Style: Rachel Zoe + Carson Kressley

I’m no fashion savant, but I do like reading pretty fashion books, just to keep myself updated.

Last Christmas, I got two personal style books to give as gifts: Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty, and Everything Glamour by Rachel Zoe with Rose Apodaca, and Off the Cuff: The Guy’s Guide to Looking Good by Carson Kressley. The Rachel Zoe book went to my sister, and the Carson Kressley book to a friend, but of course, before they got wrapped, I could not resist poring into them!

My sister has been dropping hints about Style A to Zoe since last Christmas, so I finally got it for her this year.

Stylist to the stars (as in Kiera Knightley, Lindsey Lohan, Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway, Cameron Diaz, Demi Moore et al) Rachel Zoe shares tips on how to live a glam life — on a non-celebrity budget!

Co-written with Hollywood style reporter Rose Apodaca, the book is a fun and friendly guide to accessorizing, dressing to impress, makeup, travel essentials, and even home and entertaining. Celebrities and fashion bigwigs including Mischa Barton, Joy Bryant, Roberto Cavalli, Valentino, Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway, Salma Hayek, Michael Kors, Margherita Missoni, Donatella Versace, Diane von Furstenberg also have articles in the book.

The best thing about this book is its accessibility — it’s a practical and truly useful guide for the normal person, focusing on creating your own  look rather than harping on things that only A-listers can afford.  I also love that the information is broken down into lots of quick lists, such as:

Five glamour essentials under $50: red lipstick, black eyeliner (always with mascara!), great heels — the higher the better; faux fur shrug (even second hand); and metallic clutch.

Jewelry box basics: diamond studs, real or fake; hoop earrings, preferrably one pair in white metal, another in yellow; a statement-making cocktail ring;  wow earrings; a strand of pearls, real or the best fake you can find; a watch; a simple chain for everyday, ideally with a charm that is personally meaningful; a bracelet, be it a bangle or cuff; a dressy necklace or pair of earrings.

The perfect cocktail look: classic black dress, nude or black patent pumps, great gold cuff or bracelet; perfect red lipstick; fishnets and black tights; an all-season wrap or shrug.

Day-off essentials: a great fitting pair of jeans (preferably in a dark wash); a roomy jersey or cashmere constructed top (a better alternative to a T-shirt, yet just as comfy); a wrap or shift dress in cotton, jersey, or another knit (that can be thrown on as quickly and comfortably as a T-shirt); a tote, hobo, or some other roomy bag; nude or bare lip gloss (for finish even without makeup); rosy cheek tint; an all-season wrap or cardigan (that fits in your tote in case you get chilly); a head scarf (in case hair needs to be pulled back or completely hidden); sunglasses; and glam-on-the-go footwear (flats, boots or wedges).

Must-have cosmetics: concealer, sunblock moisturizer/tinted moisturizer with SPF 15; eyelash curler; two pencils: a dark brown for the eye and another that matches your natural lip tone; lip color: stick or stain, one that matches your natural lip tone; creme blusher; shimmer stick; mascara; a good lip balm with a bit of gloss.

And the best piece of advice from Rachel Zoe (in my opinion): “In all likelihood, you don’t need to go on a diet. You just need a different silhouette and size.”

The illustrations are cute, too, and go perfectly with the conversational tone of the book, but I think the cover doesn’t quite match the content. Elegant yes, but too formal — not to mention boring — for such a fun book.

If Rachel Zoe is like, “Let’s go, gal pal,” Carson Kressley is like “Think of me as your very own fashion fairy godstylist” in Off the Cuff.

I’m a big fan of the Fab Five (and yes, I have a big  –and totally pointless — crush on Kyan Douglas); I even met them at a book signing ages ago! I have a signed copy of the Queer Eye book, even though I’m not a guy, and okay, I confess, I was supposed to give this book as a gift but I’m keeping it for myself  — for reference, in case the future Mr. Sumthinblue that needs it, although I hope he won’t, hahaha!

In Carson’s signature witty repartee, he runs down everything a guy needs to know about dressing up, from footwear to underwear, pants, tops, formalwear, seasonal wear, accessories, and basic grooming.

Carson also puts together some lists of his own:

The Ten Fashion Commandments: Disregard trends; never underestimate the power of details; keep it simple, sassy!; a garment should never be made of more than 25% of an unnatural fiber; experiment with style; never go shopping alone; don’t overdo it; never wear anything sheer; spend within reason;  and cashmere is seasonless.

Ten Must-Have Pairs of Shoes: The black oxford lace-up; the brown wing tip; the loafer; the flip flop; the cowboy boot; the chelsea boot; the classic tennis shoe; the athletic sneaker; the driving moccasin; and the tuxedo shoe.

Underwear not to wear: Banana hammocks; flesh-colored socks; 100% nylon socks; toe socks; women’s hosiery; socks that make noise or light up; chest hair that spills out; big tall tube socks up to your knees.

What jeans should do for you: They should fit and flatter; they should feel like you’ve worn them forever; they should make you feel at your most comfortable; they should give you a nice basket, even if it’s not Easter; they should make you look and feel sexy; they should go with just about everything else in your wardrobe; they should get you laid.

Doesn’t make you gay vs. Makes you gay: Moisturizing — taking an all-male cruise to Latin America; using “product”on your hair — wearing wigs; getting highlights in your hair — giving other people highlights; getting manicures — getting French manicures; waxing your eyebrows — plucking them to “open up your eye”; having facial hair — sporting a mustache, circa 1979 Magnum P.I.

Carson is super funny, but I’m still not sure straight guys (who should be reading this book) will take to this book as naturally as women would Rachel Zoe’s book.  Straight guys will have to work their way into the book (less shock value), but sisters, girl friends, girlfriends, wives, moms, and gay men (I suspect more females bought this book than actual males) will surely enjoy this book and then get to work presto on the men in their lives.

Oh, and I don’t normally enjoy vector art, but the ones in this book are really fab!

These two books are definitely must-haves for the his-and-hers bookshelves!

***

Style A to Zoe, paperback, 5/5 stars

Off the Cuff, paperback, 4/5 stars

Books #187-188 for 2010

top photo courtesy of sxc.hu

[amazonify]::omakase::300:250[/amazonify]