The Best Books For Your Personal Style
When it comes to personal style there are numerous approaches you can take to create yours.
While I offer information and coaching here, some of the greatest ways I've learned about personal style and how to have it is through amazing books.
Today, I am sharing my favourite books that have helped me create my personal style and continuously grow it, that I also think will be incredibly beneficial to you too.
Each book has it's own unique way of teaching you how to create your personal style. However, I personally believe the underlying message in all of them is that creating your personal style is about creating a closet full of clothes that serve you best.
If you want to learn about personal style by dressing for your body type, or by creating more of capsule wardrobe, or by intuitively dressing I have got the best books for you here!
Or if you don't know where to start, all of the books I recommend will give you that starting point that you can branch off of.
The first book that I would recommend is one of the first I ever read when I was learning about Personal Style beyond my own. It is "The Wow Factor" by Jacqui Stafford.
THIS IS THE BOOK YOU NEED IF YOU WANT TO LEARN ABOUT PERSONAL STYLE THROUGH BODY TYPE.
If you've been here a while you know I don't necessarily believe in style based on body type. However, I do believe in creating a wardrobe full of clothes that serves you best, and if you want to know how to do it by dressing for your body type then you do you!
This book breaks down the most common body types extremely well, and shares exactly what will look the most flattering on you based on your body type and why it does.
On the cover of the book it says, "Insider style secrets for every body and every budget." - you get a fully body type style break down AND so much more.
It gives you clear guidelines on how to shop better, how to have a "wow factor" when you walk into any room, and how to pick and wear clothes that exude good quality/expensive taste.
You could easily read this book in an afternoon. If you are looking for ways to more easily create a wardrobe you love and don't want to hire a stylist or coach to help you one on one, this book is honestly all you really need.
Even though I don't use this book to create my personal style anymore it is by far one of the most helpful books I have ever read on the topic, which is why I am recommending it first.
One of my favourite aspects of this books is that Jacqui highlights the importance of dressing for your body type in order not to hide your body. My main problem with dressing for your body type has always been that it is trying to make every body look as much like an hour glass figure as possible, it very often does the opposite of helping you accept and love your body. I love the perspective of this book on body types in the sense that it discusses the importance of not falling back into clothes that do not serve your body.
This book is straightforward, incredibly helpful, and easy to apply in your real life. If you struggle with personal style this book will make it so much more clear.
The second book I recommend is "Magical Fashionista" by Tess Whitehurst.
This book is absolutely incredible for intuitive styling and making your wardrobe and style align with who you really are and want to be. Not only that, but this book makes fashion really fun! It changes your perspective on how to create outfits and what to wear on any given day.
The subtitle of the book says "Dress for the Life You Want" and the book guides you through how to do exactly that. One of my favourite parts of this book is the way Tess explains that fashion and personal style are not superficial. They are very much intertwined with our inner-selves, and deeply effect our every day lives. That to not enjoy fashion, and make the best of it, is essentially a missed opportunity to explore more deeply who you are.
I specifically recommend this book to anyone who loves anything spiritual or "woo-woo". It is the perfect fashion book for you. It touches on really beautiful rituals and practises throughout for loving your clothes and creating a wardrobe and outfits that bring out your inner beauty.
What I really loved about this book, is it goes into detail about what each colour, material, pattern, and style of clothing can signify to other people when you wear it, along with the way it affects you.
For example one of my favourite colours to wear is pale or soft pink (rose quartz). I specifically wear this colour because it reminds me of femininity and love. This is what the book states soft pink signifies: "exceptionally feminine, and it brings stillness, clarity, and serenity to the mind while simultaneously enhancing the soft, gentle, loving qualities of the heart and emotions.".
I intuitively knew that I felt all of these things when I would wear softer shades of pink, but seeing it in this book was incredibly fascinating. I looked at all of the colours I am not necessarily drawn to or am sometimes uncomfortable wearing and it was eye opening.
If you want to connect with your clothes on a more personal level, and wear things that intuitively speak to you this book is incredible for helping you discover that. It asks really good questions to help you discover what you truly desire your personal style to be. Even though it is on the spiritual side, this book helps you easily take action towards creating a wardrobe you love.
My third favourite fashion book(s) are "The Cool Factor" by Andrea Linett and "Classic Style" by Kate Schelter. I've put them together because they are fairly similar.
These books are both amazing for building a wardrobe by starting with the basics and classic pieces. They outline the most common pieces that are considered to be "must-haves" to more easily create a wardrobe with many outfit options, while not having an overwhelming amount of clothes. Almost like creating a capsule wardrobe.
These books both do a really great job of emphasizing that you, the wearer of the clothing control the vibe something gives off, because until it is on you, it doesn't really say much beyond what it is. You bring life and energy to the clothes, which easily makes basic pieces not so basic.
What I love about The Cool Factor specifically is that it provides so many outfit ideas for you to try with many pieces that you probably already own. It also does a very good job of explaining how to layer pieces, which is something I get asked about a lot and can feel overwhelming. This book makes it easy.
One of my favourite things about Classic Style is that her personal style story is woven in. You can clearly see that her life influences her personal style and that they go hand in hand to support each other, which I think is incredibly important when it comes to creating your personal style.
Both are great books for when you are trying to figure out how to define your personal style at first, and feel like your wardrobe doesn't offer very many outfit options.
Tied for fourth are "Paris Street Style" by Isabelle Thomas and Frederique Veysset and "How to be Parisian" by Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline De Maigret, and Sophie Mas.
If you’ve always wondered what is so special about Parisian/French fashion these books break it down really well and make it so you feel more stylish just reading about it.
Paris Street Style contains advice from over 25 french fashion insiders on how to make your wardrobe and style feel more Parisian. This book simplifies what "really matters" in terms of only needing a few really amazing quality pieces that don't necessarily have to be expensive.
I also found this book fascinating because it touches on so many women's personal styles and what it means to them, which shows how the thought and consideration these women put into their clothes is clearly felt by them as the wearer and by those around them. It's important to hold your wardrobe to a high standard so that it can support you.
How to be Parisian is very different from the other books in the sense that it is very much about four Parisian women's lives. It talks about style in a way that is more about really living in your clothes, whether that is for a date, errands, a girls night out, or a special event. It is a really fun book that reminds you, whatever you wear, enjoy it and be in the moment.
The fifth book I would recommend is "Love Style Life" by Garance Dore.
This book is very much a life story as it relates to personal style, however it gives incredible insight on how to dress yourself so you feel beautiful. One thing I loved about this book is that Garance points out the importance of not letting clothes overshadow or hide who you are and allowing yourself to shine in your clothes.
Two of my favourite things about this book would be Garance's 100 "Love Lessons" (I don't agree with all of them, but enjoyed seeing that she has obviously given herself lots of love and grace throughout her life which I found inspiring), and that this book has incredible interviews with people like Drew Barrymore and Diane Von Furstenburg.
Honourable mention : "Beyond Beautiful" by Anuschka Rees.
This book is not about style so that is why I didn't put it with the rest, but what this book talks about does effect your style.
Beyond Beautiful is an amazing book for becoming body neutral.
If you feel like body positivity sometimes feels toxic or like it isn't actually helping I would recommend this book.
It focuses on helping you take steps towards loving life in the body you have now - not necessarily being in love with your body. It helps you accept your body and see the human body from a more neutral stand point. It is not really focused on looks and is much more about you living life, feeling confident and like yourself.
Let me know if you read any of these books! I loved them all so much. Not only are they all a joy to read, but they are all very educational when it comes to personal style and I cannot recommend them enough.
Love & Trust Yourself