Friday, October 17, 2008 Fashion that works By Arrah Camillia R. Quistadio
NOT to be vainglorious, but I’ve been getting compliments recently on how some colors flatter me. One weekend, I wore a simple, red shirt to work. Another time, I put on a brown silk dress. On both instances, I received good remarks from officemates.
I just smiled inwardly. At the back of my mind, I wondered how they would react if they found out I was just following tips I learned from a book.
Reading In Style Instant Style: Your Season-by-Season Guide for Work and Weekend, was like enrolling in Fashion 101.
Since it’s from the editors of In Style magazine, I thought the book would champion all things hip and trendy. But it’s about discovering personal style, one that flaunts your assets and disguises your liabilities.
The book starts off by helping readers be aware of what clothes look good on what body types, skin colors and age ranges.
It then segues into how to edit your wardrobe and shop for key pieces for fall/winter and spring/summer. The last few chapters tackle a mish-mash of topics like accessories, lingerie, traveling in style and shopping tips.
Photos make up a huge chunk of the book. There are snapshots of celebrities cited as examples of how to pull off certain looks. Still shots of clothes, bags and shoes are categorized by season, with do’s and dont’s in wearing them. Fashion being visual, this works in favor of the book. Had it been text-heavy, it would be a bore.
With numerous outfits put together by the editors, you’re covered whether going to work, a party or the beach. They even threw in a shopping essentials checklist and a wardrobe workbook to complete readers’ fashion school education.
I finished the book in two or three days, mainly because I felt I was reading a magazine instead of a book. Next, I cleaned out my closet, weeding out items in conflict with the new things I’ve learned.
Conscious of my morena coloring, I heeded author Kathleen Fifield’s advice and now gravitate towards warm colors, steering clear of pastels which she says make earthy skin look sallow.
I was hoping to read more than the 191 pages the book had, considering its hefty price tag. But I find consolation in browsing over the glossy, colored pages again and again, which I seem to never tire of.
Other than that, I’m happy to have a trusty map as I journey into fashion.
