Fashion and Beauty Style Guides: Review.

Fashion and Beauty Guides: which to choose?

For years I, like many other people, have flicked through magazines admiring celebrities' clothes. Thinking to myself, WOW she looks great...if only I could know her style secrets. For those of you that do the same as me, I bet you can really appreciate how exciting it is when a celebrity such as Victoria Beckham unveils her fashion and beauty secrets.

My first top tip for picking a fashion and beauty guide is to pick one that is by someone whose style you admire. If there is one on the shelves by a particular celebrity whose style you idolise then GREAT. Pick that one!

For instance I had always admired Victoria Beckham's impeccable style so when she brought out her style guide that extra half an inch I was overjoyed! I couldn't wait to find out all about Victoria's fashion and beauty secrets. I immediately put the book on my 2006 Christmas list. As you can imagine when I received the book I was literally engrossed in it, despite it being the sociable Christmas period!

Similarly, when the famous LA stylist to the stars, Rachel Zoe brought out her Style A to ZOE I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Zoe, for those of you who don't know is responsible for creating the iconic LA look. Think big handbags, massive sunglasses and show-stopping glamour head to toe.

Remember Nicole Richie toting massive handbags accompanied by oversized sunglasses? Well Zoe is the lady attributed to developing this new breed of LA girl.

Reviews:

Victoria Beckham: that extra half an inch

I LOVE Victoria Beckham's that extra half an inch. Based on her own experience of international fashion Victoria has located a great mix of designer and high street fashion finds. She certainly proves that you don't have to be head-to-toe in designer to be chic.

VB also gives away some of her fantastic beauty secrets, recommending her favourite brands which have worked for her. Something I particularly like about this style guide is the way that Victoria has personalised it so much. When reading that extra half an inch you really feel like you have been given a key to Victoria's fashion and beauty secrets.

A very personal and engaging style guide.

Rachel Zoe with Roce Apodaca: Style A to ZOE: The Art of Fashion, Beauty, & Everything Glamour

Key word for Zoe's book: GLAMOUR. Through examples of celebrity's red carpet looks she convinces us that normal women can also have their red carpet moments in life. Due to her personal work with notable A list celebrities such as Keira Knightly and Mischa Barton; she knows exactly what works.

Zoe shows us that you don't have to be exclusive (a celebrity) to be inclusive (included in being glamorous).

In short: Zoe's embracing of glamour in ordinary day lives is refreshing!

Pamela Clarke Keogh: audrey style

This is a style guide revolving around Audrey Hepburn's iconic style. You can't go wrong with Audrey Hepburn's style; the pioneer of the little black dress.

For me, it is hard to imagine where style today would be without the influence of Audrey Hepburn. She indefinitely brought a certain grace and elegance to fashion through wearing classic pieces.

This book is fantastic for giving an account of the history of Audrey's very personal style and how it evolved over her lifetime. She truely was an style icon, and this book is a tribute to it.