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How to Dress: Secret styling tips from a fashion insider
The perfect book for anyone who wants to know the secrets to always looking stylish with minimal effort. Former Fashion Director at Stylist magazine and a contributor to Glamour, Grazia, Harper's Bazaar and Telegraph Magazine amongst others, Alexandra Fullerton reveals the tips and tricks that fashion insiders use to put their outfits together. Chapters Fashion vs Style, Signature Style, The Essential Items, How to Shop, Your Wardrobe, Secret Styling Tricks and Fashion is Fun. Focusing on fashion essentials, personal style, shopping on the high street and online and investing in designer pieces, Alex reveals all the failsafe formulas involved in always looking your best. Lavishly illustrated by specially commissioned artist Bijou Karman, a fashion illustrator from Los Angeles whose clients Converse, Cinespia, ELLE , Harper's Bazaar and Rihanna. She featured as Urban Outfitters (US) ‘Artist of the Week’ in May 2017, has been profiled by Vanity Fai r (US), Grazia (Germany) and Glamour (Italy) and has 60k followers on Instagram. Alex encourages readers to get to know their style icons alongside streamlining their own style and outlines the central capsule wardrobe which can be edited to suit each individual personal preference. This book will be an indispensable guide to creating your own style and making sure you never look at your wardrobe and think ‘I have nothing to wear’ again.
- GenresNonfictionFashion
160 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2018
64 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 28, 2019
Nothing ground breaking but a very enjoyable read for when you are feeling a little lost sartorially (like I currently do).
The most interesting thing that I am taking away from this book is the idea that we should attempt to buy those items that seem a bit more out of budget and that make us pause to weigh up the purchase instead of saying "oh it's a tenner it will do", as it's likely to be of better quality and if we have felt real emotion (excitement/ that pit in your stomach when you buy it/anticipation) you are likely to take better care of it and to have fully thought the purchase through.
The most interesting thing that I am taking away from this book is the idea that we should attempt to buy those items that seem a bit more out of budget and that make us pause to weigh up the purchase instead of saying "oh it's a tenner it will do", as it's likely to be of better quality and if we have felt real emotion (excitement/ that pit in your stomach when you buy it/anticipation) you are likely to take better care of it and to have fully thought the purchase through.
July 6, 2019
Fun and Useful
Quick reading, full of updated info to have it within reach. I loved this book. British Stylists are much better than americans.
Quick reading, full of updated info to have it within reach. I loved this book. British Stylists are much better than americans.
June 30, 2023
Just mid, a handful of good tips with cute illustrations, but this could have been an article. I think the writer’s tone and style just didn’t click for me.
July 28, 2025
There were a few good tidbits in here about styling and storing clothes, and it made me want to try on and play with my clothes (and buy new clothes lol), but overall this book could've been a magazine article or blog post and wasn't ground breaking enough to warrant being an entire book.
November 13, 2018
This style guide, by fashion editor and professional stylist, Fullerton, is one of the better style guides that I have read. Rather than prescribing one way that women ought to dress and style themselves, Fullerton encourages the reader to find their own personal style and to discover what works for them.
There are still traditional fashion tips, such as 10 key pieces for your wardrobe. Some of her actual rules I disagree with, such as a coat always having to be the same length as the dress or skirt underneath. I'm not sure anyone has time for that! But on the whole Fullerton is much less prescriptive than other guides style guides that I have read.
Although this is geared towards a UK audience, and those in the northern hemisphere, this is still a very useful and nicely illustrated style guide for those seeking inspiration for refining their wardrobes.
There are still traditional fashion tips, such as 10 key pieces for your wardrobe. Some of her actual rules I disagree with, such as a coat always having to be the same length as the dress or skirt underneath. I'm not sure anyone has time for that! But on the whole Fullerton is much less prescriptive than other guides style guides that I have read.
Although this is geared towards a UK audience, and those in the northern hemisphere, this is still a very useful and nicely illustrated style guide for those seeking inspiration for refining their wardrobes.
May 25, 2020
This was not the book for me. I found the tone conceited, and recommendations superficial, championing fast fashion. If the author updates the book I hope they include more images, and ways to incorporate secondhand shopping.
July 16, 2024
I'm so thorough, I read everything when I'm obsessing over a topic/s, which is currently style and organizing, specifically closets. I'm trying to help some family, as well as myself. It's time to finally edit my wardrobe and figure out how I want to present myself.
This book was similar to the other 3 (?) I've read, and I don't believe I picked up anything new. This one was a good mix of how to and informational, but I do think the author inserted her opinions more than in some of the other books. I also disagree with one of her "hard rules," which was, it's better to be underdressed than overdressed. I vehemently disagree. It's much better to come across as snooty, or even a try-hard, than it is to come across as ignorant and naive, or even sloppy and inconsiderate.
I have a couple more style books on my list, but I'm expecting more of the same. We'll see.
This book was similar to the other 3 (?) I've read, and I don't believe I picked up anything new. This one was a good mix of how to and informational, but I do think the author inserted her opinions more than in some of the other books. I also disagree with one of her "hard rules," which was, it's better to be underdressed than overdressed. I vehemently disagree. It's much better to come across as snooty, or even a try-hard, than it is to come across as ignorant and naive, or even sloppy and inconsiderate.
I have a couple more style books on my list, but I'm expecting more of the same. We'll see.
February 20, 2024
Well, this style advice book is quite amusing. She doesn’t believe in fast fashion but she owns 90 pairs of jeans! There’s just one Golden Rule : “Never, ever, ever wear one brand head to toe.” If you do, her magazine cronies will have “many cruel insults” to describe you. I just hope none of them spot me in floor-to-ceiling Marks and Spencer’s. How shameful.
December 9, 2018
I really liked this guide. While a lot of the information I had read in other books, I enjoyed that the author really did a good job of offering personal antidotes. And some of the fashion advice is quite valuable in the long run for developing one's own personal style.
March 11, 2019
If I'd never read a style guide before I would have rated this higher. But I have.
There was nothing new or original in this iteration of a style guide and it's late to the party being published in 2018.
But there is nothing to dislike about it and it covers the usual ground.
There was nothing new or original in this iteration of a style guide and it's late to the party being published in 2018.
But there is nothing to dislike about it and it covers the usual ground.
July 22, 2019
This book don't appropriate for someone who don't have a large number of clothes and their life aren't so colorful.
Anyway, I can learn little tips from this.
Maybe i read it in the wrong time and i will put it in my bookshelf for a couple of years later.
Anyway, I can learn little tips from this.
Maybe i read it in the wrong time and i will put it in my bookshelf for a couple of years later.
March 29, 2020
Good advice for UK readers
This book has good advice on dressing and shopping; however, it is written for the UK. I do appreciate the author admits to having many clothes. This is not a book that demands you throw out all you own.
This book has good advice on dressing and shopping; however, it is written for the UK. I do appreciate the author admits to having many clothes. This is not a book that demands you throw out all you own.
September 1, 2018
A fun read, up to date and relatable. Helpful in defining your own fashion style with ideas for signature pieces to suit your personality.
November 20, 2018
I'd already spent a long time cultivating my own style but this certainly gave a lot of great tips for streamlining and thinking about what my wardrobe means to me going forwards.
December 15, 2018
I love books on fashion
April 10, 2019
Another teeny tiny print book in a faded gray shade that is next to impossible to read. The content was not worth the eye strain.
February 18, 2020
Good ideas - fun to see things differently.
August 16, 2020
Easy read with some handy tips. Suspect this book will date a bit with time, but good right now.
May 9, 2021
Informative and helpful
It was a bit less informative than I had hoped, but still very interesting and helpful. The writing is pleasant.
It was a bit less informative than I had hoped, but still very interesting and helpful. The writing is pleasant.
July 11, 2022
Một số mẹo về thời trang khá hay nhưng chưa có cơ hội để áp dụng
April 23, 2025
a bit too generic for intermediate stylist, might be helpful for beginners.
December 29, 2020
An OK book that overviews most of the right topics. Didn't get as much out of this book as I'd hoped.
May 25, 2020
Toyed with the idea of buying this on two separate trips, but was luckily able to borrow it. I thought the illustrations kept it modern and up-to-date, with some content that is actually pretty unheard of for a style book. The author doesn't prescribe fixed items you must-own-now and she also doesn't slam any way of dressing that is different to hers, which I thought reiterated her point of fashion being a positive thing to others and not frivolous-
' If you can make a difference to the mood of your day, and even better to that of others around you, fashion will have done its job'.
There were enough excercises to make this useful before trying to make my small wardrobe a bit more exciting. The 'three words' concept was particularly helpful (three words that should always describe something, to ensure you actually feel happy in it). Likewise, I wouldn't have considered proportions and how much this can affect how something 'working' for you. Best of all, wearing handmade or independent brands was encouraged throughout the book, showing how working on your style can also be of considerate help to other artists and designers.
However, I did feel a little as though such planning and organisation when shopping and storing outfits could suck the joy out of it. I tend to overthink everything and finished the book feeling like a chore was to be done, but it could just be circumstances that left me feeling like that. As somebody has mentioned below, there was common ground which didn't make for exceptionally different reading.
Regardless, I did come away from this feeling more confident in how to make bold pieces work, and less guilty about taking an interest in it.
' If you can make a difference to the mood of your day, and even better to that of others around you, fashion will have done its job'.
There were enough excercises to make this useful before trying to make my small wardrobe a bit more exciting. The 'three words' concept was particularly helpful (three words that should always describe something, to ensure you actually feel happy in it). Likewise, I wouldn't have considered proportions and how much this can affect how something 'working' for you. Best of all, wearing handmade or independent brands was encouraged throughout the book, showing how working on your style can also be of considerate help to other artists and designers.
However, I did feel a little as though such planning and organisation when shopping and storing outfits could suck the joy out of it. I tend to overthink everything and finished the book feeling like a chore was to be done, but it could just be circumstances that left me feeling like that. As somebody has mentioned below, there was common ground which didn't make for exceptionally different reading.
Regardless, I did come away from this feeling more confident in how to make bold pieces work, and less guilty about taking an interest in it.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews