Style Clinic,
by Paula Reed
In a nutshell: Fashion is silly; focus instead on developing your personal style. And I shall now tell you what that personal style is, so that all of you end up dressing the same.
Typical advice: "Never ever choose pants with an elasticated waist."
What's the USP? Paula Reed is the chic style director of Grazia magazine and the book is not dissimilar to the magazine. It consists mainly of handy lists and many photos of attractive celebrities wearing expensive clothes. If a formula is working, why mess with it, I guess.
So is it the new black? Well, like black, it's a solid basic. Although there is a good deal of stating the coma-inducing obvious (a quilted Chanel bag is "a timeless fashion favourite"? Yuhdonsay!), there are also helpful, properly prescriptive but not off-puttingly tyrannical tips.
If this book were a piece of clothing it would be: A pair of slim black trousers.
• Style Clinic is published by Collins at £16.99
How to Dress,
by Gok Wan
In a nutshell: Babe, you are so hot! But, babe, you would be even more babelicious if you wore some over-the-knee socks with a cute kilt and hot little top!
Typical advice: "Let's toast your bangers and get some fizz back into your wardrobe!"
What's the USP? Whether being encouraged to dress in a zebra-print dress or wear a mini top hat with your bra and knickers is a good or bad idea is really not the point.
So is it the new black? Dahlin', this is so far away from dreary black! It's fun to read and he should certainly be saluted for occasionally using a model who isn't a bony waif. And that's Gok's real appeal: unlike certain other style advisers, he never hectors about women's imperfections. Everybody is gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.
If this book were a piece of clothing it would be: A pink push-up bra with sparkles.
• How to Dress is published by Harper Collins at £18.99. The paperback is out on 5 March, priced £9.99
Kate Moss style,
by Angela Buttolph
In a nutshell: Kate Kate Kate Moss Moss Moss.
Typical advice: "I upgraded from jumble sales to Portobello market. That's when you start throwing things together like that."
- Kate Moss
What's the USP? I refer you to the sentence above - Kate Kate Kate Moss Moss Moss. Contrary to the somewhat deceptive title, the reader does not get a guided tour through Moss's wardrobe but you do get a lot of photos of her in various clothes and a lot of footwork by Buttolph finding out the stories behind the outfits. Plus, she finds an impressive number of quotes from Moss about the clothes, despite the model's famously canny reluctance to give interviews.
So is it the new black? Not if you're looking for style guidance (Kate is innately stylish and just "throws things together", which is not very helpful as advice goes, since you would probably look like a bag lady). But for Moss obsessives, oh, it is pure heaven.
If this book were a piece of clothing it would be: A vintage cape from the 1920s.
• Kate Moss Style is published by Century at £20
The Little Black Book of Style,
by Nina Garcia
In a nutshell: Ew!! Everyone is so frumpy except me!
Typical advice: "When you're pregnant, wear jewellery. Lots of jewellery. Make the guy buy it for you - he got you into this. Anything to take the focus off the belly."
What's the USP? Ever thought, "Gosh, I wonder how a South American-born, Manhattan-dwelling fashion editor would look and talk?" Nina Garcia is your answer. She was also on a TV show about fashion for a bit. In America, this is a big deal.
So is it the new black? Only if you need yet another book telling you how brilliant Hermès Birkin bags are, that trench coats are fabulously French and heels should be worn at all times, "except on sand, which is actually quite tragic because there is no better time for a high heel's boost than when you are half-naked".
If this book were a piece of clothing it would be: A very high, very strappy, very high-maintenance designer stiletto.
• The Little Black Book of Style is published by Collins at £10.99
How to Dress for Success,
by Edith Head
In a nutshell: How to dress for success - in the 1950s.
Typical advice: "Whether you are a bride of a few weeks or the mother of a grown family, the way you look to your husband every day should be a matter of personal pride."
What's the USP? This is a reprint of a delicious guide published in the 1970s by celebrated costumier Edith Head. The anecdotes about how she frumped down Sophia Loren for the film Houseboat are almost as charming as Head's drawings and just about make up for Head's dislike of women who let themselves go, ie, wear a bathrobe. Incidentally, I query Head's suggestion that the perfect colour for me with my brown hair and olive skin is "chrome yellow".
So is it the new black? In terms of advice for modern life, no, unless long gloves and a string of pearls are part of your "basic" wardrobe. But for anachronistic pleasure, absolutely.
If this book were a piece of clothing it would be: A pair of leather gloves.
• How To Dress for Success will be reissued by V&A Publishing on 16 March at £9.99
Influence,
by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen
In a nutshell: You're, like, really creative, y'know? And, like, so are we.
Typical advice: This book isn't about advice, yeah? It's about, um, I'm actually not too sure what it's about.
What's the USP? Sometime actors and full- time celebrities the Olsen twins interview all the people in the fashion industry who, like, inspire them. So here's Christian Louboutin talking about his creative process, here's Margarita Missoni talking about her acting ambitions and (best of all) here's Karl Lagerfeld advising the twins on family planning.
So is it the new black? Even the twins sound bored by the end. But it is almost worth it for the Lagerfeld interview, which is properly hilarious.
If this book were a piece of clothing it would be: A very large pair of sunglasses.
• Influence is published by Penguin at £20
