Customer Reviews
Great gift idea 
2007-12-11
What a great gift idea for a recent college grad entering the job market or a teenager ready for a little more sophistication! (Not to mention those of us finally just getting around to using makeup and dressing better.)
This basic guide to style is clearly written, with instructions simplified into lists, and cleanly illustrated. The suggestions are up-to-the-minute without being over-the-top outrageous -- in other words, a how-to style guide that's actually useful. Highly recommended.
Good, but could have been better..... 
2007-10-24
I really wanted to love this book. I had it on my wish list since I heard of it and, as a fan of InStyle Magazine, I had high expectations.
Pluses:
1 - Over 190 pages of content
2 - Covers several topics at one time: fashion, beauty, home and entertaining.
3 - Color photos
4 - Loads of tips and ideas at one time (e.g. how to walk in high heels, selecting the best jeans and white shirts, decorating tips, party planning tips)
Minuses:
1 - Organization. The "beauty" topics are not in one chapter/section or the "fashion" topics are not in one chapter/section. Rather, you have to flip back and forth to see all the fashion topics because topics are mixed together. Example: you'll have a fashion tip on 2 pages, then make-up tips on the next 2, then decorating on the next 2, etc. As such, if you interested in looking up all fashion tips, you have to flip through the book or search for it on the Table of Contents page. Very frustrating.
2 - Tips are usually just one page then there is a picture on the other. You never get much detail. For example, the tips for finding the perfect sunglasses are covered in 2 pages. The tips are covered in about 5-6 sentences (no pictures of the various facial shapes or sunglass styles for those of us who like 'visuals') on one page, and a photo of a mishmash of sunglasses (like you would see in an ad) on another page.
3 - Not as comprehensive as I expected. Lots of the info here are tips I have gleaned from reading fashion magazines. If you already have other style/fashion books or read fashion magazines regularly, you find that you already know a lot of what is in this book.
Style 101 would be perfect for the fashion/entertaining/make-up novice. It would be a great gift for a young female friend/relative, a new college graduate or a friend who wants a big 'tip' idea book that focuses more on quantity rather than quality.
Again, I really wish the InStyle folks gave us more depth and detail in this book, like they usually do when providing tips in their magazine. I think they suffer from trying to cover too much at one time, which means that this book is far from comprehensive.
If you want more comprehensive fashion/entertaining tips/advice, subscribe to InStyle magazine or pick up a copy of the "Handbook of Style - Expert Fashion and Beauty Advice Every Woman Should Know" (not as many 'tips' but it is far more comprehensive in covering the select topics). If your focus is mostly fashion, go for "The Pocket Stylist," "How to be a Budget Fashionista" or other style/fashion books out there. Otherwise, if you prefer quantity over quality, then this would be the ideal book for you.
Great Style 2008-06-27
I loved this book. It's packed full of very useful information and I love the way it's laid out. You can learn everything you need to know about style all in one place. Since there are no specific chapters it makes it more interesting and you'll never know what you're going to get next. All the information was really well written and intriguing. Great size, cute pictures, and so easy to read.
Good Book 2008-06-02
I purchased this book for my 21 year old daughter. It is perfect for her as she begins her post-college life. She enjoyed the book, the ideas and suggestions.
A Variety Of Useful Tips and Tricks 2008-03-31
This book has a little something of everything: from how to walk in high heels, to how to get the perfect manicure, to how to set up the perfect bar for your next party. And nobody knows style like the editors of In Style, and this book holds up to the ultra high standards we have come to expect from them.
A Beginner's Manual 
2008-02-24
I found this book while loitering in a gift shop & read it in about an hour. It's not terribly useful for a 40 plus woman. It's a better book for women just forming their identity. If you have established taste, have been reading magazines & fashion/ beauty books for a while, this book will not offer you any new information. It is attractively presented & illustrated, if a bit random in its organization. The only information that was new to me was what should be in a bar.Otherwise, how to buy jeans, suits, black pants, lipsticks & sheets is second nature to a lot of women. Granted, I plan on giving this to my teenage daughter, as SHE doesn't know yet things like how to find & use a tailor, pour wine or decide how much to spend on a coat yet.
Great gift idea 2007-12-11
What a great gift idea for a recent college grad entering the job market or a teenager ready for a little more sophistication! (Not to mention those of us finally just getting around to using makeup and dressing better.)
This basic guide to style is clearly written, with instructions simplified into lists, and cleanly illustrated. The suggestions are up-to-the-minute without being over-the-top outrageous -- in other words, a how-to style guide that's actually useful. Highly recommended.
