There are many style bibles out there, written by popular fashion designers such as Christian Siriano, über-stylish stylists such as Rachel Zoe and countless other fashionistas and pseudo experts. Where What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life: Ageless Secrets of Style differs is in the fact that Kim Johnson Gross offers real advice for real women – style tips that have very little to do with trends and a lot to do with, well, style.
Through charming personal anecdotes and witty bon mots, Kim Johnson Gross dispenses practical, no-nonsense advice on how every woman can get rid of all the clothes that take up room in her closet, and make room for things she will actually wear… and wear well.
“When you're out of sync with your closet you're out of sync with yourself.” (Kim Johnson Gross in a Q & A with the Hachette Book Group.)
Style Tips From Kim Johnson Gross: Assess, Dejunk, and Renew
- Examine your life and think about the clothes you need.
- Check your calendar and plan for special events.
- Try on all your clothes and take an honest look at yourself to see what you need to keep, have altered, or ditch altogether.
- Look at what you have and make a list of what you need to acquire.
Acquire a Few Closet Essentials
- Body shaping underwear.
- Jeans that flatter your body.
- Fun accessories.
- Workout clothes.
Develop Your Own Sense of Style
- Find style mentors in women whose style inspires you.
- Develop a signature style by consistently wearing a certain colour, pattern, or accessory.
- Dress for your assets and show off your best features and body parts.
- Choose colours that blend together and make you feel happy and energized.
Feel Good Clothes
Make a small space in your closet for Feel Good Clothes, clothes that make you feel good when you wear them. These are your comfort clothes, your power clothes, the clothes that help you relax. They may not be the most stylish items you own, or the most flattering – but they hold a place close to your heart, and need to be given adequate space in your closet.
Dress Your Age
Dress appropriately for your age; invest in a few Closet Classics such as a little black dress; a well-tailored suit in a neutral colour; a white shirt; and a cashmere sweater. Get a haircut. Wear well-tailored clothes that fit your shape (and your budget!) and pair them with accessories that flatter your complexion and put a smile on your face.
“When you wear clothes that you enjoy, you will feel better about your body and in turn feel more confident when dressing for the rest of your life.”
About the Author
Kim Johnson Gross worked as a model with the Ford Model Agency before graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. She started her career as Fashion Editor and Columnist at Town & Country and was Contributing Editor and Columnist at InSTYLE Magazine; Style Director at Avenue; and Fashion Director at Esquire.
With partner Jeff Stone, Kim Johnson Gross created Chic Simple, a New York City design firm that lends its name to their bestselling series of guides to modern-day living.
What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life is based on the author’s More Magazine column of the same name.
Publication Details
- Title: What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life: Ageless Secrets of Style
- Author: Kim Johnson Gross
- Publication Date: May 2010
- Publisher: Springboard Press
- ISBN: 9780446534949
Sources
- To find out more about What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life: Ageless Secrets of Style, visit the Hachette Book Group online or go to the official Kim Johnson Gross website.
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