Style Books

Most of my life has had to do with the production of technical artifacts: scientific papers and computer software. The following books introduced me to an entirely different world of human endeavour - a world that I could not otherwise experience.

“Bringing Home the Birkin: My Life In Hot Pursuit of the World’s Most Coveted Handbag,” by Michael Tonello (William Morrow, $25.95). Mr. Tonello pursues a career as an Hermès re-seller on eBay and sheds light on the limited-edition luxury business of luxury goods purveyors such as Hermès.

“Style Evolution, How to Create Ageless Personal Style in Your 40s and Beyond,” by Kendall Farr (Penguin Group, $22.50) offers advice: “The softer a woman’s body becomes, the more structure she needs in her clothes.”

"Love, Loss and What I Wore", by Ilene Beckerman (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, $10.95) the author recalls in detail the clothes she wore at key and mundane events in her life starting in 1940s.

“Michelle Style, Celebrating the First Lady of Fashion,” by Mandi Norwood (William Morrow, $19.99) is a fawning analysis of Mrs. Obama's choice in clothing.

“Life in Color, Visual Therapy’s Guide to the Perfect Palette for Fashion, Beauty and You!” by Jesse Garza and Joe Lupo (Chronicle Books, $24.95). The authors begin by assigning a color to the individual and then go on to suggest clothing color schemes that compliments and enhances that person.