Personal style + a book review

Let's talk about personal style. It's the clothing you buy, it's how you dress your body, it's how you express a little bit about yourself in what you wear. Style is an individual venture, which means we all have our own ideas of it. But defining that idea is sometimes hard. Even as a style blogger, I might stutter and fall quite if you asked me to "describe your personal style in a sentence."

Publisher Zest Books was sweet enough to offer me a sneak peek of The Book of Styling by Somer Flaherty, their newest how-to book on finding and defining your personal style. There are plenty of books on how to dress your body or build your closet, but this how-to guide presents the task in a down-to-earth and realistic light. Plus, it's multifaceted. Flaherty introduces you to different types of style, then breaks down the elements of style to help you build your wardrobe, dress your body type, and even exploring a professional career in fashion.

One of my favorite techniques in the book discusses the Power of Three. It's the ultimate remixing trick in my opinion. The tactic breaks remixable pieces down into categories like tops, bottoms, and shoes. For a get-ready-quick formula, you can pick out one clothing item from each category and be out the door.

I spend a lot of time fussing over layers, accessories, tights, and shoe. But the Power of Three gave me a quick formula to use when I need to be out the door quick. To test it out, I picked a yellow sweater, a polka dot skirt, and a pair of heels - three items that build an outfit. To finish the look, I could add a chunky necklace and earrings.

For any gal living on a budget, learning to play your own personal stylist and building a wardrobe that works for you is essential. This book does target a younger audience, but the techniques and ideas are really timeless. The Book of Styling by Somer Flaherty will be hitting the selves in late September, but you can catch a sneak peek and pre-order a copy directly from the publisher's website here.

Disclaimer: Like all reviews on Coffee and Cardigans, this post contains only my honest opinion. I received a free copy of The Book of Styling from the publisher to review and keep. I was not compensated in any other way.