Let me summarize the styles covered in the two books:

“The Lucky Guide to Mastering any Style”:

- Euro Chic
- California Casual
- Rock and Roll
- Posh Eclectic
- Mod
- American Classic
- Bombshell
- Arty Slick
- Bohemian
- Gamine
(- Mix and Match)

Within each style, there is an overview, some pages on essential pieces and accessories, how to get the look and key and iconic items, a couple of “Lucky Girls” — women who exemplify the style and some favorite pieces from their own closets, putting it together — examples of how to combine the essential pieces, examples of pieces that can be worn all year long and in different ways/for different occasions, and smart shopping and store guide tips.

“I Love your Style”:

I. Definable Style:

- Classic
- Bohemian
- Minimal

II. Undefinable Style:

- High Fashion
- Street
- Eclectic

III. Shopping (what to look for, where to find it, evening):

- Basics
- Cheap Chic
- Designer
- Vintage

Under each style, she discusses her our foray into that particular style, favorite pieces and accessories that define the style, mixing it up, “pushing it” (high risk, high reward), evening, getting it right, icons and new originals — women (and some men) who have embodied/redefined the style, refining your style (see below), and inspiration — books, movies, etc. Lots of great photos.

I thought the two books were very helpful and complemented each other. The style I identidied with in the “Lucky” book was American Classic. However, the simple/minimal/ladylike side of it appeals more to me than the sporty side. In Amanda Brooks book, I identified with the Minimal style, which she further refines as Uniform Minimal, Classic Minimal, and Androgynous Minimal, Classic Minimal definitely being it for me.

For the other styles:

- Classic: French Classic, Ladylike Classic, Sunday Best Classic, English Classic, and Men’s Wear Classic. Plus the sporty types: Tennis, Riding, Sailing, Cricket, Skiing.

- Bohemian: Bourgeois Bohemian, Vintage Bohemian, Ethnic Bohemian, Pared-Down Bohemian, Rock Goddess Bohemian.

- High Fashion: Eccentric High Fashion, Parisian High Fashion, Ghetto Fabulous (love it!), and Park Avenue High Fashion.

- Street: New Wave, Punk, Goth, Mod, Grunge, Black is Beautiful, Rastafarian, Hip-Hop.

- Eclectic: lots of mixing.

Too much fun, isn’t it?

Thanks for the tips, I will have a look at them if I can find them in the UK. I am trying to go more towards the Creative, and its nice to be feminine and boho at times, but at moments I also have the desire to rip everything off and get my old jeans and walking boots on, which is apparently the Natural side of me coming out. I cam out 50/50 between these two groups on all the questionnaires, etc, so its a bit confusing. I like the sound of Classic Minimalist, that has a very classy ring about it, what does that look like? I have always been quite minimal in dress, although not classic, more just laid back minimal, so am having some problems with lots of scarves and jewellery of the Creative at times. Is there a group for just scruffy?! Take care and have a good weekend!

Why retailers think women (and men) wouldn’t be interested is truly amazing, but like you suggest, it would take thinking about the whole issue in an entirely different way. When I think about retailers such as JCrew, LandsEnd, LLBean, JJill, to name just a few, I cannot tell you the number of times I went to their websites and ended up not buying anything because either the colors I wanted were not available, or they were the wrong shade, even though I liked the items (and how many black, gray and navy cardigans can I have??).

Trisha, I seem to remember you were working with your consultant to find your personal style. I recently got interested in doing the same, and found a couple of great books:

- I “heart” your style by Amanda Brooks (teenagish title, but very elegant and knowledgeable)
- The Lucky guide to mastering any style by Kim France and Andrea Linett

Turns out, I am a classic minimalist, which I knew, but it is nice to know it’s a style, not a cop out!

And also my little favorite “Color, Image, Style” by Shigenobu Kobayashi, a little gem of a book about colors, color combinations, and the image they project.

I am starting a couple more, and will comment upon when I’m farther along.

A consumer who understands what shades of each colour to wear is really not what retailers want. It means they have to make more colours and they can’t convince us that we all can wear turquoise. They end up with too much unsold merchandise.
I was directed to Newport News recently, who have a few collections loosely based on colour.
Like makeup, this should be so much easier than it is for consumers and would make the retailer a fortune.

I have often wished such retailers did indeed exist. What a missed business oportunity! Today I found this interesting online retailer in the UK, alas, but how very promising. Their colors seem to be based on the CMB 4 season system or something very close:

http://www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk/acatalog/colour_story_page.html

Do you know of any others?