Looking Into Nina Garcia's Look Book!

It seems that every personality in the fashion world is determined to be a pundit as well. The natural progression from blogger to fashion player, or designer to media personality comes about through the same route: that of a book deal. Either your work is celebrated as a retrospective monograph or your peculiar type of wordsmithing gets the full brand treatment with yet another new series of style rules or advice for the wardrobe-lorn.

As I stand before the style and fashion books in my local bookstore (yes, there is still a real bookstore in my neighborhood!), my mind positively reels. Is it actually possible that the same information can get rehased again and again with a different turn of phrase? Don’t we all know that there are no longer rules when it comes to personal style? Don’t we all know to simply be ourselves, be bold with footwear, and be unafraid to wear white after Labor Day? Is there really anything new to say when it comes to style books?

While I find myself suffering from style mantra exhaustion, there is one notable bright spot in the style library: Nina Garcia. The lovely but tough alter-ego to Michael Kors and Heidi Klum on Project Runway is now on her fourth style book offering, and her formula is a worthy voice from the multitude. (The fact that Garcia’s sexy South American accent seems to come through as one reads the book is just a bonus!) Building on the success of The One Hundred, The Little Black Book of Style, and The Style Strategy, this book goes further, trying to answer every woman's eternal question: "What should I wear?"

Joining forces once again with illustrator Ruben Toledo, Nina Garcia’s Look Book: What to Wear for Every Occasion, is more entertaining than informative, but there are some useful ideas in the work andeach page is indeed a beautifully designed gem. Text, fonts, and illustrations all combine to create a unique layout that is eye-catching and full of momentum. I especially loved Toledo's portrait of Garcia which graces the cover - it truly captures her breezy elegance and style in just a few simple brushstrokes. While the text is a little light on content, it is elegantly presented with absorbing quotes and delightful sectional call-outs; bits such as “Rule Breakers We Love”, “Underneath it All”, and “The Coif The Face” keep things consistent throughout and reorient your reading. Likewise, Toledo’s lush illustrations are always diverting and a complete treat!

Again, while the content isn’t entirely original, I think the way that Garcia has presented it is new and inviting to the genre. Instead of a hard-and-fast list of what to have in one’s wardrobe, the book is organized around particular events and occasions. Everything from “What to Wear to an Important Meeting or Presentation” to “What to Wear to a Black Tie Wedding” are included. I think this is notable because such occasions are always changing and adapting in the modern world and it is nice to get some clear-headed advice on the matter. But more than these usual events, Garcia has incorporated even more non-traditional sections such as “What to Wear When You Work from Home”, “What to Wear on a First Date”, and “What to Wear to Jury Duty” – all moments in life that most people would simply not consider worthy of sartorial importance. Of course, with these there are a few occasions that I’d consider overkill. Is there really much difference between a casual date and a night in watching Netflix? Or how about Rosh Hashanah and a Seder? Is a chapter on “What to Wear for Meeting a Potential Surrogate” really something people will identify with enough to buy a book? I’m not sure. So, while there isn’t too much notable variety between a lot of the chapters, I do applaud Garcia for her clever concept.

Overall, Nina Garcia’s Look Book: What to Wear for Every Occasion is a lovely addition to her series with Ruben Toledo. While the advice within may be a touch repetitive, I enjoyed the unique presentation and nuanced details, especially Toldeo's illustrations which are particularly diverting. Let’s face it, despite the cacophony of style advice out in the bookstores these days, isn’t it nice to hear something useful, especially when presented in a stylish, compelling way? I definitely think so!

Nina Garcia’s Look Book: What to Wear for Every Occasion arrives in stores on Tuesday, August 10^th, 2010.

Disclosure note: This blogger received an advanced review copy of Nina Garcia’s Look Book: What to Wear for Every Occasion from VOICE Publicity, a division of Hyperion Books.