What I learned from this book:
1. I am a spring.
2. Eyeliner recommendations, navy blue, green, or brown
3. Eye shadow recommendations: light brown, light green, copper and a peach highlighter.
4. Blush recommendations: peach, salmon, and light coral.
5, Lipstick recommendations: peach, apricot, mango, and melon.
6. The best neutrals for me are ivory, cream, clear beige, camel, tan, golden brown, clear gold, and light clear navy.
7. The best basic colors for me are clear red, orange red, coral, periwinkle, and rust.
8. Probably the most interesting thing to me was the shoe color recommendations.
For warm weather ivory, bronze, medium blue, peach, gold.
For cool weather medium brown, ivory, bronze, gold.

If you know your "season" you can order a color swatch book from Color Me Beautiful.