I’ve read a lot of style books – most of them aimed at the American market that somehow falls a little flat when translated to British tastes and sensibilities. Or those geared towards teaching you how to be chic in the French way (a little like wearing ballet slippers and thinking you’ll get mistaken for a ballet dancer). So it was very refreshing to find this total gem on a book. While What Not to Wear is great for telling you exactly that, this book tells you about the little (and big) details that add gloss to your choices. Don’t be put off by its gift-book size because it’s not a read-once thing you digest in one go, but refer to again and again. It’s categorised under Style/Humour which is also misleading, because while it is funny, it is infinitely more stylish. It’s aimed at the early 30s woman who is trying to get rid of the 20s casual style that doesn’t sit well any more, and who definitely doesn’t want to dress older than her age. It tells you what your choices say about you. Similar books sometimes sound suspiciously like a long magazine article, rehashing advice you’ve vaguely heard before and making you feel slightly cheated at having bought the book in the first place. But I found this to be a comforting read – its rules and tips are a relief when you’re bombarded with so many images of what it fantastic, hot, ‘now’ . . . and you don’t quite know how to make sense of any of it. It covers everything regarding appearance, from your shoes up to your makeup and how/what to pack and how to take care of your clothes. I’m not a fashion novice nor a strident fashion follower, and to me, this book hit just the right note. Never patronising, but simply wise, succint and charming. I expect to keep it for a very long time indeed. Highly, highly recommended.