The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style: How to Wear Iconic Looks and Make Them Your Own Reviews

• forget the other fashion guides and buy this

  
  By A3UU9BM9EKOKZQ on 2008-10-09
  I have many of the more recent fashion "how to" type books (US Secrets of Celebrity Style, The Pocket Stylist, Victoria Beckham's That Extra Half Inch, Glamour's Big Book of Do's and Don'ts, Harper's Bazaar Great Style, etc.). What makes this book different is that instead of telling you how to pick a hot designer bag (ugh) or how to dress according to your age, this book explains clothing according to overall iconic styles; ie, American Classic, Euro Chic, bohemian, etc. Each chapter has the "must have" pieces for a particular look, outfits, and people who are interviewed as being representative of that type of style. The whole look and feel of the book is so beautiful and inspiring, I could barely put it down the day after I bought it.
  
  
  
  

• Fun and Informative

  
  By A6A5RI8R9ZZJY on 2008-10-18
  (Rating: 4.5)
  
  A veritable adult picture book for fashion lovers, "The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style" is filled with glossy colorful photos of clothing, accessories and fashion icons. Written by the notable editors of Lucky shopping magazine, this book is the highly anticipated follow up to "The Lucky Shopping Manual" which was released in 2003. The new book takes style to the next level by focusing on ten unique iconic looks and teaching readers how to achieve them. You don't have to be a trendy fashionista to appreciate this book's style advice and helpful hints. Rather, it is a guide that will help you identify which styles you like best as well as aid in achieving the appropriate balance between the different looks. Each section showcases a different `iconic look' along with essential clothing pieces and accessories, Lucky Girl profiles of women who embody the particular look and suggested stores to visit. There is also a mix and match section (modeled by Lucky magazine's staff members - `lucky' them!) that shows you how to combine the looks while remaining true to your own style. In the spirit of the Lucky magazine tradition, the book also offers exclusive discounts and giveaways for its readers in the last few pages.
  
  My only complaint about the book is that it does not provide specific brand information for the clothes and accessories it includes, making it a challenge to find a particular item that one might want to purchase. Granted this book is a style guide and not a catalogue and thus the intentions are not necessarily to sell its contents, I would have still liked for product information to have been included nonetheless. Although I would assume that most of the designer items would be too expensive for the average consumer, myself included, I still think the inclusion of the specific labels would have been beneficial.
  
  This book makes for a really fun addition to anyone's library, even those who consider themselves fashion-challenged (or perhaps, especially those who consider themselves fashion-challenged). It is a great resource that can be pulled out at any time and practically incorporated into one's daily style choices.
  
  The following are the 10 iconic looks featured in the book:
  
  1. Euro Chic (think Catherine Deneuve and silk blouses)
  2. California Casual (think Farah Fawcett and denim cutoffs)
  3. Rock and Roll (think Debbie Harry and leather jackets)
  4. Posh Eclectic (think Helena Christensen and pink ruffled skirts)
  5. Mod (think Twiggy and A-line mini dresses)
  6. American Classic (think Jackie O and the little black dress)
  7. Bombshell (think Marilyn Monroe and fitted pencil skirts)
  8. Arty Slick (think Bjork and asymmetrical tops)
  9. Bohemian (think Stevie Nicks and peasant tops)
  10. Gamine (think Audrey Hepburn and trench coats)
  
  http://bookopolis.blogspot.com
  
  
  

• not my usual kind of book but this is AMAZING

  
  By A1G9VWD3XHKQLM on 2008-10-10
  I don't usually read style-guides but this book is so good. It is clear, visually and textually and I actually stayed up last night thinking about what I already own that I can put together in new ways. It's a really nice, encouraging book that has the same supportive tone of the magazine and the same wealth of ideas. I love this book and am definitely giving it as gifts this X-mas.
  
  

• The Lucky Guide to Mastering your style

  
  By A2YU9G1R586N8K on 2008-10-28
  I am a Lucky fan and the first book was great but this one is boring!!
  All girls are not made like you guys, there is diversity in this world!.
  You generally dress one type of body and style for that body only. Skinny, no curves, no big busts !!. Embrace diversity girls!!
  ( and please do not say you have 1 page in the magazine that features different body types, 1, 1, 1 page only).
  
  
  

• Really Good, BUT...

  
  By AELHJOJ6WT5O9 on 2008-11-15
  This is not so much of a review as a brief rant: I love Lucky Magazine and "The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style..." is an excellent book. However, not everyone in the world is 25 and size 0. Please, please, please throw the rest of us a bone. Why are most of the fashion icons -- who are aging every day just like the rest of us (unless they have already died) -- shown only in the halcyon days of their youth? I can understand showing a photo that shows a clearly defined moment in style, but must all of these moments have occurred under the age of thirty? If I cannot appeal to the fashionistas sense of fair play, I will appeal to their sense of finance. I looked adorable in hopsack at the age of 25, and it was a good thing because I didn't have the finances to purchase much of anything else. I can afford something better now and just where the heck is it?
  
  
• Poor fashion guide
  By A3876X5DR35QJA on 2008-11-25
  Anyone who is thinking of buying this book, would do better to purchase a copy of Lucky Magazine. In fact, you can get a yearly subscription for less than the cost of this book.
  
  This book is basically a extended version of a Lucky mag feature. The thing I found most objectionable about this book was the fact that the "essential pieces" were very trendy. So what are we to do when bubble skirts and booties with cut-outs are no longer in style? Buy another Lucky Guide to Style of course! I was also disgusted that so many of the essential pieces for bombshell style were lingerie. As pretty as silk tap pants are, I bought this book, so that I could figure out what to put OVER my silk tap pants.
  
  There was no real guidance in terms of creating a 'look.' The old adage about teaching a man to fish can be directly applied to this book. Lucky gave us a fish, but after reading this book, I still don't know how to bait my hook.
  
  Nevertheless, I gave this book two stars because at least it tries to address the issue of personal style, instead of insisting that everyone should dress like Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly, like so many other personal style books seem to do.
  
  If Lucky takes another crack at this concept, I think they should focus on the types of shapes and accessories (at various price points) that will create various moods. For example, they could take white shirts and show that type of white shirt a bombshell would wear vs. the white shirt that an eclectic would wear and explain why. I also think having the featured girls for each style was pretty pointless. Why do I care what some random New York shopkeeper or bag maker wears? More useful would have been features adapting each style for the office, for play, for a night out, etc.
  
  Long story short, don't waste you're money. I plan to return this book.
  
  
• More Confusing than Anything Else
  By AW1QWELL728L8 on 2008-11-10
  The first Lucky book, their shopping manual, was very good. It was good enough that I bought this book sight unseen. I wish I hadn't wasted my money on it because this one confuses me more than it helps. The lists of "essential pieces" for each look are long and very specific. I'm left wondering if I need a two-button beige blazer to achieve a certain look. Could I get a three-button brown blazer? Or would that ruin my plan? This guide also seems geared towards the very thin and wealthy, much more so than the manual. I do not recommend this book. At the very least, look at it in a bookstore before purchasing it.
  
  
• Read the magazine instead
  By A1N1MNYALLHOGL on 2008-10-17
  Although there are a few interesting tips in this book, it is not nearly the quality of the previous Lucky book. It seems geared to a young reader and does not offer much depth. There are also some really lazy editorial mistakes. For example, on page 169, a suit is described as a Gucci suit, but in the picture, the label is clearly Dolce&Gabbana. On page 17, wide leg jeans are pictured as Euro Chic jeans, yet in every example of a euro chic icon, they are wearing skinny jeans/pants. Lastly, though you are given some promo codes at the end, credits for actual items shown are missing. Save your money and pass on this one.
  
  
• Question
  By A329LZRMXS4V5S on 2008-10-07
  I just got this book in the mail today and flipped through it at work. I am looking forward to carefully combing through its pages tonight at home. :)
  
  QUESTION: Are the outfits that the 'Lucky Girls' are wearing in each style profile comprised of items that they own from their own closets, and if so, what are the labels for those items? My guess is that the clothing belongs to them, but if so, where did they buy them?
  
  I'm a little disappointed that the book doesn't have quotes from them talking about their outfits and why they chose them, what they like about them, and how those items reflect their style.
  
  
• the only fashion guide you will ever need.
  By A17EEZR9KDCUMS on 2008-10-10
  this could be the only fashion guide you will ever need. there are many styles to choose from and they can all work for everyone. it makes achieving these looks so simple and creates an understanding of each one.
  i recommend not getting stuck on any one of the styles but being open to all of them. this guide simplifies each style so much that it makes you want to try each one
  after following this book you may just be set for life. the styles in this book are timeless and beyond the constant changes of fashion.
  every girl from teen and up should have this guide book.
  
  
• Worth a Look But Seems to Promise More Than It Offers
  By A2VZ72GWQYHLHO on 2008-12-26
  As I grow older I have become so preoccupied with my responsibilities that I do not keep up with the fashions as I used to in my younger years. But I still enjoy this aspect of femininity which makes Lucky magazine and the book compilations so fun. With their famous no frills photography and forthright store and price information captioned below each item, even the busiest woman can take a few moments to glance through and get a sense of the current fashionable offerings.
  
  When Lucky's latest style guide arrived at the library I was quick to check it out. Intrigued by the title "The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style" I was curious - what are the names of the current styles and how are they achieved? I flipped through in an evening and though I especially enjoyed the various beautiful blouses and tops pictured, I have to conclude that the book does not live up to its title.
  
  There is little copy, which is to be expected from Lucky, but with a title calling itself a guide to various styles, I expected a checklist or bullet points of have-to-have items for each type. Instead the authors highlight a few key pieces of each style and then rely primarily on sparsely captioned photos to relay the sense of personality in each mode. If you are already well-versed in current fashions or are a visual person, then you will find this sufficient, but I would have liked a bit more copy. If you are trying to recreate a certain look from scratch you may find yourself still a bit confused as to what is required.
  
  Short articles supposedly giving a well-dressed woman's take on fashion actually came across as thinly veiled promotionals for these young women and their retail or design businesses. All of the featured women were young (so young one wondered how they can afford such expensive clothes so early in their careers,) very slender and were part of the arts and fashion industry. Aren't bankers, lawyers and doctors also fashionable? Or, gasp, maybe even the working class professions such as customer service reps and nurse's aides may sport a few examples of beauty and taste.
  
  The magazine is so fun, as was the previous volume "The Lucky Guide to Style" and this one certainly has terrific photos and provides a pictorial overview of the current looks for you to decide which is your cup of tea. I am still coveting many of the artsy vintage looking blouses and wondering where I can buy them for the right price in my hometown. Lucky broke new ground in their magazine format and with their inclusion of Target, a mass market retailer as one of the stores whose products they sometimes highlight. I hope they continue that tradition by creating more style watch compilations, but this time with a more egalitarian focus such as "Create The Iconic Styles with Items Under $100" or in an area much overlooked by Lucky itself, "Plus Size Fashion That Flatters." Do give this volume a look-see but don't expect to use it as a guide to revamping your wardrobe.
  
  
• A Picture is NOT Worth a 1000 Words
  By A3RK3E860UDJBB on 2008-11-19
  I loved the Lucky Shopping Manual and was extremely excited when they released a new book on style. The Lucky writers take you through 10 iconic looks from Euro Chic to Bohemian and attempt to teach you how to achieve these styles. The pictures are fantastic, and I loved the outfits they created.
  
  However, I felt like they should have described certain aspects of the style more. At the start of each style, you get a small blurb about what they consider the style to be (emphasis on small) before they proceed to telling you what the essential pieces of the look are and how to buy them. I would have liked to have seen more discussion of WHY they chose those pieces as essential to the look.
  
  As other reviewers noted, the looks they create are for young, thin, boyishly shaped women (except for the bombshell section). I could understand not necessarily discussing body types or age if they explained the rationale behind their choices. Then, the reader could take the reasoning behind the look and curtail the pieces to their age, body, and lifestyle. For example, instead of a crisp white button-down in the American Classic section, a busty woman may choose a crisp white wrap top to recreate the look for her figure.
  
  I'd recommend checking the book out from the library and enjoying the visuals. Also, if you examine the outfits they created long enough (sounds bad, I know!), you'll start to understand the idea behind the look and maybe how you can make it work for your life. More descriptions would have been a much better editing choice though!
  
  
• Upper Division Fashion Course
  By AB6LOMWVJJM47 on 2009-01-06
  I pre-ordered this book and waited with baited breath and nibbled fingernails awaiting its arrival as I have nothing but the highest praises for Lucky's Shopping Manual. However, like many reviewers, I too was struck with a moment of disappointment that this book was not as Fashion 101 as their seminal text. Having taken a couple of months with the book, I realized the fundamental difference between the two: The Lucky Shopping Manual is the Introductory Course for newbies, and budding fashionistas. The Lucky Style Manual is more of a 200/300 level course, so if you begin there, you'll be like, "huh?? Wait a minute... did I miss something?"
  
  As an owner of both texts I can appreciate how timeless and Back to Basics the Shopping Manual (1) is and how the Style Guide (2) moves into "Mastery" just as the title suggests.
  
  If you are consistently drawn to fringe and bohemian prints, there is a way to master this look. Chuck Taylors and leather moto jackets? There is a way to master this look as well. If you are a straight up Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Crisp, white, button up girl, then the American Classic section has a robust collection of outfits, accessories, and icons for your perusal.
  
  Lastly, through a careful read of the text, you will come to realize that like most women you aren't just one, monolithic, style ALL the time. Sometimes you want to switch it up, spice it up, or pare it down. What the book provides is OPTIONS for you to do just that and the freedom to be as creative as you want and still be bold, yet stylish. I give it four stars instead of five because the book has to grow on you and it is still growing on me, but it is a great addition to my collection and I HIGHLY recommend that you snag Lucky's first book BEFORE or IN ADDITION TO this one and you'll have all you need to move to the head of the class.
  
  
• Amazing!
  By A2WH830GESNH5H on 2008-11-09
  This book is fantastic, and definitely worth the money. I love how it tells you exactly what you need and how to put it together to recreate the looks shown. Fun, easy, read and great tips for maximizing your wardrobe.
  
  
• real life style
  By AYE4OT7KULSC2 on 2008-11-11
  What I really like about Kim and Andrea and Lucky in general is how they are open to alot of interpretations of style, and they really promote individual expression. What's really funny is that after I spent some time looking at the book when I go shopping I start categorizing all the things....bohemian, CA casual, american classic, and the ubiquitous, what the heck is that?
  
  

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