-How You How To-

So, I've found myself in those post-college years where that weird little transition happens from the last of my teenage refuse and into the Big Girl World. Unfortunately, I've found myself struggling in a few places on how to exactly wade through my current wardrobe, discard what just doesn't work anymore and polish up what does.

The Big Scary of this for me is when comes it to looking like an adult without loosing all the stuff I still love.

Not really the most unique of dilemmas, but it's one most of us are going to run into at some point. Nobody wants to loose themselves in the process.

This is when the style guides can make a big difference. My fashion wife,Jessie, swears by The Lucky Guides:


I've been meaning to buy these for a long while now. I'm addicted to the magazine that inspired it and soak it up the second it shows up in the mail. Word is these two guides are pretty spectacular when it comes to breaking down the basics of fashion and explaining things like silhouettes and layering.

Most people who dig fashion are more than familiar with Nina Garcia if only because of the slavish devotion people develop when it comes to Project Runway. However, the Marie Claire fashion director has made a name for herself with a three fashion guides- The Little Black Book of Fashion, The Style Strategy and The One Hundred::


All of Garcia's books tend to have a pretty good response and The One Hundred is an itemized look at the key components to a strong wardrobe.

I was actually a little iffy on whether to get this next one. It's Lauren Conrad's Style. The Hills and all those shows came after my time and honestly confused the hell out of me. I went to high school in Boca Raton, which can be pretty posh and alienating to the kids that were more interested in avoiding interaction and hiding behind building during lunch to read books.

However, it was on sale at Target the other day, and seeing as how Monster High has yet to release a Ghoulia doll into their collection, I spent my $13 on this instead:


Conrad's puns and asides can be a little cornball, but the advice is the sound mom-ish stuff we have all heard along the way, like "dressing for the job you want, not the job you have", that sort of thing. And there's nothing wrong with that. The book also touches base on hair and makeup as well as a fairly useful strategy for packing to travel.

Love her or hate her, Rachel Zoe is a ridiculous character. That's pretty much what I love about her. JP constantly replies to our swapping of clothing links with "I die." and then I pretty much die laughing in response. Personally, I love the boho 70's look Zoe lauds. I just like it with a bit more edge to it. But still, it's something that makes me nostalgic for the family pictures I see of my mother and young grandmother. And of course, she has her own guide- Style A to Zoe:


By most accounts, the book is mostly pictures of Zoe and her entourage with a smidge of actual advice. And to be honest, sometimes pictures are more helpful than a blow by blow of exactly what to wear since it shows how to wear it. I haven't had a chance to get this one yet, but I intend to soon.

The important thing to remember though is no guide is going to tell you how to dress and still feel like yourself. You have to be the one to do that, but the guides can be helpful in pointing you in the right direction and that's exactly how they should be used.

Just like with art, the best way to develop style is to pay close attention to the stuff you like and go from there. Incorporate what you can with what you have and eventually the look is going to be completely you and unique.