My Christmas (or Birthday or Mother's Day) Gift Recommendations....

As I promised, here are my recommendations for gifts to the re-budding fashionista in your life. And just so you know - I purchased them all with my own dollars so their not pigs in a poke:

1. How to be a Budget Fashionista by Kathryn Finney




If you're already a fan of the Fashionista website you are familar with -- and may well own -- a copy of this book. It is definitely Fashion 101 for those of us who have been out of the mix for some time. The best part about this one for me is the fact that Ms. Finney starts out talking the economics of being a Fashionista. Her recommendation -- get your financial house in order BEFORE you start pricing out those Manolo Blahniks!

The rest of the book is just as common sense wise, covering all manner of fashion issues - dressing the body, reality checking the closet, Beauty and, of course, the best places to find your fabulous new pieces at the best prices! If you can only afford one book for your fashion yearning but challenged loved one -- this is it!

2. Dress Your Best by Clinton Kelly and Stacy London





I credit these two fashion guerrillas with re-kindingly my love of fashion! I catch their show whenever possible and love the fact that rather than take the tack that the person needs to change for the clothes (i.e. lose 10 pounds, get surgery, etc.), they make the point that 1. the clothes should suit the person and 2. You have a right and the ability to look fashionable as you are right now!.

In Dress Your Best, they do in print what they do on their show -- address dressing varying body types. In the book they breaking body types down into categories (Bigger on Top, Bigger on Bottom)for the 3 different heights most folks fall into (Petite, Average Height and Tall) that anyone can easy recognize. They start each section with a brief Do, Don't and Must Have for the body type in question. Then with the help of some, in my book, very brave folks who were willing to pose in a simple black swimsuits (black swim trunks for the guys) to show the body type in question. They then show the same individuals in 3 different outfits (Work, Weekend and Evening). And to show that their no armchair generals, Stacy and Clinton appear as 2 of the body types as well!

The pics are great, the tips are pure Clinton and Stacy - honest and positive. Get it! And when you can - watch the show!

3. Closet Smarts by Emily Neill




In all honesty, I just purchased this one and am just starting to go through it. I find the author's voice to be just a bit, well, angry -- but then the fashion industry does make you want to give them a whack up side the head at least once a month!

And while she is doing something very similar to Stacy and Clinton in Dress your Best using real folks to illustrate different body types, I like the fact that she does befores and afters - so you are able to see how each person was dressing and how to improve upon it. I think that can be particularly helpful when you are sorting through your current clothes and trying to decide if any of it is salvageable!

So there you have it -- my 3 picks! Their all available at Amazon, of course and I'm sure any other major online bookseller. However, if you're in a hurry (and if you're reading this for ideas, you better be!) I made it even easlier for you by setting up an Amazon store. Click the top link and it will take you to the front page which lists all 3 books for purchase.

There! Like I said before -- Don't say I never did nothin' fer ye!

And by the way -- Happy Holidays!