Review: The Cheap Date Guide to Style by Kira Jolliffe and Bay Garnett

The Cheap Date Guide to Style by fantastic and fun authors Kira Jolliffe and Bay Garnett is a rather unusual fashion book. But I mean that in a good way!

This makes this book a great buy for anyone who is sick of the same advice you find in most other fashion books, since this style guide has quite a few rather unusual tips and also lists some more unique staples for your wardrobe. The authors also seem to want to inspire women to have fun while dressing and experimenting as much as they can in order to find a truly personal style, which is something I really appreciate.

The book is intended for those on a high street budget rather than fans of luxury brands, and is great for anyone who does not want to spend too much money on fashion and style, as well as for students and others on a smallish budget.

You will also find lots of fun quotes in the book, by everyone from actresses Mischa Barton and Rachel Weisz to Dita von Teese, Zac Posen, Beth Ditto and Miss Piggy herself! It also introduces us to some rather surprising style heroes, from Amelia Earhart to Tracey Emin, which is fun too.

So if your style is very traditional and you prefer the classic style guides, this book might be a bit too weird for you, but for those of us who prefer to stay open minded about fashion and have fun with it, this is a great choice!

You'll find this book at Amazon, click on the image below to get to the Amazon listing for this book.

Review: Style Statement - Live by your own design by Carrie McCarthy and Danielle La Porte

Style Statement by Carrie McCarthy and Danielle La Porte promises to inspire us to make more powerful choices when it comes to communicating who we are, in every single thing we do, from dressing to decorating our homes and much more. That's why this book is not only a book about fashion, even if a large part of the book does bring up fashion choices as well, but rather a lifestyle book.

I do think the fashion parts of this book are so good, however, that I have decided to feature the book here on Fashion Books Blog.

What I love about this book is that it features real people, and what they love and interviews that help us understand what defines their style. That makes this book a great buy for anyone who is interested in reading about other people's style (I really do!). It also has a lot of gorgeous photos and introduces fashionistas who read it to concepts and styles you might not find in other style guides.

So while this is not actually a fashion book, I think it is a good read for those interested in fashion, but it is an even better buy if you are also looking for a makeover or some kind of improvement for other parts of your life as well.

The book does not contain a lot of practical advice, however. Instead, it seems to want to make you think and question your current choices and ask yourself what it really is that makes you tick on your own.

So I would not recommend this book for anyone who needs very hands on advice, even though I quite enjoyed the book myself.

If you are interested in getting the book, I saw that they have it for as little as $10 over at Amazon. Click on the image below to buy it.

Review: Who do you want to be today? by Trinny and Susannah

Since I saw Trinny's and Susannah's original tv show several years ago, I have been a fan, even though I don't always agree with all style choices they make for people. This is why I own several of their books as well. The last one I got is called Who do you want to be today?

This is a book that is supposed to inspire you to dress in different styles and give you the courage and the confidence to do so. That's why this book is not really meant for those who are looking to develop their own signature style and a basic wardrobe, but rather for those who like to experiment with fashion and try new looks on a regular basis.
I think it's also a great buy for anyone who wants a wardrobe makeover and find a new style for themselves.

Some of the styles featured in the book are:
Bombshell (a la Marilyn Monroe and Scarlett Johansen)
Gamine (a la Audrey Hepburn)
Cutting Edge Cool
Androgyne
Ice Queen (a la Grace Kelly)
Avant-Garde Eccentric
Diva
Sophisticate
Rock Chick
Minimalist
High Maintenance
and
Boho, so if you have ever wanted to try any of those looks, this could be a good read for you.

One thing I particularly like about this book is that it doesn't only explain what clothes you should get in order to achieve the look you want, it also tells you what make up and beauty products go with the look as well as what finishing touches (accessories, shoes and jewelry) fit the style. It also has tons of beautiful photos of looks and pieces you can use to achieve those looks.

So yes, if you are into experimenting with fashion and already have the basics down, or simply are a Trinny and Susannah fan like me, this book is definitely worth getting!

Click on the pic of the book below to get it on Amazon.