The Little Black Book of Style
by Nina Garcia
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Book Reviews of The Little Black Book of Style
Book Review: Great book written by a great personality!
Summary: 4 Stars
Nina Garcia is my favorite Project Runway judge because of her no-nonsense, straight to the point critique style. I loved this book. What I loved most about this book were the anecdotes about her family and her Columbian roots. I wish she would have included more. The rest of the book is pretty much basic for anyone who studies fashion, but the writing style, which incorporates her off-beat sense of humor makes this a good read. I would have appreciated some pictures in addition to Mr. Toledo's beautiful drawings, but nevertheless this book is well worth the $14.00 price tag.
To the reviewer who said this book is only for skinny women -- you are so wrong. Fashion has nothing to do with size, it has everything do to with proportions and perception. The moral of any fashion story is that A 200+ pound woman (such as myself) can look as good as and even better than a size 2 woman as long as she has the right outfit...
Book Review: Short on Style
Summary: 3 Stars
Okay as most of us know - Nina Garcia's ONLY real claim to fame is Project Runway. Sure she's been a fashion editor at Elle magazine (big whoop) and after reading her book - that's all she has working for her. Of all the fashion books I've read - I expected A LOT more from her book. It didn't even meet half my expectations. Sure, she gives great history and great quotes, but that's about it. The only piece of advice you walk away with is fashion is not about being common but about taking risks, and that ladies need to be more confident - confident in buying clothes, confident in dressing which leads to being more confident in themselves. Don't get me wrong I agree with all of that, but I really didn't need a book nor Nina Garcia to tell me that. This was the first time I ever wanted to return a book! I give this book "2 stilettos" - great quotes, but no real depth or fashion advice.Book Review: hum-de-dum
Summary: 1 Stars
I finished this book in a single night. I truly wanted to like it, but I thought it was quite boring. Black pants, white buttoned shirt, $3000 dollar handbag, trenchcoat, black pumps-- all the usual stuff that we've all learned and heard many times over.
The most disappointing for me was her recommendation that every woman should own a fur coat-- then she tries to be snarky and say something to the effect of "OH, SO, SORRY, PETA!", like, the only people who have something against fur coats are PETA. You don't have to be a radical PETA member to have issues with fur and the cruelty that goes hand-in-hand with the fur industry. Anyone with half a conscious realizes this by the year 2008. All except Nina, perhaps.
Anyway, don't bother with this book-- maybe catch it for a quick half-hearted skim at the library or something.
Book Review: Thank you, Nina!
Summary: 5 Stars
Thank you, Nina Garcia, for the Little Black Book of Style! I read it on a plane to Paris. Although Ms. Garcia covers the basics (the science, as it were) that would be very helpful for a young woman or any age woman just coming into herself, she touches upon that ineffable (the art) something, the soul-making, that is one's personal style. The book helped me, an avowed fashionista, to "be more comfortable in my own skin", a piece of advice handed out by many of the designers, models and style mavens queried in the Little Black Book. Reading it while going into Paris could not have been more timely; it helped me select things of quality and beauty; I took notes on the Parisienne's garb and cross-referenced it with the ideas in the book. Thank you again, Nina Garcia, for helping me love style and fashion even more than I did already! Encore!Book Review: Fashion attitude
Summary: 2 Stars
Be your own muse. You're dressing for yourself. That sums up Garcia's advice. She goes over my head and my ability to spend with her many references to the world of haute couture. Her list of 10 basics is worth considering, though: edit, invest in "the bones"--classics such as a trench coat--how many times did she mention that one?!!, buy with drama, the importance of shoes, the power of accessories, a good tailor (my personal favorite), how not to be a fashion victim, it's not about the money--(style is what we're after, not being fashionable), mix it up, and how to be imperfect.
For the most part, though, this book doesn't help me shop smarter. If that sounds a little negative, hey! Her illustrations are really cute. This gal is into high heels. Heels, ladies! Kick up those heels! Just don't wear them to the airport.