How to Have Style [Paperback]

Isaac Mizrahi (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 7, 2008

The king of real-world chic shares his tips and award-winning flair in a colorful guidebook designed to unleash every woman’s inner fashionista.

A twenty-year veteran of the fashion industry, Isaac Mizrahi has become a unique icon in the world of style. He doesn’t do “makeovers” or take pleasure in berating the way a woman dresses. Instead, he is a problem solver—and a titan of trendsetting who believes that fashion should be seriously fun. Showcasing his singular approach to looking great, How to Have Style begins with the premise that all women should wear what inspires them. Using twelve real women facing real wardrobe dilemmas, Mizrahi walks readers through the fundamentals of finding a personal style that reflects their authentic selves. Other features include:

• A personal fashion questionnaire and how to create an inspiration board that unlocks the secrets to individual style
• Hundreds of fashion tips on everything from clothes and accessories to expert advice on skin care and makeup to mixing patterns and wearing color
• How to become a collector instead of just a shopper

Dubbed a “one-man brand” by BusinessWeek, Mizrahi shares his style rules on everything from boots to bags, from skirt length to the right undergarments. With more than 400 dazzling photographs as well as Mizrahi’s own sketches, How to Have Style makes it simple to look your best.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Clothing designer Mizrahi, current creative director for Liz Claiborne and a semi-regular television personality, presents a complete style guide in 12 case studies, meant to address attitudes and budgets as well as size, shape and age. Looking at twelve women stuck in a fashion rut, Mizrahi tailors his approach to the specific needs of each ("When Traveling on Business," "Reinvent Yourself," "Be Funny and Sexy," "Wake up from a Jeans Coma") while drawing out universal lessons and inspiration for readers. While some of his bon mots are quite simple ("A girl can do and say anything she wants when she looks like a lady"), the makeovers themselves, captured in numerous photographs and laid out in clear, clutter-free spreads, are the real testament to his wizardry. A process that includes crafting an inspiration board and filling out Mizrahi's questionnaire, making the investment of time and energy ("you have to try on lots and lots of clothes"), and gaining the confidence:. "Know when a particular style doesn't work for you and pass on it. Confidence and knowing what's right for you is 95 percent of style." This chic, easy-to-use guide should make readers more knowing and confident.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Isaac Mizrahi has received awards from the Council of Fashion Designers of America, including two “Designer of the Year” awards, and a special award for the documentary Unzipped. In 2003, he revolutionized the industry by teaming with Target to produce women’s fashions and accessories and home furnishings. He most recently became the creative director for the Liz Claiborne brand, whose CEO, William McComb, said “Isaac is the pied piper of women over thirty-five” on making the appointment. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Gotham; First Edition edition (October 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592403921
• ISBN-13: 978-1592403929
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.7 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #337,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book! October 14, 2008

By Assunta Sciarretta VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If your girlfriends were to come around Trick-or-Treating, this is what you'd want to drop into their goodie bags!
Mizrahi's book is candy for the eyes. There are so many pictures - full color, not just sketches, on glossy pages. Plus, this book is both fun and informative. There is a certain richness, breadth and depth to the information, unlike a lot of the style books out there. Mizrahi's writing is a love letter to women. His approach is different from many stylists, who seem to only provide guidelines for dressing like themselves.
In this book, Mizrahi takes 12 women of varying ages - 20's to 50's - and body types, and transforms them into better versions of themselves. It's amazing how the women all seem to become more vivid and alive. Mizrahi does not dilute their personalities, either. Instead, he enhances them, e.g. the quirky woman wears a thick Russian fur hat; the shopaholic learns how to combine all her prints; the plus-size woman becomes an alluring femme fatale; the socialite stops playing it safe and dons couture.
What I really love is that because Mizrahi has the credentials and the expertise, he doesn't limit himself to the same tried-and-true fashion rules. He's sort of a Picasso of fashion. One blonde professional in the book comes to him with the safe, appropriate honey-blonde hair, and he transforms her with color - both by lightening her hair to a bold platinum (she then looks like Kim Novak) and moving her away from safe black to colors that enhance her features.
Mizrahi instructs the reader as to how she can be true to herself and yet break out of her own rut through the use of an inspiration board, a broad list of resources, and a helpful style workbook.
This truly is a guide to personal style.... (The pictures of Mizrahi throughout the book are really cute, too!) Read more ›

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Five star style October 17, 2008

By Charlie

Format:Paperback

I've always thought my wife as being stylish. I was browsing through a bookstore, and How to Have Style caught my eye. I thought she might enjoy it, and not be insulted or do me bodily harm. Much to my delight (and relief)she devoured the book from cover to cover and back again, telling me how it's given her completely new insights into putting an outfit together, and how to shop. I recommend this book as a great gift.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Quintessential & Essential October 13, 2008

By V. X. KIRSCH

Format:Paperback

I have been waiting for this book for some time. Isaac Mizrahi has "made over" the style advice book genre. How insightful of him to help each reader understand that style comes from within. He advocates thinking things out when it come to developing a personal style. Think before you shop! Brilliant! The book is full of fantastic advice. It looks great. It is full of clever details. I love having his handwriting on the pages of the book.
As I said it is an essential book on your way to becoming your quintessential self!

28 of 33 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars i question his taste level November 27, 2008

By Kimberley Wilson

Format:Paperback

Whew. That's something I never thought I say but I really have to question the taste level of this book. Most of the makeovers aren't good. One woman looks quite a bit worse than when she started out. Issac and his style team gave her a hideous bleach job that made her look ten years older. Another woman, who was seriously obese is dressed in shiny fabric that made her look even huger. I was really startled. Buy Tim Gunn or Nina Garcia instead. This was a waste.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Style Books I've Ever Read November 25, 2008

By Mrs. A.W.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is hands-down one of the BEST books on the subject of style and fashion that I've ever read ... and I've read a lot of them. Almost all seem to focus on "classic" styles that are supposed to look good on all women. They put me to sleep.

Thus, I had reservations about looking through this book in the bookstore, since I figured it too would be all about boring laundry-lists of "must-have" styles in dull colors. But I decided to look through it anyway, mainly because of Isaac Mizrahi, whose show on the Style Network was one of my favorites.

I was blown away by the creativity and inspiration in this book! It features real women of ALL different sizes, ages and ethnic backgrounds, made-over by Isaac and his style team in amazingly beautiful ways using many of the same, basic, classic pieces that made my eyes glaze over in other fashion books. Thus, Isaac uses styles that flatter most women, but changed around to suit different body types using different kinds of shoes, accessories, jewelry, scarves, etc. I ended up marveling at Isaac's extraordinary creativity even more than I did before.

One of the great things about this book is that it inspires the reader to go through her own wardrobe and see how to wear the clothes she already owns in new and different ways, instead of going out and buying more and more clothes. THAT in itself is something to celebrate! Especially during these days of economic hardship that affect so many of us.

I love this book so much I bought it here on Amazon, which I think has the best deals on it. It's a book you can give to pretty much any woman, of any age and body type. It's a book that celebrates women!

Which is pretty much why I adore Isaac Mizrahi. He has an obvious love and appreciation for women.... I think this book is a showcase for that. :o) Read more ›

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant! October 16, 2008

By anonymous

Format:Paperback

Issac generously offers invaluable information on finding your own style and ways to implement it. I love that he is never condescending or dictatorial. The book has great joie de vivre. And then there's Issac's "eye" for what looks good. It's an inspirational book.