I recently read Lauren Conrad's Style. Although I was initially hesitant, I found that it was helpful and well thought out. It had an extensive collection of both various basics and outfits to try out. The guide also contained a cursory introduction of makeup and hair.
Although I thought the book was extremely helpful, I noticed a very "no" tone which felt rather judgmental and a bit offensive. It should have been more clearly stated that style is yours and you can do whatever you want with it. I admit the job interview outfit was spot-on but the work and school outfits were far to general and cookie cutter. And when talking about potential school outfits there is a judgmental attitude about not making your skirt shorter. As true as it is that making a skirt shorter doesn't always make it better, if one wants to wear a skirt shorter than intended, so be it. Anything article of clothing that makes one happy can contribute to their style. Lauren Conrad also heavily criticizes the kitten heel. Style should not be judged. Do's and Dont's are appreciated but there needs to be balance of advice and criticism. A little more acknowledgement about uniqueness would have been appreciated.
One thing I really found worth reading was how to repair clothing. Finding everything in your perfect size is hard and can be expensive so learning how to fix a hemline and so on is rather important. And that dress you loved? Lauren Conrad gives great DIY methods to keep it lasting longer. My one complaint would be the overemphasis on tailors. Tailors are expensive and not many people can go to a tailor to fix every single garment they buy. But I do admit that every now and then an important events calls for a perfect fit in which a tailor is needed but not for every single pair of jeans.
Speaking of expensive, a lot of the shoes photographed in the book were not easily accessible to the average shopper. As gorgeous as they were too look at, it was disappointing to know that most can't afford to have all of those "basics."
It's one thing to buy clothes but its another thing to keep it organized which I thought was explained perfectly. I hate it when my necklaces get tangled up and earrings that go missing so I am grateful to now learn foolproof ways to make sure that never happens again. Online shopping can be scary but with Lauren Conrad's helpful tips and great starting points it became much easier.
But as great as most of the book was, the hair styles were hardly helpful and that was the part I was most excited to read. Most people don't want to empty half of their hairspray supply for a day at the park. It would have been nicer to have some easy and quick hairstyles that look good but don't use an excessive amount of product.
This book was a absolute lifesaver when it came to looking great in pictures. It had all sorts of versatile ways for posing and smiling. And those who love to travel are bound to find her guide to packing important.
Even though the book would occasionally feel more like an autobiography at times rather than a guide, that's what I liked most about it. It was personal and easy to relate to and filled it beautiful pictures and hilarious yet serious antidotes. It was also encouraging to see her incredible and exciting style evolution.
Overall, Lauren Conrad's Style is a great guide. My only advice would be to take her suggestions with a grain of salt. If you don't want to try something or change something just because it's not "in style" doesn't mean that it will always be so don't worry about deviating from the path that Lauren Conrad gave. It's a guide so read it and cater it to your unique style and personality.
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