InStyle: Secrets of Style: The Complete Guide to Dressing Your Best Every Day

by Lisa Arbetter, Monica Lind (Illustrator)

Since its launch eight years ago, In Style magazine has built a readership more than seven million strong. In doing so, it has become the pre-eminent publication for style-conscious women. The magazine's lively mix of fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and celebrity has created a legion of loyal readers who consider In Style their most trusted fashion advisor. Secrets of Style: In Style's Complete Guide to Dressing Your Best Every Day is the magazine's first book--dedicated to its signature subject, fashion. Secrets of Style offers a full range of timeless advice, including tips on dressing the best for you and your life, developing a personal style, and shopping strategies, beginning with the basics.

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Reference

191 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2003

Reviews

[cynthia Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I inherited this book from a friend who is also the best shopping partner ever. It explains a lot of where she learned her stuff. The key ingredient that you must add to all this knowledge, though, is self-awareness and brutal honesty. My only complaint about the book is the oversimplification that can lead to contradictory recommendations if you happen to be a combination of two of their body type classifications. Anyway, worth a read through and will probably go back to it as a reference in the future.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was published in 2003, so it is mostly full of pictures of celebrities from then. A bit of a walk through memory lane. I was also struck by how the book was giving you tips on how to look your best, where "best" is defined as (mostly) white women who fit a fairly narrow range of sizes and shapes, and they all want to conform to be the ideal white woman. Now with style icons such as Mimi G and many body positivity activists on Instagram or elsewhere, the advice for hiding a "heavy bottom" might be replaced with "flaunt that booty!"

[RebL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book from a give-away pile that passed through my hands. It's good for traditional office attire, mainly. It's not dated advice, but times have changed. I'd love to see a post-Covid, soft-wear, business-athleisure update.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Classic advice. Really enjoyed and will reference for years to come.

[Kaleigh Fields · Rating 4 out of 5]

i actually like the information given in this book. i just think it’s missing a guide to help figure out which categories you fall under in terms of face shape or body shape.

[Malbadeen · Rating 3 out of 5]

"remember when you used to be a business woman"? asks Sarah
"remember when you used to go on shopping sprees at the drop of a hat" asks Megan
And now, as the dust gathers on this book and I sigh at my nearly empty chest of fall clothes, I too am feeling nostalgic for the business woman days (ok, not really but I'm feeling nostalgic for the business woman's income). And I gotta say I still love the book - the photographs of fashion trends come and gone and the icons that created them.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is in my basket of "bathroom books". Unfortunately, I haven't done much to apply the information in this one to my life. I have always had a secret desire to become a glamorous clotheshorse. But, the unfortunate reality is that I spend 99% of my waking hours wearing either hospital scrubs or tennis clothes, so that aspiration has so far been unrealized. But, thanks to this book, one day I will be ready to assume my position in the fashion hall of fame.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, it was organized by article of clothing and then broken out with advice for different body types, but I felt it was lacking when it came to figuring out your body type and when you were trying to triangulate between different advice, for example, being short and having wide shoulders; sometimes there were contradictions and it was a bit confusing. Overall not a huge help in developing a personal style, but good advice on shape, fit, and other basics.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice. Practical...for business women, maybe. Not sure for how long. Another, more casual friendly version of this that I got free from Express was better. Very good and specific points for measuring your clothes. "The sleeve should hit exactly *here*." However, InStyle seems to pick the most dreadful celebrity photos! Who wants to take tips from Nicole Kidman blond, wearing black?

[michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good source for your must-haves and how to dress your best

[Emily Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Secrets Of Style...right now. This book isn't about timeless style so it's not worth the money.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got started on this, but they spent too much time discussing how to disguise flaws, so my attention wandered.

[Les · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shallow and vapid, but that's the point of fashion. This was fun. I'm such a fashion plate (does that make me shallow and vapid?).

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was really advice so much as pictures of beautiful clothes.

[Emily]

Love the "Real Style" column in In Style

I'm forever on a quest to learn how to put outfits together better, layer better, and 'shop my closet'

[Bree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Photos were great, but the tone of the book is that everyone has something that needs "fixing." Not exactly a pick-me-up.

[Shelton TRL]

Great style suggestions for your shape

[Rishika · Rating 3 out of 5]

all right but i wish there were more dresses

[Adrianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book to read. I have an obsession with textures, colors, etc. I learned little but the photography was nice.

[Mariann · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love InStyle magazine you will love this book. Definitely a how to, to develop your style.