Fashion - By the Book

Today, Apparel News' mailbag held a little treat for me: an advance copy of Nina Garcia's new book "Look Book: What to Wear for Every Occassion." Garcia, of course, isn't a newbie at telling people what to wear. She has has written three other style books and is Marie Claire's fashion director as well as a judge on the Lifetime reality series Project Runway.

Set to be released August 10, the book features fashion-related quotes from designers, philosophers, writers, celebrities and style icons; illustrations by the uber-talented Ruben Toldedo; and Garcia's pithy advice on what to wear to wear.

Toledo's darling drawings

Some of Garcia's choice nuggets of sartorial wisdom include what to wear:

to a brunch when suffering from a hangover - something soft and chosen the day before the "day after"

to a meeting with a potential surrogate for your future offspring - ballet flats, a logo-less shoulder bag, separates that are "not uptight"

when asking your boss for a raise - "strong, assertive shoes," gray, anything that helps you "channel your inner gladiator"

to your therapy session - nothing that will distract your therapist, like "outlandish heels"

when you've been cruelly dumped or are doing the dumping - respectively, sunglasses to hide red eyes and fancy new shoes or something that makes you look hot, but not any jewelry he gave you

Works for me!