Decorate Your Space

            Approach home design differently and achieve a unique look. These two books will help you out.

            Flea Market Fabulous: Designing Gorgeous Rooms with Vintage Treasures, is written by Lara Spencer who is a Good Morning America co-anchor, executive producer of the HGTV program Flea Market Flip and previous author of the best-selling I Brake for Yard Sales. Spencer relies heavily on flea market finds and then remakes them with the help of her design team and with professionals who reupholster and refinish the furniture. Full-color photos record the transition from before to after for each of her nine projects. Each assignment begins with inspiration boards, plans, and shopping lists and ends with a sense of accomplishment.

            Elements of Style: Designing a Home and a Life is written by Erin Gates, the author of the blog Elements of Style since 2007. The chapters of the book are divided into the various sections of the home: from entry, living room, kitchen . . . to the closet and outdoor spaces. Gorgeous color photos highlight the decors of her assorted homes over the years, as well as those of her clients. Gates also discusses personal issues such as whether or not to have children, her experiences with anorexia, and more. Reading her book is like having a conversation with a friend. A design resource guide is included.

Spruce Up Your Fall Wardrobe Now

With school beginning in September, and autumn weather arriving soon after, this is the ideal time to update your wardrobe. Here are some books to help.

            Lawrence Zarian’s Ten Commandments for a Perfect Wardrobe is written by Zarian, who is a fashion advisor to celebrities and a television personality in his own right. He takes the reader through his personal struggles in weight control and self-image, then details the before-and-after stories of celebrity makeovers, including photos.

Style Bible: What to Wear to Work is written by Lauren Rothman, a fashion/style expert featured in various magazines and television shows. She helps both men and women discover the best work wardrobes for themselves according to their industry, city and gender. Shopping tips for both in-store and in-closet are presented.

Magical Fashionista: Dress for the Life You Want is written by Tess Whitehurst, an intuitive worker and energy counselor. She relies on the use of Western and Chinese astrology, Feng Shui, psychology and more to help the reader discover her true essence and express it through wardrobe and accessories.

Style and the Successful Girl: Transform Your Look, Transform Your Life is written by Gretta Monahan, a businesswoman who owns several boutiques and spas, and is Rachael Ray’s go-to fashion/style expert. Photos, stories, and sidebars assist the reader in dressing for success.

Wear this now: Your Style Solution for every Season and any Occasion is written by Michelle Madhok, an online shopping and style expert who is the founder and CEO of  Shefinds Media. Design advice and shopping tips abound in this book!

All About Style

     When you do something with style, you express your personality. Each of us, as an individual, have different tastes in clothing, décor, favorite activities and more. Here are some books that celebrate our differences and our similarities.

     The Truth about Style, written by Stacy London, the co-host of TLC’s What Not to Wear, highlights the stories of nine different women from all walks of life. Before sharing these stories, however, Stacy tells us about the ups and downs of her own life and how she overcame her problems. Then we see how Stacy guides the nine women in their search for new self-images, starting in their closets. Several color photos accompany each case study.

     Cupcakes and Cashmere: a Guide for Defining Your Style, Reinventing Your Space, and Entertaining with Ease, is written by Emily Schuman, the creator of the blog Cupcakes and Cashmere. This guide is arranged by season and is packed with information relating to the topics of style, beauty, at home and food and entertaining. The text is complemented by attractive color photos.

     Wear This Now: Your Style Solution for Every Season and any Occasion is written by Michelle Madhok with Eileen Conlan. Madhok is the founder of Shefinds Media, which includes the website shefinds.com. This book helps the reader analyze her clothes closet, shop like a pro, look fabulous in every season and dress for special occasions. Cute color illustrations abound.

     Lilly: Palm Beach, Tropical Glamour, and the Birth of a Fashion Legend combines a biography of fashion designer and icon Lilly Pulitzer with an examination of her style sense and business acumen. The book, written by Kathryn Livingston, includes a large scoop of gossip and a collection of appealing black-and-white celebrity photos.