Style
October 22, 2010 by admin
Style
- ISBN13: 9780743250672
- Condition: New
- Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
A few lucky women have been born with style — think Diana Vreeland and Jacqueline Onassis — but for most of us, style is something that comes with time and experience. Above all, style begins with a sense of who you are and your self-confidence. Style comes from opening yourself to the world around you — to books and movies, art, music, travel, and especially to other people.
In this upbeat and engaging book, designer Kate Spade talks about the many people and experiences that have inspired her. For Kate, movies as varied as The Swimmer and The Red Balloon have influenced her vision of style, as have such places as Mexico (where she and her husband, Andy, vacation each year), Napa Valley, and her hometown of Kansas City.
In the pages of Style, you’ll find a large section devoted to the colors Kate most loves and suggestions for combining them. Accessories, which are the backbone of her wardrobe, are given full treatment here, including shoes, handbags, hats, gloves, and jewelry; and a portfolio of Kate’s personal favorites from her own closet is showcased. Style in the office, evening style, even ideas for style when you travel and when you play are all featured here. The last section of Style focuses on maintaining your wardrobe, including tips on organizing your closet, caring for vintage clothes, and keeping your jewelry in good condition.
Style, with 230 watercolor illustrations, is a wonderfully personal and friendly book intended for readers of all ages and style temperaments. If there’s one rule Kate espouses, it’s that true style comes when you follow your own rules. Moreover, as the writers William Strunk, Jr., and E. B. White once wrote, “To achieve style, begin by affecting none.”Back in 1993, editor-turned-designer Kate Spade made a splash in the fashion world by turning out a small collection of boxy, utilitarian handbags, each elegantly accented with her name stitched in discreet, lowercase letters. As a result, the simplicity and unabashed refinement of the Spade moniker on those Lilliputian labels has come to define the very foundation on which the designer has since built a fashion empire, one that now, in addition to handbags, includes shoes, clothing, and smart home things, all of which embody the Spade formula of timeless style–a seamless merging of cheerful colors, clean shapes, and well-chosen embellishments. Not bad for a Kansas City-born girl who used to comb vintage stores for fun. Having perfected and expertly marketed her own brand of personal style (one that has famously been counterfeited throughout the world), the designer has emerged with an equally elegant trio of books whose topics Spade has become a virtual authority: Style, Occasions, and Manners.
The packaging, as well as the neatly clipped advice found in Style, is as polished and sunny as the pert designer herself. Spade draws pearls of wisdom from fashion greats like Diana Vreeland and Coco Chanel, and also employs the inspiration of iconic films, books, artists, and design movements. The layout and typography, while vibrant, can be overwhelming at times and her suggestions a bit old-fashioned (“…if you have to wiggle into something, assume it won’t flatter you.”). But Style still stands out as a treasure in itself. From “forever” clothes like full skirts and jewel-neck sweaters to playing around with color combinations and cocktail rings, Spade has captured a place for herself in the modern fashion vernacular. And Style is a suitably chic way to celebrate her arrival. –Christene Barberich
Rating: 
(out of 19 reviews)
List Price: $ 20.00
Price: $ 3.99
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Review by Bookworm for Style
Rating:
This book has a layout more like a magazine than a traditional book- each page has short paragraphs, quotes, lists and pretty watercolor illustrations. Kate Spade discusses different things that have influenced her own style- her favorite movies, fashion icons, artwork, music, etc. She also talks a little about her favorite colors and favorite color combinations. There is some info about accessorizing (imagine that!) and jewelry/clothing care. While this is a cute book, there is not much substance to the book. It was an entertaining one-time-read that can be finished in about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Review by for Style
Rating:
I’m a fashion design student and bought this book hoping to glean some information from it, however, I found nothing worth my while in the entire book. This is basically an inventory of what Kate Spade thinks is great about her own wardrobe and doesn’t tap into any longstanding style concepts. It strikes me as being very self-indulgent on her part. As if we all care what her favorite colors and shoes are. Beyond tittering on about her own wardrobe, she makes mention of a few style standards, but ones we already heard of a million times, like how great Audrey Hepburn’s look is in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.Don’t waste your money on this one!!
Review by for Style
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I agree with the other reviewer. I bought all of the books in this series and am shocked at how much of the advice has been taken from previous authors on these topics. She is copying classics like Emily Post and simply re-wording the text. Except for the cute drawings, this series is a waste of money. If you want to know how to do things “correctly”, read Letitia Baldridge’s “The New Manners For the ’90′s”. It covers everything and is written by a woman with the education and experience to know of which she speaks! Not someone who using her fashion connections to flood the magazines and talk shows with her “discovery” of this information.
Review by Evin for Style
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This cute little book has many useful visual ideas and stylish prompts. Ideal for someone who has no sense of color or fashion. Though this book is a nice resource offering some clever ideas to those of us who have a sense of style. The sizing charts are also practical even though each designer tends to have a different perception of the dimensions of a size six figure.
I enjoyed my first reading of the book and like the watercolor illustrations. Admittedly, I won’t be referring to many of the pages again since I prefer to use this guide for outfit brainstorming. Mrs. Spade does try to get the message across to “Dress by your own rules.” The whole thing reminds me of a book I had as a child titled, “I Spy” with drawings of various household objects and their words. Simple, but entertaining none-the-less. The simplicity of the book jacket is appealing and Kate Spade’s attempt to be the Emily Post of fashion is admirable.
Review by bookgirl for Style
Rating:
I bought this book expecting more fashion tips. There are several useless facts about how Kate finds style in everyday objects. The book was interesting even though it wasn’t what I expected. If you really want a book about fashion and only fashion I would heed the words of other reviews. If you decide to get the book I recommend waiting for the paperback or buying a used version.