cover image The Pocket Stylist: Behind-The-Scenes Expertise from a Fashion Pro on Creating Your Own Unique Look

The Pocket Stylist: Behind-The-Scenes Expertise from a Fashion Pro on Creating Your Own Unique Look

Kendall Farr. Gotham Books, $20 (197pp) ISBN 978-1-59240-041-6

With its text-heavy layout and somewhat confusing""body type"" divisions, this fashion guidebook is somewhat more complicated than many of the other style books on the market. Dedicated readers, however, will learn a lot from Farr, a former fashion editor who's written for InStyle, People, Harper's Bazaar and other publications. Drawing upon her years of experience as a personal stylist, Farr teaches readers what to look for and what to avoid when clothes shopping, how to evaluate their wardrobes and why certain heel heights and shapes work better for different body types. She also gives tips on finding a good tailor, measuring bra size, wearing makeup and accessorizing. Farr is funny, down to earth and savvy, and her guide exudes authority and experience. Although involved, it is comprehensive and trend-resistant, meant to help women of any shape and size find clothes that flatter no matter what the runway season suggests.