Amazon.com
Ideal for the woman who frequently has nothing to wear in the morning (or, rather, has a closetful of clutter but with few coordinating outfits to be salvaged), Chic Simple Women's Wardrobe will prove a sanity saver. It's an organizational consultant in book form, as well as a tool for developing personal style by finding the most flattering fashions and accessories for your lifestyle and personality. How exactly do you fold and tie a scarf? Is it really gauche to wear black to a wedding? Which designers make pants that successfully camouflage wide hips? What's acceptable for "casual day" at work, and what veers too far to the sloppy side? Such fashion conundrums are solved in these inspiring, sumptuously photographed pages. Women's Wardrobe also features helpful guides for deciphering care labels and treating stains, plus etiquette guidance for dressing for events and different locations (job interview in Boston vs. Seattle; daytime vs. nighttime party). Addresses and phone numbers for stores, and mail-order catalogs for everything from nursing bras to cashmere sweaters are included.
Booklist
Women cozy with Ralph Lauren and Ann Taylor labels will probably get more out of this book than those whose tastes and pocketbooks run to J. C. Penney, though all three are mentioned. Still, there are some good, commonsense tips to be had about developing personal style and building a sensible wardrobe that will last for a very long time. The book design is probably more trendy than the advice. In fact, the use of different typefaces, ranging from extra extra large to so small a magnifying glass may be in order, may cause a few difficulties for readers. However, numerous photographs (only seen in galley) will certainly balance things out: they make the book not only great for browsing but also a visual smorgasbord of wardrobe ideas. Add to that some tips on packing for trips, a chapter on clothing jargon, and a selective list for catalog shoppers, and you have a book that may go out of date fairly quickly but won't be a shelf sitter now. Stephanie Zvirin
