AskMen.com Presents The Style Bible: The 11 Rules for Building a Complete and Timeless Wardrobe [Paperback]

James Bassil (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 4, 2007

The Style Bible is an indispensable handbook filled with fundamentals that every man can use to improve his dress sense and lifestyle. Divided into 11 rules, The Style Bible helps you build a versatile wardrobe; coordinate different colors, patterns, and accessories; learn which clothes flatter your body type; and navigate the worlds of shoes, jeans, and watches. You'll also learn how to dress appropriately for any occasion or environment, from meetings at the office to first dates and nights on the town. With instructive illustrations and loads of tips, The Style Bible is essential reading for every man who wants to dress to impress.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James Bassil is the editor-in-chief of AskMen.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (September 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061208507
• ISBN-13: 978-0061208508
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Arts & Photography > Fashion
  • #62 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Beauty & Fashion

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for a recent grad, December 21, 2007

By 

Born skeptic (North Shore Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: AskMen.com Presents The Style Bible: The 11 Rules for Building a Complete and Timeless Wardrobe (Paperback)

If you are a man who has very little experience buying or wearing clothes--maybe your Mom picked your every outfit and your girlfriend lays out your clothes for you before a big night out--this is a great place to start. It is very basic and general. Illustrations are line drawings, text is simple and straightforward. If you do not know what a houdstooth pattern looks like, this is your book.

Most professional men over the age of 35 will already have at least a rudimentary knowledge of shirt collars and know the differences between 2 and 3 button suits. This book will be of little help to them. For such a man (or the woman who is trying to nudge him toward greater fashionability) I would strongly recommend another titleDetails Men's Style Manual: The Ultimate Guide for Making Your Clothes Work for You. I bought these manuals at the same time and infinitely prefer the "Details" one. It is more colorful and easier to read, flowing more like a magazine than book (not surprisingly) but chock-full of information and helpful photos. We all need help in the "what not to wear/what to wear" department, but especially men.

Buy the Details manual. You (or your boyfriend/husband/brother) will actually turn to it for advice and everyone will be happy.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for young men, December 27, 2007

By 

DogSoldier (Baghdad, Iraq) - See all my reviews

This review is from: AskMen.com Presents The Style Bible: The 11 Rules for Building a Complete and Timeless Wardrobe (Paperback)

Bottom line, this is a great book for men...period. I'm a 26 year old army officer who's about to make the transition into the civilian workforce. The only suits i've ever owned are ones that my mom helped me pick out. I've often watched a movie such as Miami Vice and wondered how to put together a killer outfit that you'd see onscreen. After reading this book I feel confident that I could go out and put together some good looking ensembles. Although the suit info is where this volume really shines, it also provides excellent info on everyday clothing, formal wear and even hygiene. It has a great section on matching body types and skin tones to clothing, as well as how to pick a great pair of jeans. In all, this book was very thorough, covering all clothing situations from black tie to gym wear. My only regret is that this book wasn't available when I graduated from high school and college. One should know that the focus of this book not on being "trendy", but rather on putting together a timeless, classic wardrobe that will always be in style. I highly recommend this book to all men, but especially young men growing up, stepping out on their own in life and needing to put together a solid wardrobe.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Only Good for the Uninformed, June 21, 2008

By 

QuadWeaver - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: AskMen.com Presents The Style Bible: The 11 Rules for Building a Complete and Timeless Wardrobe (Paperback)

Having read both this book and Gentleman's guide to grooming and style, I can say that without question the latter is a better book on the subject of classic men's fashion. With that said, AskMen.com's Style Bible is not without value. If your wardrobe and fashion knowledge consist of jeans, t-shirts, and the occasional pair of khaki's that only get worn when absolutely necessary, this book is a reasonable place to start. It is fairly easy to read and written in an informal style. Overall the writing suffers from lack of consistency as it has its origins in questions answered and articles written on the AskMen.com website. Many of the pronouncements about fashion in this book are presented without any supporting evidence or history behind the article of clothing being discussed. As a consequence it makes the book a very quick read since it is light on explanation. If you've already read Roetzel's aforementioned Gentleman's Guide, AskMen.com's Style Bible brings little to the table, although I do find the table of clothing care symbols in the back of the book useful. However, if you find any of the more authoritative books on the subject intimidating, this is a fine place to start. It is better to have read this than to have read nothing at all.