I Love Your Style: How to Define and Refine Your Personal Style – An Illustrated Style Bible for Fashionistas and Fashion Inspiration

by Amanda Brooks

The former muse and creative director for designer label Tuleh, and author of the blog "In Her Eyes" for Men′s Vogue, Amanda Brooks is a lifelong fashion chameleon with an unerring eye for the elements of personal style. Smart, glamorous, media-savvy and remarkably practical, Amanda has spent her entire life constructing a unique, eclectic and intimately personal sense of style. With classic roots, bohemian flair, a taste for designer luxuries, and a love for bargains everywhere, Amanda has looked to every imaginable source of fashion inspiration-from high-fashion runways and magazines, to thrift stores and classic movies, to her neighbors in downtown New York and old family photo albums. In I Love Your Style, Amanda helps women of all ages begin to cull through the frighteningly vast world of fashion, from its staid basics to its trendiest moments.

I Love Your Style is a sumptuous full-color look-book and style bible, complete with more than 400 classic and modern photographs, that will both empower and inspire women to dive into the challenge of defining, or refining, their personal style. With fully illustrated chapters, sidebars, shopping lists, and personal stories devoted to a range diverse styles and shopping techniques-Classic, Bohemian, Minimalist, Street, High-Fashion, Cheap Chic, Vintage-Brooks walks readers through every angle of the fashion world, from the basic pieces and accessories that define a style, to the small details, combinations, and adaptations that can make it your own.

With its focus on embracing creativity, personal history, originality, and the freedom to pick and choose aspects from any distinct "style"-and with no "rules," "commandments," or lengthy lists of "don′ts" in sight-I Love Your Style is a must-read for budding fashionistas, or anyone who finds herself frustrated in front of the mirror each morning.

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Self Help, How To, Design, Coffee Table Books, Reference

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Amanda Brooks is the author of I Love Your Style: How to Define and Refine Your Personal Style. She has written for the New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, and Men's Vogue, where she wrote the popular online column "In Her Eyes." The former fashion director of Barney’s New York and creative director of Tuleh, she has appeared as a fashion expert on Today, The Early Show, and National Public Radio. She lives with her husband and two children in Oxfordshire, England.


Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[PoligirlReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book carries the whiff of "I have connections and a vanity press at my disposal," but that shouldn't put you off it. On the contrary, I found the various descriptions of fashion to be a delightful read. Even moreso when the author wasn't talking about herself. Inside, there was a wide variety of looks, and I appreciated that she showed how a particular look was captured over time. For example, images of the Bohemian look span from the early part of the last century up until today. She is an unrepentant fan of fur, and it's nice to see how furs have evolved over time in the fashion industry. At the end of each chapter, there is suggested further reading (both books and websites) which lends some credibility to her research. I especially liked in the back where there's a page on how to pronounce the names of designers. I can imagine that this would save someone from a terribly, terribly awkward conversation: "Oh that Guh-vin-chee (Givenchy)? Yeah yeah, I like their stuff." There is a diversity of images in terms of race/ethnicity, but not in terms of size. Those above say, a size 8 should not look for inspiration here, because you will find no familiar images. Which is a shame because last I checked, people of all sizes and shapes would like to be fashionable. And given the author is friends with Trinny (Of UK What Not To Wear fame), she should have known better.

The biggest hurdle in this book is the author herself. She mistakenly opts for the "jus' folks" approach, commenting on how she felt growing up as middle-class surrounded by rich friends, how she shops when she's between paychecks, etc. The problem is, when Lily Pulitzer designs your mother's bridesmaids gowns, when your father hikes in Gucci, and when those friend you have--yeah, you met them in boarding school-- it's not a particularly convincing portrayal. I don't want to hear you congratulating yourself for wearing "cheap" $20/pair underwear when there are middle class folks trying to find the best deal on a 6-pack of Hanes. It would have read as much more authentic had she just said, "I come from money, but I like a good bargain. Here are my tips," rather than trying to wear the ill-fitting coat of the middle class. Or better yet, she could've avoided discussing herself entirely, and just focused on the fashions.

If you can get over the author, the book itself is quite enjoyable and informative.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a socialite, this guide to personal style has some nice photographs and a general sense of acceptance for any fashion decision that feels right to you.

[Cody · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a fine line between establishing credibility and self glorification. Brooks lands on the wrong side of the line. I did enjoy the wide cross section of stylish women through the years.

[Julia]

I read this at some point, no recollection of the details but I remember liking it and keeping the physical book which my mum subsequently expropriated. I vaguely recall it having more substance than the average style book.

[Victoria Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I Love Your Style: How to Define and Refine Your Personal Style" by Amanda Brooks compelled me so much with its wit and charm it was my constant companion the whole time I read and studied it. Personal and brutally honest, the way Brooks divided each chapter within the categories for "Definable Style," "Indefinable Style" and "Shopping" were aided by her use of archival photos of various celebrities sporting these looks. For the modern interpretations she chose Chloe Sevigny, model Agnyness Deyn and Sofia Coppola, which were appropriate in 2009 when the book was written. Constantly photographed, as style icons, for "Vogue" and other top fashion publications. I liked the way they joined Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O. and Marlene Dietrich for the sections featuring "Classics" and "Minimalism" and "Cheap Chic".
One of my favorite parts of the book, partially because I'm African-American and partially because it was unusual for a fashion and style book to include Blacks so prominently, were the photos and sections featuring Diana Ross, Dorothy Dandridge, Nina Simone, Grace Jones, Tina Turner, Josephine Baker, Angela Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Pharrell, Bob Marley, and "The Fugees". Brooks even included a section on the "Ghetto Fabulous" currently made popular again by the Fox T.V. program "Empire". Motivated by vintage clothing, cutting edge designers and street fashion "I Love Your Style" opened me up to other styles I've never been drawn to previously such as "Classics", especially "pantsuits, tailored trousers, pencil skirts and sheath dresses" and the sparse beauty of "Minalism". Overflowing with gorgeous black and white and color photos the one I enjoyed looking at them most was the 1976 one taken of Jackie O. in a "Grey Gardens" style brown head scarf, over-sized brown shades and a brown trench coat.
Blissfully happy with the amount of information I was able to gather from "I Love Your Style" Amanda Brooks definitely reinforced my passion for fashion and personal style.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A easygoing and lighthearted read about fashion and style and finding your own. There's quite a bit of biography here but I think the point is about using your life and lifestyle to arrive at a style identity that suits you and is about your own personality, rather than slavishly following fashion. There's a section here to suit any style of dresser, and it is pleasingly inspirational. There are no rules here about what you must or must not have in your wardrobe, rather, this read is about encouraging you to experiment and think about how clothes work and how to put them together. I also liked the strong message that you don't have to have lots of money to dress to suit yourself and your personality.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a looker.

This isn't a guide to consumerism. It's an elegant book of rare photographs of famous women of the mid/late 20th century and early 21st century. It's also an inspirational guide to lifestyles and their reflection in clothing.

Peruse this book and consider the experience of living as a Bohemian (flighty, too much of everything). Dig the photos of Jodie Foster c. 1983, wearing school uniforms, torn jeans and riding boots -- or, American Classic. Slick your hair back and render yourself European (severe lady with furs, disco dresses and a kept man).

My style? Minimalist, obviously. Introverted in a black cashmere poncho and Louise Brooks bob.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I was looking for a book to assist me with defining my personal style, but this is not it

While there are some great photos from the 1960s and 1970s that illustrate just how timeless particular bits of fashion can be, I don't know that this is a must have book for styling. Personally, I think any of the What Not to Wear books are more comprehensive, as are the Lucky books. However, this is worth a decent perusal.

[Relyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

UGH. I now pronounce Amanda Brooks the Queen of Self Absorption. ICK!
Yay - she's rich. Yay - she's stylish. Yay - she's so smart and so fab. Yay - she's happy to tell you how wonderful she is.

She's given herself enough applause. She doesn't need any from me.

For a much more thorough, less irritated review than mine, see Phyllis's review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great baseline information about style! Key pieces and statement ideas. Also a deep dive into how others style their favorite pieces. Interesting and a nice switch up with great visuals. Definitely stood the test of time in many areas but would love to read an updated book about style (from someone else). I did not care for her specific opinions and back story.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Más que decirte cómo debes vestirte, Amanda Brooks trata de explicar qué es el estilo y cómo puedes encontrar el tuyo. Me encantó.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, but not useful, unless you're thin and have a lot of disposable income as well as time. It's filled with photos from the past to 2009, so it's a good example of fashion life before social media "influencers."

I enjoyed the Inspiration section at the end of each subsection with its listing of books and films. I scanned these pages because I want to refer back to them as resources pages.

Thankfully, the "classic" subsection was extensive. My style is a blend of classic, minimal, and functional/athletic/casual but always feminine. As much as I would love to wear a faux animal print, it would be limited to accessories.

A huge fault with this book is that it doesn't address fabric or materials or the cut of fabric. Cotton over poly/cotton will always feel and wear better. A cotton tee with a smidge of Lycra will have a more dressy shape. Leather shoes are preferable to shoes made of plastic to look like leather.

One thing she does address is the cost per wear. If I buy a $50 tee shirt and wear it every week for a year, that's less than $1 a wear. If I buy a cheap $10 tee that falls apart after the fifth wash, that's $2 a wear, and now I have to buy another basic white tee. I'm always shocked by how many people don't understand this basic budgeting rule.

Three sections with subsections:

Definable Style
-Classic
-Bohemian
-Minimal

Indefinable Style
-High Fashion
-Street
-Eclectic

Shopping
-Basics
-Cheap Chic
-Designer
-Vintage

While I enjoyed this, and I do recommend this to anyone wanting to learn more about clothing style, it is a book by someone who's lived a privileged life from the beginning. For example, her mother had custom-designed bridesmaid dresses from Lily Pulitzer. I'm old enough to know that this is how the world is, but we are living in a time where those who have had lifelong privilege are being asked to own up to it. Had Amanda Brooks been born to less wealthy and connected parents, it's doubtful she'd know Diane von Furstenberg and receive this book deal.

Pick it up. Enjoy it. Take from it what you want. Peruse other style books, magazines, websites, etc.

The book title is "I <3 Your Style: How to Define and Refine Your Personal Style." Have fun with it. Mix it up. Find out what works for you and be willing to adjust as your body, lifestyle, and interests change.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the style elements of this book a lot: the images, the ideas, and the shopping / fit suggestions especially.

The author herself is a little off-putting, because she never acknowledges the wealthy background and connections that helped her find her role in fashion. She also uses a lot of language that is offensive in 2024 ("wife-beater" as a synonym for tanktop) and which frankly I'm surprised she felt comfortable using in 2009.

I'd love to see a version of this book updated for 2024 that updates the language and ideas mentioned above but that also contextualizes what is now hilariously of-the-2009-moment fashion and addresses more current concerns around sustainability, fast fashion ("cheap chic" is what she calls it, and it didn't sit right with me), and equity.

[Bloodorange · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some decent advice here, not just reminders (I focused on 'classic' and 'minimalist' sections). The 'shopping' part was not very relevant, though.

Intelligent further reading list and movie inspirations were included with each style section; I very much appreciate the numerous photographs, usually very decently attributed, showcasing 'timeless' attires on celebrities from past decades.

[lahari · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute and fun read, definitely re-inspired my love of fashion & overall sense of style. I do wish there were a lot more pictures, especially to make the different style sections feel more balanced. Overall a lovely little book.

[Yuliya · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rich privileged author wrote about how she’s so not privileged and just like any other middle class woman. 🙄I was rolling my eyes through every author’s biographical section. If I didn’t like the examples and some general advice, I’d given this book 1.5 stars, 2 top.

[Lille Knudsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this as a young teenager and it helped me establish a personal framework for design and fashion- which helped me throughout my life in giving myself confidence and direction when it came to personal style. Would recommend.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Page turner of a humble brag (without the humble part). Fun to read and makes one happy not to be employed in the fashion industry

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amanda Brooks has a fabulous Instagram account depicting her idyllic life in the Cotwolds. As the former creative director of Barney’s, she is more than qualified to spout style advice to those seeking expert know-how.
This book, however, is disappointing. It’s just a bunch of photographs illustrating classic style, boho style, street style. In other words, the same ole, same ole.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that this is a different kind of style book, one that is more about creativity and experimentation than most. It doesn't get much into the topics so many style books do, like lists of must-have items and how to dress for your body type. It's more about providing inspiration and sparking creativity through the many photographs included under chapters on Classic Style, Bohemian Style, High Fashion Style, Minimal Style, Street Style, etc.

For me the best advice in the book was the suggestion to create tear sheets or folders with book and magazine pictures that inspire you -- whole outfits, color combinations, textiles, scenes that invoke an era or feeling -- as a way to help you define your style and come up with inspiration for dressing. By continually adding to and editing what you have there, you'll see what your enduring style is, and what things you only like in passing.

If there's one drawback to the book, it's that it's a little too Vogue Magazine/fashion insider-y for my tastes. All the fawning over Kate Moss's and the Olson twins' style was a bit much for me, for instance, since to me they look like hobos half the time. But I guess that's because my style is on the Classic side and not the Bohemian side!

For me this book wasn't as useful as ones by Tim Gunn, Janie Bryant and Nina Garcia, but it was still a fun and inspiring read. It's worth checking out for the photographs, if nothing else.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the title (How to Define and Refine Your Personal Style) I wasn't expecting so much detail into the life of the author- and if you had never heard of Amanda Brooks, this wouldn't be what you expected after you picked it up - (and maybe you wouldn't be so interested in her process, unless you were to see that the point she's making is that it's okay to never "arrive" to one particular category of fashion - although she is listing her chapters into them: Classic, Bohemian, Minimal, etc... Most women are probably a mix of a few or all styles depending on their mood, age, career, or position in life.

After you get used to the magazine format/layout and the very personal narrative (Brooks scatters herself and pictures of her fashion history mixed within fashion icons like Bardot, Twiggy, Kate Moss, etc.) it's a fun read. If you were a young girl embarking on her first style making journey and looking for some serious direction for her wardrobe staple, I would look to Lucky's guide over this one, but still, this had some good fashion references in history that every fashionista would like to recognize.

[Jude · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it's not rocket science but I really enjoyed a 'breather' book - one in which I didn't have to think too deeply. As far as fashion goes, she's good - gives women freedom to be themselves, enjoy fashion and think about their own fashion story. I think some of her premise - whether intentional or not - is essentially encouraging: that high fashion doesn't have to mean buying only designer brands at hyper-inflated prices. So if you're feeding yourself a steady diet of fashion magazines, she helps balance that out. I think she brings some welcomed sanity to the feeling that you're really 'out of it' if you don't own a piece of Chanel or some other exclusive designer. I deeply appreciate her sense of timeless beauty and style. Of course, I always want to take it one step further and connect our love of beautiful things to the fact that we have an innate yearning for heaven and for connection with God - the most Beautiful One of all.

[Meaghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had loads of fun reading this book! It was light, creative, inspirational, and contained many photos of my favourite people (and style icons)--Marianne Faithful, Patti Smith, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Chloe Sevigny, Mick Jagger, Brigitte Bardot, and an entire spread dedicated to KEEF. <3 I brought out my post-it notes and wrote down a whole bunch of ideas and tagged outfits I liked!

That said, this book is rife with questionable passages, including this one: "What does it take to pull off a jumpsuit? A long, thin body and a lot of guts." Not very tasteful. I also disliked when the author spoke poorly about her body, which is the Western feminine ideal. I'm not saying such women--myself included--cannot have and talk about their body image issues; however, a book about fashion (that does not intend to shed light on this topic) should steer clear of self-effacing comments.

[Rozana AlBanawi · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are into fashion and styling then this book is definitely a great help. It talks about different fashion trends, and how to find your own unique sense of style that isn't victimized by the latest fashion trends nor monotonous and stagnant.
I loved the descriptions of each trend such as Bohemian, Classic, Minimal...
It has plenty of pictures and icons from Hollywood and different celebrities from 60's and later on..
A great addition to your home library, that you can refer to whenever you need inspiration or ideas to a new outfit or to an old outfit that needs spicing up.
I found it to work better than Fashion Magazines that only incorporate the month's fashion trends.
Definitely a keeper!

[Odd Catrina]

En algún momento de la vida te topas con una inspiración que te hace entrar en transición o te ayuda a reforzar el estilo que te gusta, desde una película, una foto, algún icono que habite esta tierra igual que tú; experiencias, momentos y esas vivencias que se quedan es de lo que la autora Amanda Brooks, con apoyo de la aclamada diseñadora Dian,e nos cuentan en este libro. Las corrientes de estilo base (clásico, bohemio, minimalista, high fashion, street y ecléctico), cómo hacer un shopping en sus diferentes modalidades (de básicos, bueno-bonito-barato, diseñadores y vintage) con la experiencia de la escritora de por medio y en tono para poder compartir su conocimiento al lector y darle la seguridad para salir en busca de su propio estilo personal. – Ezbaide

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So delightful! Ms. Brooks combines tons of photos of awesomely dressed people from the past and present with her own personal dress history and musings on being stylish, rather than just fashionable.

She has lots of personal experience on the high end of style(served as a 'muse' for the label Tuleh, Lily Pulitzer designed a print specifically for her mom's bridesmaids' dresses). But she is also mindful of the style scores to be found in thrift stores, flea markets and army/navy stores.

I really enjoyed her taxonomy of style and her excellent lists of movies that feature certain types of dress! Really, the whole book is well-designed, original and lovely.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to confess that I didn't read all the text, but the big draw is the photos anyway. There are lots of photos of stylish women throughout the twentieth century, mostly famous (a lot of photos of the author too, which makes sense since it's written in a very personal style). I'd be curious to see how this book ages, since the 2000s photos didn't seem nearly as appealing to me as the older ones.

I'm not sure if this would enable someone with no sense of style at all to define and refine theirs, but I found it an enjoyable browse.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a quick, easy and worthwhile read. I don't think I learned anything new or groundbreaking about style, but it motivated me to go through my closet and really start making an effort to define my own personal style. I liked that the author didn't necessarily go through the dos and don't of fashion but talked more about ways to make your own style work (even if it means making mistakes along the way.) I liked it.

[Nickolette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know why I keep trying when I have already read the best book on style out there, namely Luella's Guide to English Style by Luella Bartley.
Not that this is bad, especially if you know and are into Amanda Brooks. I don't really "love" her style and to me she looks scared in 90% of the pictures. It could have been pleasant to read if she didn't keep apologizing and playing down her privileged lifestyle and instead own it. This however is in the editor's purview.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was just thinking it was time to go shopping, but that I wanted to figure out my own style before I bought random clothing items, and then I came across this book. I found a lot of helpful information in it - I skipped through the personal history/photos of the author, but found the photos and examples really helpful.