The One Hundred: Nina Garcia’s new book is the perfect gift for the fashionista on your list!

Even Nina Garcia (judge on the hit show Project Runway and former fashion editor for Elle and Marie Claire) has admitted that it was a challenge for her to edit fashion into the 100 pieces women needed to have in their wardrobes to be stylish! Luckily for us, she was able to pair it down and you can take advantage of her fashion expertise.

I really like these types of books because most women don’t have access to a stylist and most women might not have the time to watch style shows like “What Not to Wear”, “Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style” and “How to Look Good Naked” (I prefer the British series to the American one).

Shopping for clothing can be overwhelming and quite frankly frustrating for many women because many of us are pressed for time. Another reality for many women is the fact that their body today is not the body they had five, ten or twenty years ago. Of course, now we add the economy to the equation and you can see how shopping can become something of a sport.

But just like any sport, when it comes to shopping for clothing preparation and training are key and this is exactly where The One Hundred comes in!

The most important place to start when it comes to fashion (in my view) is to know your style. By that I mean, there are certain fashion trends you know you feel comfortable in and others you’d rather skip all together. Now I don’t mean being stuck in a fashion rut (aka wearing baggy Juicy wear for every occasion of your life).

Personally, I know that it doesn’t matter how much six inch heels are in vogue, they won’t make it in my wardrobe because I don’t walk elegantly in anything higher than 2 ½ inches high. I can admire Gwyneth Paltrow’s newfound love for super-high heels at a distance without feeling the need to follow suit.

You also need to make sure you are dressing for your size and also for your age. When I say dressing for your age, I don’t mean wearing matronly clothing (NEVER!!!). What I mean is if you’re 45 and a size 4, it’s NOT licence for you to still be dressing from the same rack of clothing as your teenage daughter.

If you are uncertain of what would suit you best, don’t be afraid to ask for some advice from a store clerk. Although most of us are unable to hire an A-list stylist we can have access to the expertise of fashion consultants that are made available to clients at most major department stores. You can book an appointment with a style expert who will spend time helping you choose the best clothing for your body and your budget.

Before heading off to the store, you’ll want to refer to Nina Garcia’s book to know which are the MUST-HAVE fashion pieces you should focus on.

The One Hundred focuses on everything from shoes … to sweaters to coats … to handbags … to furs … to jeans … to dresses … to sportswear … to buying vintage pieces … to nighttime wear … and even to luggage.

It’s 304 pages of great tips and Nina Garcia does a great job at helping women distinguish between trends (fads) and style (which is more classic and stands the test of time).

I should also point out the book is full of beautiful illustrations from one of my favourite fashion illustrators, Spaniard Ruben Toledo!

You’ll see … this book will sit on your coffee table or on your night stand and you’ll find yourself going back to it over and over again for style and fashion tips!

One last thing, it’s true that most of us don’t have Nina Garcia’s fashion budget or her connections to great sample sales in New York (sigh), but if you follow the advice in this book, you can head to Target (aka Tarjay in Canada) and you’ll be able to find the styles at a price that won’t make you lose any sleep at night. Here’s another tip, if you prefer higher-end fashion, you can use this book as a guide and you can save up and spend your money on pieces that will really help you get a lot of mileage.

You can read more about a few other fashion books I recommend:

Harper’s Bazaar Great Style Guide is worth buying

Charla Krupps reveals How NOT to Look Old

Photos are from The One Hundred