Style by Kate Spade $14.40 on Amazon

“Style is the sum of so many things – beginning with a sense of who you are and having self-confidence.  It’s about getting the most mileage out of what works best on you.  I’m a firm believer in wearing what makes you happy.  And the only style rules I’d encourage anyone to follow are their own rules.” – Kate Spade, p 11

Kate Spade’s beautiful book, simply titled “Style” is a gorgeous collection of things that inspire her, movies she loves, colors that she can’t live without, etc.  The ideas that inspire her beautiful and colorful designs and clean, modern aesthetic are clearly seen in this book.

I love this little book.  I love how she considers the importance of feeling confident in your style and wearing things you love.  She emphasizes that style is deeply personal, and that it evolves over time.  This philosophy  resonates so much for me.  And she words it so well:

“When you are defining your own style, it’s so important not to be nervous.  Part of style is confidence – you need to own your sense of style and be relaxed.  If you’ve already pulled off a simple, clean look, then you can add just one great piece: shoes or a brooch.  Find something you’re drawn to, something you can’t stop thinking about.  Enjoy it.  Play.  I’m a big proponent of owning pieces that you cannot wait to wear.  You want to find something that speaks to you in a totally personal way.” (p 24)

Her section on various colors she loves and different combinations to try them with is excellent.   I love that she considers the color turquoise a wardrobe staple (p 40)

She also offers wonderful advice on what to wear to the office, to parties, while traveling etc.  Her tips on caring for clothes, shoes and jewelry and also really useful, as I’ve found that there’s a lot of garment care aspects that many people don’t know about.

Overall, I found this book to be a beautiful collection of bits of inspiration and advice.  It’s not particularly heavy or deep, but it’s excellent when you want to read a few snippets to get new ideas.