The Lucky Shopping Manual

by Andrea Linett, Kim France

What to wear, how to buy, where and when to spend: These are the topics covered each month by the exceedingly plugged-in staff of Lucky , whose circulation rocketed from 500,000 to 800,000 in just two short years. For Lucky's devoted fans, and anyone devoted to dressing better and shopping smarter, The Lucky Shopping Manual will be the über-find. Finally, there is a book that does away with the inconsequential information in previous fashion books and presents only the most useful tips and imperative information for how to dress better for less. Filled with tips that will appeal to shopaholics and disciplined bargain hunters alike, this enticing guide is packed with over 1,000 full-color photos and illustrations, with a ribbon marker and flexi-cover so women can take it shopping with them. With great advice on every uniquely designed page, The Lucky Shopping Manual includes features such as:

*Building a wardrobe you love, with cross-referenced sections on everything from skirts, tops, dresses, pants, and    suits, to shoes, bags, belts, and what looks best for your body type
*How to spot great finds at the local flea market or the best boutiques
*What to spend your money on and where you can scrimp
*Cool stores coast-to-coast to check out when you're traveling
*Practical tips for fabric care, shoe maintenance, and stain remedies

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Self Help, Reference, Lifestyle, Personal Development, Coffee Table Books

320 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2003

Reviews

[Ciara · Rating 3 out of 5]

i thought this book was more informative & applicable that the style guide. the idea of a "shopping manual" kind of make the anarcho anti-capitalist in me cringe, but we all need to clothe our naked forms, do we not? & i am no longer a mere wisp of a 20-year-old, able to fit into any garment i stumble across in the local goodwill, indifferent to slings & arrows which accompany whatever bizarre ensemble i cobble together. i have to admit, i am really attracted to books that are like guides on how to do stuff for which you wouldn't think you'd really need instruction. this book goes through every piece of clothing that may be in a lady's wardrobe, from swimsuit cover-ups to business suits, & explains what the different fashion terminology is (handkerchief hem, scoop neck versus boat neck, etc), how to make sure the fit is correct, & what kinds of cuts & styles flatter different kinds of bodies & how an inappropriate fit can render an otherwise charming garment monstrous. it includes info on how different materials drape & lie so you know what to expect from a well-made item in the changing room, & what to leave on the racks, even if it's totally your style & in a great color. it also offers tips on what kinds of items are worth paying a little extra for, & which ones you should get on the cheap. certainly not all of it is going to be applicable to every woman--i doubt i will ever need a suit of any variety, but at least now i have some idea of what kind of cut might most flatter my body shape, & what trendy embellishments aren't worth the added expense. there is also information on how to care for clothes & get the most use out of them once you have them home, how to combine different wardrobe staples to make them appropriate for various climates & events, & tons of info on how to check the fit in dressing rooms. the authors repeatedly tell the reader to ignore the sizes & to feel free to go up or down a size to get the best fit--don't get so hung up on fitting into a size 8 that you end up looking like a sausage casing. if you have to wear a 10, it's really not a big deal. at the end of the day, what matters is that you look comfortable & put together. this is practical advice that i admit i have thrown out the window when i didn't want to acknowledge that i couldn't really fit into the only 31 waist jeans in the shop. at least not if i hoped to ever sit down in them.

they also offer detailed info on what you might need to have a fully stocked wardrobe full of functional, well-fitted clothes that can all be worn together. again, not all of this is applicable across the board. i probably need a few more pairs of jeans than the average woman my age, because i hardly wear anything except jeans. i can probably skip any clothes that are specifically geared to office settings & stock up on casual sweaters & sneakers. but having recently looked into my dresser & realizing that i have about thirty different t-shirts, many in such a state of wear that they are practically sheer, & absolutely no buttons-downs or other tops with necklines actually flattering to my age & shape...i was definitely in the mood to have some manual tell me how to rectify the problem.

there also a section on going through your current wardrobe & making difficult decisions about what stays & what goes. i know i have a ludicrous hot pink vintage dress hanging in my closet right now that's about four sizes too big, but i bought it because i loved the color & the beaded detail & the length & who cares if i makes me look like an ice skating hippopotamus? (dropped waists aren't really a good look for large-busted ladies.) i wore it exactly twice & i doubt i will ever wear it again, but have been reluctant to get rid of it before i "get more use" out of it...even though i know i never will! & i've been holding back on buying a replacement party dress that actually looks good on me because i have this pink monstrosity hanging in the closet. perhaps this book will finally enable me to close the chapter on the ludicrous pink dress & get on with my life.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I finally have a textbook I've needed all my life. If you are one of those women who, like me, has never understood the subtleties of what shirts to wear with what pants and which shoes...or what cuts or colors are flattering...or basically just how to get dressed and look like a grown up...then this is the book for you. And even though it was put together by a shopping magazine, I was profoundly impressed that (1) no product or brand promotions are made in the book, and (2) rather than encouraging you to buy MORE, this book is actually aimed at people who have too much in the closet, and it gives guidelines for how to pare down and only keep the most flattering, time-tested clothing.
My beloved sister found this book first, and very helpfully made spreadsheets to use when taking closet inventory and planning for future purchases. I will be the biggest nerd in the clothing store this fall--no doubt with an actual shopping list and possibly with this manual in tow--but by golly, I'll finally know what I'm looking for and maybe by spring I'll actually know how to dress myself properly. (Here's hoping!)

[Lo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I intent no snark when I say this book should be called "the Lazy Shopping Manual: Building and Improving Your Wardrobe Piece by Piece". It is quite comprehesive and funny, but damn, like weed it does lull you into laziness. All the greatest hits are there: A-line skirts for everyone, V-necks for busty broads, classic white button down for no fail chic and of course, Bootcut jeans make the world go round.

What I crave from a fashion guide besides what I already know is something unexpected like, The bigger the tits, the bigger the bag needs to be. But it's not there! (BTW, big boobs/big purse is my fashion battle cry, along with suck it in only when you go to the gym.)

If you're like me (if you're appropriately medicated you're probably not) you don't want to be told how to be effortlessly chic. You want to work hard, pull yourself up by your gladiator sandals, choke the competition with your endless strands of faux pearls and use your dark chic nails to claw yourself to the top of the fashion summit.

It ain't gonna happen utilizing this book.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazingly, even though this book is 13 years old, I would wear most of what's in it! The book helped me decide to get rid of a few things from my closet- so I can recommend it!

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good tips, but style is a bit out of date

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lucky Shopping Manual is basically a better-than-best-of collection of all the advice that's ever been in Lucky magazine, plus more.

Divided into sections by clothing style, the book is filled with illustrations demonstrating how to determine whether an item really fits you (in jeans, watching for bunching fabric in the rise, no matter how well it fits elsewhere), which silhouette will achieve which goal (flutter sleeves will hide sloped shoulders), pitfalls to watch out for (how to match shoes to skirt length to avoid looking like a streetwalker OR a nun) and so on. Another great feature is the photo essay in each section showing one item six ways or three items matched with different pieces to create totally different looks. I also really love the list element that details exactly how many of each item you should own to have a full wardrobe -- it's really not that much! (For example, three pairs of jeans. That's it! One for heels, one for flats, and one for painting. Nothing else needed!)

If you're a fan of shows like What Not to Wear or are building or re-building a wardrobe, The Lucky Shopping Manual is a classic and solid starting point.

[Renitta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always had a love of fashion, but struggled with defining my personal style. This is the sole reason why I still pick up books on building one's wardrobe long after I stopped poring over fashion magazines.

The Lucky Shopping Manual does exactly what it promises. It walks you through building an adult wardrobe. I agree that the "advice" regarding the best pieces for different body types is nothing new. If you're looking for a book to tell you that wearing a strappy sandal with a capri pant will make your legs look longer, I'm sure the internet is for you. This book is not. If you find yourself trying to transition from academia to a professional environment and just want ideas for the basics to build up your closet, I definitely recommend this book.

Unlike many others of its type, the book goes the extra step. It devotes a few pages to bags, shoes, lingerie, and even swimwear. Admittedly, some of the recommendations are dated and others are impractical, but the basic idea holds up to the years. Many of the stores listed in the index have moved or closed, but again - the basic idea is still accurate.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and informative. It's not going to rock your world, but it does cover the basics nicely and it serves as a good reminder of how to dress like an adult. The layout is fun and pictures creatively shot. As a result, it has that same guilty-pleasure feeling as watching an episode of "What Not to Wear" or the like.

It was useful to me right out of college, when I was shifting out a wardrobe that had two phases: "Pajamas to class" or "Nubile and underage trying to get into a bar." I appreciated that it didn't foist specific and expensive suggestions (that's what the magazine is for), and kept it high level and comparatively timeless.

Don't get too literal with this--just use it as a guideline. Yes, if you are super lazy with laundry, the number of pair of underwear they suggest is on the low side. Yes, if you live in an extremely cold place, get waterproof boots. Yes, if you have specific lifestyle, this might be too general. But it's just a starting point, and a fun one at that.

[Deirdre · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I was quite enthuastic about this book, and it does have some very good points about creating a useful wardrobe, and the authors do point out in their introduction that you should take what they say with a pinch of salt and use your own discression, but it lost me with the shoes. All the shoes are quite fancy and really nothing I'd wear on a regular basis. While they did suggest snuggly coats they didn't mention that a pair of waterproof hiking/walking boots are an essential for winter.

It's the kind of book that I'd hand to a friend who was thinking about a wardrobe clean out or a young woman starting out but the styles and ideas are American biased, which doesn't always work as well in Ireland or England, where the office culture is subitly different. More 3.5* rather than 3* but not quite 4*

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subtitle of this book is "Building and Improving your Wardrobe Piece by Piece," and that is precisely how this book is organized. Each chapter focuses on one piece of clothing like sweaters, jeans, skirts or jackets. The illustrations are fantastic. They give advice on how to pick out the right fit for your body type. They show how varying a length or changing a shoe choice can make a huge difference in how your overall ensemble will appear. There are also many pictures where they'll pick a piece of clothing and show how to wear it for different effects (work, evening, weekend). Since this book has so many illustrations and pictures, it's a quick read. However, I reference this book a great deal. I don't buy many fashion books since trends change so quickly. I'm glad I purchased this one because every time I flip through it, I think of a new way to put together an outfit.

[Bg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I'm not a fan of spending money on magazine subscriptions, I still found Lucky's Shopping Manual a enjoyable refresher on the shopping essentials that all fashion lovers (like myself) and clueless shoppers should read on occasion. This book, like any other book on fashion, talks about proportions; not following trends unless they flatter you; and so forth. As Fashion is a long time love with me, I still found this book fun to read and found myself wanting to by some of the pieces they used as examples. Nevertheless, if your restarting your or just want a refresher crash course in sensible shopping, this is a good book to start with. If you're a hardcore fashion fan, then this dumb might seem a little dumbed down. Still, I liked it.

[Denise · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such a neat idea, but so terribly done. I just want to poach the idea wholesale and do it all over to make it right.

The authors focused entirely on style, cut, and fit of items, with no discussion of markers of quality (seams, zippers, etc.), which is very strange. More of a style manual than a shopping one.

Bra fitting section is so bad the book should be recalled. A whopping +5" on your underbust (ribcage) measurement to get your band size??? Plus having you measure around each breast (from sternum outside edge of breast) to find cup size, something I have never seen before. (Most people just take your overbust.) According to that I'm a 36G (UK), I'm actually a 32FF (UK). Not even Victoria's Secret sizes you that badly.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't really "read" this book, but refer to it when you're trying to figure out what to wear. I resisted even looking at this book for ages, but finally borrowed it from the library, just to see what it was all about. It's soooo helpful.

I bought it recently and plan to buy the new companion that just came out.

I've had a few hits and a lot of misses in my wardrobe over the years, and this book gives advice on how to avoid the misses with subtle changes in pieces. You wouldn't think that something as simple as a lower or higher heel, 1/2 off a hem, or even a cap sleeve T would make a difference. But it does!

[mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of people have complained about the simplicity of this book but that’s what made it incredibly helpful and easy to get yourself started.

[Clare · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fairly simple pictures-more-than-words book which gives readers suggestions for dressing better. There are hundreds of suggestions for how to combine outfits with appropriate accessories and how to build a wardrobe so that you have the right outfit for nearly any event. This is geared to the younger reader but I enjoyed perusing the pictures and thinking of ways I could use my own wardrobe and accessories to look the way I want to. This is a great book for someone just starting out in a career.

[Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the one book that as soon as I bought it, ALL of my close girlfriends borrowed it. This completely changed the way I dress-as if I had been on Tim Gunn's show without the national humiliation! This is one book that I buy now as a standard for all graduating females as they enter the world. The biggest asset of this book are all the "Wear it now, Wear it later" sections that show you step by step how to wear what you thought was a "summer piece" in the winter and visa-versa. A staple on your bedroom bookshelf.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that I often reference when giving advice on clothes. It has practical, easy to understand charts that convey principles and ideas that can enhance a woman's wardrobe. Even though it may be old in the fashion worlds here today, gone tomorrow trends, it still nonetheless contains timeless principles that can be applied to todays modern woman. Although there are a few of the ideas I don't necessarily agree with in a conceptual sense, I do consider this book as a nice starting blueprint to being frugal and chic.

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good concepts: what shapes of clothing work best with your body shape, how the line of shoes affect an outfit's look, and ways to wear the same pieces year-round.

I felt like some of the pieces were a little dated (especially the tops), and the shoes seemed highly impractical. (I also prefer flats in every situation, even though I don't even top 5'--take my shoe advice as you will.)

Nice ideas with excellent case studies of different designers/women, but I'm glad I borrowed this book instead of owning it.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trying to revise my "boho shlumpy" clothing style, I found this at the library and ended up reading it cover to cover. I love the way it was organized, I loved all the pictures, and I loved the "one wrong move" advice at each chapter that points out little details to watch for so that you don't end up too girly or too country or whatever it is ("one wrong move and you're Rizzo from Grease"). Very helpful and fun to read also.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great -- a very helpful resource in putting together a wardrobe. It gives sound advice on what types of clothes (divided into categories) look best on which body type, and it also tells you how many and what type of each item you should have for a well-rounded wardrobe. I wish it had provided information about selecting which colors would look best on a person, based on skin tone, hair color, and eye color.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly, I like this book! It's more of a "how-to", and I appreciate that, since the women in my family aren't very fashion....worried, shall we say? I like to be ecclectic, and since my body is sometimes hard to dress, I like how they just tell you: this works well for this type, etc...here are the photos. Plus there is a section in the back that mixes the styles presented in the beginning, which is wonderful.

Pair this with The Sartorialist, and have fun!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great reference manual that helps you create a style as opposed to force you into a trendy box.

Favorite bits: They give you a list of what you should have to be minimally covered in your wardrobe and helpful dressing room tips.

Negative bits: No sneakers in their shoe section. I feel like they had a "gym and pajamas" version which was the catch all for casual. I think casual can still be stylish and I, personally, would like to know more about those pieces.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you've been dressing your gorgeous self long enough to know what cuts flatter your figure (from tees, to jeans, to dress pants & dresses), there's not much here for you.
However, if you're brand-spankin'-new to the fashion world without a clue where to start (i could see a younger college student getting ready to start an office job LOVING this book), this is exactly what you need.

Quick to read, beautifully laid out & easy to skim, it's a cute book but not what I needed.

[Hero · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great for any ladies who want to build a flattering and functional wardrobe but don't know where to start. How many skirts do you really need? Do you know the difference between a boatneck and a crewneck? Can an outfit go from "serious work" to "playful night on the town" in just two accessories? My only complaints are stylistic...and panties. A girl can't live on 7 pairs of panties! That's just sad.

[Dori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just a fun little guide to building and creatively wearing your wardrobe--it covers clothes and accessories of all kinds. I really liked the suggested clothing/accessories combos that they put together on almost every page; they gave me good ideas to build from, using pieces I already have.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fun and informative book to read. This book is divided by the articles of clothing, and it's great for people who are always buying clothes but feel like they're always missing that one piece from their closet. Lots of lovely photos and useful tips on how to find the buy the right pieces for your wardrobe and body shape, great book!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

You want to know why I love this book? Because fashion retards (like me) have PICTURES to look at.
I hate someone telling me all I need is a clutch and I'll be set. What the hell is a clutch?! A tiny purse?! Show me a picture!
Thank you Lucky Shopping Manual, your timeless suggestions have improved my wardrobe.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It serves as a great basic wardrobe building guide. The photos show how you can style basics staples in different ways. However, it is geared more towards mainstream fashion so if you are looking for a specific style this isn't going to necessarily fit the bill. I would recommend using it to get some styling ideas in those situations as it looks at how clothes fit the body as well.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad little book.The publish date is 2003, so it's a little dated but not horribly so. It gives recommendations based on body shape, which I like (especially bath suits). I have yet to try out their recommendations out since it's still too cold out to even think about that lol. I will update my review when I have tried out their recommendations.

[Rachael · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was published years ago and most of the advice is just too outdated to rely on.

The things that are helpful are the very specific advice on what to do in the change room to make sure that clothing fits correctly and what To look for before you even get to the change room.

As good as that advice is I would consider finding a more up to date book which is similar in nature.