This book is an excellent primer for those such as myself who may be slightly clueless on the fashion front. For me, it's a bargain alternative to a personal shopper (I wish!).

The book has loads of pictures that offer plenty of ideas for new outfits and spark your creativity. I like this book as it is not pretentious or condescending. The authors offer advice for styles that will bridge seasons and outlast fads.

I found the "build your wardrobe" and "in the fitting room" sections useful as well. This book does not go into vivid detail about body types nor is it the be all/end all. You could combine Lucky Shopping Manual with Pocket Stylist or The Science of Sexy and be completely educated.

The Lucky manual is a helpful tool for pairing shapes of every piece you can buy for your wardrobe and does not limit you to the time when the book was written. I would have liked to see a section on coordinating fabrics like: What in the world goes with a linen skirt besides cotton? And maybe a little more guidance for getting color and pattern combinations right.

It took me awhile to get around to buying it, but once I did, I wasn' sorry. It really gave me a lot of ideas about how to put pieces together. The advice (for the most part) is pretty applicable across a wide variety of body types, ages, etc. It really isn't about looking young so much as it's about looking modern. Once I read this, I realized that some of the clothes I had been hanging on to were older silhouettes that weren't right for my body, or weren't updated. Reading this gave me the courage to clean out my closet and pitch things that weren't right. The sections on jackets, suits, sweaters and pants, in particular, gave me a lot of good ideas about how to dress for work. I had fallen into a rut of wearing plain black pants + whatever top and now I have some inspiration to try different things. And, the section about how to pack for a 3-day trip was GREAT for me, because I am a chronic overpacker. Now that airlines are charging people who check ANY bags, I need to learn how to pack for short trips in just a carry-on, and the Lucky Manual's tips were VERY helpful.

I do have a couple issues with the book. One is the swimwear section. There's not really a lot of helpful advice for what to do to solve particular body problems. It's more a focus on how to pick out two cute pieces and make a swimsuit, and there seems to be an assumption that everyone has a cute little figure that will look great in anything. Since pretty much everyone I know over age 25 has some issue they're trying to solve when they shop for swimwear (my thinnest friend, who looks great, is now fretting about "aging cleavage" if you can believe that) - I think this section could have been a LOT more helpful. Although most advice in the book is very commonsense, there were a few little things here and there that seemed to indicate a bias towards the young and skinny - but honestly, it wasn't a huge part of the book and I was able to get past it. The other issue I have is that some of the suggestions (wearing a huge, poofy fur trapper's hat with a conservative streamlined coat?) are just too funky for me, or really for much of anyone. In big metropolitan like New York or L.A., maybe some of these looks would look chic but in my town, they're what crazy bag ladies wear, and people would not be doing double-takes because they thought you looked hot. That being said, there were only a few of the "huh?" looks in here. Most looks were very attractive and really inspired me to branch out of the rut I was in.

One more tiny thing - I am not sure who did the photographing for Andrea Linett's profile in the book, but she really did not look very good. The pictures of her were not flattering and made her look strange, in my opinion. I have seen other pictures of her where she looked better, but maybe those were older pictures? In any case, she may have great style in real life but the profile of her in the book was anything but convincing of that, for me.

Anyway - bottom line, I think this book is a winner. Lots of great ideas in here for women of all sizes and ages.

I absolutely loved this book! It's a great how-to guide for updating your look to avoid becoming a fashion don't! I went shopping this weekend and used several tips from this book and therefore avoided purchases that are not flattering to my shape. I am excited to clean out my closet and gradually rebuild my wardrobe!

This is a fun book to look at because it has a lot of pictures of outfits and ways to combine things, but I do not recommend it for petite women. Many of the clothes featured would not be flattering to a petite frame or available in petite sizes.

I disagree with the reviewers that say this book is only for a young fashionista. I'm a fresh-looking active 53 year old and have adored fashion my entire life. What I love about this book is that three of the "Lucky Girls" practically live in jeans and build their wardrobes around them. Some of us gals DO have casual lifestyles and only occasionally use that little black dress in the back of the closet! That doesn't mean we don't want to look great every day. The numerous outfits coordinated in this book inspire me to rethink how I wear each article of clothing in my closet, and I'm definitely a minimalist. This is a fantastic book for ANY woman who wants to have fun with fashion. Isn't that the whole idea?

Even though I'm 49, I still got some good info from this book. I think I've built a good wardrobe over the years, full of 'staple' items. After ordering this book, I realized that I was lacking some pieces that I really never even considered, to give my clothes some new spark. I went out and invested in a nice logo bag (authentic Louis Vuitton bag). There are a few other interesting items I have added to my closet to get more mileage from my existing wardrobe without having to spend a lot of extra money, thanks to the book. Buy the book to keep as reference.

This is a fun and useful book. It's helpful for breaking down wardrobe organization and for informing shopping purchases. For me, it helped me objectively assess what I already own, and to discover that I already have much of what I need! I did buy it used via Amazon, and as a young professional on a budget, I would not have been quite as happy with the book if I had paid full price. (Though maybe that's just my own personality -- there aren't may fashion books I would pay more than, say, $10 for and feel good about it.) That being said, money spent on this book is a good investment -- the book has helped me organize and objectively assess what I already own. It's more helpful to me than the InStyle book and others which are similar.

I bought this book and the In Style book and found this one to be the better of the two. It really boils down basic wardrobe essentials and is helpful when shopping or deciding on purchases. If you only bought one book, I would buy this one.

This book is great bacause it helps by telling you how to dress in different items. It breaks down pieces, body shapes, types, etc and helps you choose the best piece that will be the most flattering to you.

Loved the book. No models to worry about, your only focusing on the clothes. I actually learned a lot about some of my own attire. There is really no need to worry about dates of clothes since the styles mainly stay the same and what does change always comes back around.

Loved the book. No models to worry about, your only focusing on the clothes. I actually learned a lot about some of my own attire. There is really no need to worry about dates of clothes since the styles mainly stay the same and what does change always comes back around.

Since I've been trying to dress nicer w good "invested" clothing pieces instead of wasting dollars on clothing that I won't wear much and I love to get my wardrobe organized and learn more about coordinating,I found this book. I got it and I almost finished reading it. It is sooooooooooo valuable w very very practical and coordinate styling & buying tips. I learned a lot from it. It's almost like a wardrobe Bible. I recommend any girl or lady who likes to "simplify w fabulous styles that fit for my body" to get this book and read it.

This book will help you build a great wardrobe and teach you how to accent your assets and hide your flaws. My closet was filled with clothes that I bought on a whim without any thought as to where I will where it, with what shoes, and with what accessories I already own. As you can imagine, this makes me the poster girl for crying "I have nothing to wear!!!" all the time. I knew I needed tips but didn't know there was actually a manual for it! Luckily I was at Borders one day and saw this on a table display. I browsed through it and almost bought it on the spot! I exercised a little patience and ordered it for much cheaper here on Amazon. It is an awesome book, it's never boring, I keep looking through it over and over again, and it really delivers!

This book is very fun and inspires you to revamp your closet. All the color photos are great and I love how outfits are put together for you showing you what looks good with what. The book pretty much tells you the must have items to create a wardrobe for both summer/spring and winter/fall. A few of the looks are a little dated, but for the most part, the looks are classic and never go out of style. Overall, a pretty decent book about clothes.

This was an incredibly detailed guide about not only what is essential in one's closet, but also how to make it versatile, and how to create "looks." Even though this book was written a few years ago, the outfits are classic, and still 100% in fashion. Lucky magazine takes style to then nth degree, and this manual brings THAT to every woman. It tells you what to look out for when shopping and cleaning out the closet, as well as how to create outfits that are both chic and unexpected at the same time. Terrific style guide, and indispensible for every fashionista from 15 to 50!!

This was an incredibly detailed guide about not only what is essential in one's closet, but also how to make it versatile, and how to create "looks." Even though this book was written a few years ago, the outfits are classic, and still 100% in fashion. Lucky magazine takes style to then nth degree, and this manual brings THAT to every woman. It tells you what to look out for when shopping and cleaning out the closet, as well as how to create outfits that are both chic and unexpected at the same time. Terrific style guide, and indispensible for every fashionista from 15 to 50!!

I read the INSTYLE book first and expected the Lucky book to be much better. Though both are quite similar, I liked the layout, tips and overall feel of the InStyle book much better.

This manual is really helpful in that it lays out a variety of ways to wear a lot of different outfits. It gives you lots of options and lots of combinations, which is nice, but I really wish the editors of this book had taken some time to give some solid advice on how to dress for your specific body type (i.e. petite, pear-shaped, etc). I loved flipping through and seeing the different types and styles of the tops, bottoms, jackets, etc, but still wanted to know more about what looks good on someone who is petite. I bought the Pocket Sylist by Kendall Farr and found that her book provided a lot of the information I was looking for which was specific to my body type. Use the Lucky mag as a way to stimulate your imagination and the Pocket Stylist for the ABCs of what's flattering for your specific body type.

The Lucky Shopping Manual is a great book that goes hand by hand with the bestseller How to be a Super Hot Woman: 339 Tips to Make Every Man Fall in Love with You and Every Woman Envy You Everyone knows that looks and clothes are important so buy both books and learn the beauty secrets that will make from you a tempting woman.

I was skeptical about this book. I'd seen it advertised in Lucky Magazine for ages, and I couldn't imagine what useful info Kim France and Andrea Linett could impart in book form that they hadn't already covered in their magazine.

Happy to say this book exceeded my expectations. Each chapter (such as skirts, jackets, shoes, jeans) offered at least a few useful tips and gave me some new ideas on how to wear the clothes already in my closet. I love the "In the dressing room" sections that offer advice for determining if an item's right for you before you buy it. (I know this will save me some returns. I'm a serial returner.) This book has also inspire me to start a list of staple items missing in my wardrobe. I feel like a smarter shopper after reading it.

I only wish this book came with sticky tabs to mark my favorite section like the magazine does!

This book contain some very helpful hints that are useful for women of all ages. Another book that I love and highly recommend is How to be a Super Hot Woman: 339 Tips to Make Every Man Fall in Love with You and Every Woman Envy You Both books have great tips!

When I first got this book, I thought, "Oh, these styles are all too young for me! I like "The Pocket Stylist: Behind-the-Scenes Expertise from a Fashion Pro on Creating Your Own Look", which came last week, a lot better!"

However, after getting farther along in the book, I realized that this book is also WONDERFUL, and meets a very specific need incredibly well! The little notes on the examples are quick & easy to read & make the authors points extremely clear. Furthermore, I can show the pictures to my teens and even THEY can "get it"! My 19-year-old, even though she is an avid reader, said that she likes this book a lot because she is a "visual learner".

One of my kids has fashion sense oozing out her little finger. But for the rest of us, who just don't "see" what born stylists see, this book is great! It is well worth the money, considering that it has 1,500 full color photos, every page is packed with info, & there are no distracting ads!

Now I just wish they'd do a book for men that I can show my husband & sons!

Love lucky magazine so knew I would love this too. I had bought an number of other "fashion" books including Stacy and Clinton Kelly's book and the Pocket Stylist and Budget Fashionista. Each of these has a different approach to dealing with the issue of how to dress well. I do like the Lucky Shopping Maual the best because being a visual person, I like to see the actual clothes and their combinations and although some of the other books do this they dont' do it as extensively as Lucky does. My only complaint is this. I loved almost all the clothes they featured and would love to have bought them or at least known the designers but they did not source them--they do have a list of stores in the index by state that presumably carry the clothes but that's it. Having said that--I do use the book almost daily to get dressed in a more interesting and coordinated way than I have before--I haven;t taken the book shopping with me yet but plan on doing so to help me fill in the gaps that I have in my wardrobe. It is very user friendly and packed with a ton of ideas and very well layed out. I highly recommend it.

Another new bestseller with many wardrobe and make-up tips as well as how to attract and seduce men tips which I love and recommend - How to be a Super Hot Woman: 339 Tips to Make Every Man Fall in Love with You and Every Woman Envy You

The Lucky shopping manual is designed for people who are serious about building a solid wardrobe or upgrading the one they currently have. Each chapter has a RANGE of skirts, tops, pants, shoes, handbags etc in combinations that are stylish and timeless.

The book doesn't cater to "one" particular style. It is multi-dimensional and covers a range of styles from conservative to trendy or casual to "all dolled up". There really is something here for everyone including what to wear for your body type.

The book takes you through all four seasons and with a solid foundation to build upon. It is a lot to digest and you won't get through it in one sitting. That's the beauty of it. You can take a little at a time and keep coming back for more. The book includes color photos, illustrations, shopping rules, how to clean certain fabrics, and a directory of stores around the country. Great Buy! Great Price!

A Great compliment to this book would be The Budget Fashionist by Kathryn Finney. The Lucky Manual teaches you how to dress. The Budget Fashionista tells you how to do it on a dime!

this book is really great for old & new ideas on how to put pieces together. the what to pack section in the back for various trips is also excellent, my friends & i have used it for business trips & vacations, and it worked out great! i plan to use the shopping index in my future travels.

i think if you get this book, plus pocket stylist, and to a certain extent instyle instant style(too many celebrity pics), you're pretty much set!

Yes, this book gives comprehensive details on what looks good on you and what just doesn't work. It tells you what you need to look out for when buying clothes and believe me, they cover almost all (if not all) known piece of clothing. It also shows you how an outfit can affect the wearer's overall look and how you can change a "wrong" outfit into the "right" one with just a piece of accessory, undershirt, proportions, etc. The book is written in what I call the "scrapbook" style. Very easy to read and understand, definitely!

To put it simply, I will not buy clothes without referring to this book.

Gives you an easy way to update your wardrobe without spending thousands of dollars! Has simple rules, clear cut direction. Good for someone who is clueless to appareal and what looks good with what. (You know, someone like me! :-p)

If you have ever wondered what to wear or "if this goes with that" then this is the book for you.

This is a great book to help you build a closet full of clothing that flatters you and fits all of your needs.

Get rid of those 100 pairs of $20 shoes and carefully select a dozen pairs you adore, and you'll be able to fit everything you need into your not-so-big closet.(-:

After reading all the great reviews, I couldn't wait to receive my Lucky Shopping Manual. Unfortunately, I found it very thin. In fact, it didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. Many of the pictures were too tiny to be of use, and I just don't see how cap sleeves can be the universal sleeve (unless we all have arms like Evangeline Lilly). The "helpful" packing lists at the end were laughable. Yes, maybe the apparel shown would fit into the tote, but what about hair product, makeup, underwear? You'd need a separate bag.

I ordered several books in the fashion/style genre recently, and I am sending my Lucky manual back to Amazon. The ones I am keeping are How to Be a Budget Fashionista: The Ultimate Guide to Looking Fabulous for Less, How Not to Look Fat, Science of Sexy: Dress to Fit Your Unique Figure with the Style System that Works for Every Shape and Size, and The Pocket Stylist: Behind-the-Scenes Expertise from a Fashion Pro on Creating Your Own Look.

Also, while it seems readers either love or hate the Chic Simple books, and while they don't take different body types into account, I love browsing through the original Clothes (Chic Simple) (Chic Simple). It taught me a great deal about which foundation pieces I needed for a basic wardrobe. And though the publishers love to repurpose many of the same photographs from other Chic Simple books, I also like Work Clothes (Chic Simple): Casual Dress for Serious Work (Chic Simple Guides), Chic Simple: What Should I Wear?: Dressing for Occasions (Chic Simple), and Chic Simple Dress Smart for Women: Wardrobes that Win in the Workplace.

If you don't know much about fashion or how to build a wardrobe (or what kind of clothes look good on your unique shape), then I suppose Lucky is a helpful book to own. I know I won't be buying the Lucky magazine any time soon.

I ordered this book and was very disappointed. It is not a complete guide to dressing as I expected. It does a great job going over the basics and fit of clothing. But finding the perfect fit is only half the battle. There is very little, almost nothing about color, pattern, texture, and fabric. Also, the book says very little about jewelry and accessories.
This is a picture book. I loved the sections about the designers. Most of the outfits were very cute, but some of them were actually hideous. Who would wear a plaid skirt with a striped tank? It would look ridiculous! (page 20).
The section on getting the correct fitting t-shirt was great. Then the book suggests shopping for T-Shirts in the boys department! Do they seriously think that boys t-shirts would fit a woman? The sleeves are not fitted. Essentially they undid all the good in the previous pages describing the perfect fitting T.

There are no sections for dressing for the gym or dressing more casual. Many current top styles were not represented which dated the book.
The sections in the back were useless. It gives a shopping guide for the best shopping around the country. Do not go to Louis Boston. The sales people reek of snobbiness. I tried it out there since the book rated it as Boston's best all-around shopping, and I felt very uncomfortable. Instead, try the Filene's Basement on Boylston. It not listed in the book, but it's better than the one on Washington.

I would not recommend this book because it provided more colorful pictures than a substantive guide.

I've wasted a lot of money on clothing over the years. This book illustrated what to look for to compliment your body from head to toe.

A great read and something I go back to time and time again. It gives me real inspiration and lots of ideas. I've had a few books of a similar type and this is the best.

I absolutely loved this book and have read it cover to cover several times. The "In the Fitting Room" pages have saved me so much money and I now know why I've never work some of my mistake purchases. Even though the book is a few years old it doesn't look dated, it's more about right fit and styling than a list of outfits to copy.

Fashion and style come together to combine accessories and clothing into entire outfits, providing you with your own personal fashion consultant at home.

I saw this advertised in the Lucky magazine. It is a good guide to building a wardrobe. Lots and lots of pictures. Good explanations as to what works and does not work and why.

Love this book! It is a "fashion bible". This book showed how each piece of clothing should fit and how to use accessories to compliment, not fight with, your outfit - from shoes to belts to handbags. It also gave advice on "must have" pieces to for a complete wardrobe - whether it be for work, casual, weekend. Great advice on mix and matching pieces, as well as what's needed seasonally. Also showed how different body types should wear the pieces. A curvy body should wear one type of suite, while someone who has more of a boy-shape should wear another. I can't say enough fabulous things about this book. Extremely helpful.

This book gives pictures of whole outfits for different occasions, which is what I needed. Kinda like going to the department story and buying off the manequin.

It also has helped me organize my closet, to work for me and not against me. I have found just by doing this, it has helped immensely.

I have never felt like I had so much direction with shopping and style as I do now. This book has been very helpful to me. I am usually the kind of person that finds one thing that works and can't quit buying the same thing... the 10 Favorite GAP t-shirts in my closet are a testament of that. I have really felt inspired to go out and shop for a variety of things that aren't just a shot in the dark-- they're stylish and lovely and flattering in the fit thanks to the new information I have. I really appreciate that the concepts are presented without highlighting any particular company. I shop at thrift stores, DownEast Outfitters, TJ Max, and very seldom at retail stores since my husband is in school and I'm at home with three children. I've read the opinions of many that this book is only geared toward certain ages/walks of life, but I think that's debatable. Perhaps some styles recommended won't work for everyone, but if you study the concepts and reach inside for your own style and creativity, you can hone each idea to suit your taste. Color schemes and overall fit is are subjects worth studying for any age. Another instance: I am not going to put heels with jeans unless I'm going out with my husband. A flat of some sort works better when your carrying a 3-month old around, tying shoe laces, running errands with children, or whatever. But I look at the style and concept of the heels and look for that in lower shoes for everyday use. I'm very impressed with the way that exceptions are noted and personal style is respected, too. I expected the "handbag" section to be propoganda for having a handbag for every outfit. Not so. It first asks the question, "Are you a handbag sort of person?" If not, they recommend just having an everyday bag that's versatile, practical, and structured even when filled, in addition to a tote and an evening bag. Anyway, that's it. I love the book. One of the most worthwhile purchases I've made in the past 10 years. Thank you Lucky!!

bought this book for the woman and she loved it. i usually have to go with her all the time to the mall and "help" her pick out stuff. after she got this book, she is comfy picking out clothes herself now, which, lets me not have to look like a stalker leaning against the clothing racks for hours at a time. Thanks Lucky Shopping Manual.

Oh. amd the lady loves it also. Says is was a great book.

I don't usually write reviews, but I am making an exception.

Every woman should own this book. And I think it's mis-titled, by the way--it should be called the Lucky Style Manual, not "Shopping Manual," because it is a true all-around style manual, but whatever. It's GREAT. The book breaks down clothing into different categories--tops, jeans, bags, etc. and shows what will work best for you and how to work it together with other pieces. There are also suggestions on shopping, the best 10 pieces you should own, how to pare down & organize your closet, etc. Oh, and it's timeless--I don't see this book being outdated for a long time, if ever, because the focus is on overall style, not the trends of the moment.

I bought a few style books, and this is, hands-down, the best--my fashion Bible. I have no more to say. Just BUY it already! ;)

Over all a really good book to have. I love how they break down everything to the essentials. I also like how it caters to women under the age of 40-ish, but at the same time has general pointers and ideas that can be used by anyone. It would've been better if it had more to say about women under 5'5... you know us petite girls that ONLY make up about 40% of the population. It does mention in a couple of parts how to elongate certain areas, but other parts were confusing. For instace, they recommend that you show some skin between the top of your boots and the edge of your skirt in one area, but then they mention somewhere else how showing some skin between your bottom and your top (like a bikini for instance) will help shorten a long torso. Hence showing skin between the boot and the skirt will actually shorten the legs and may not look good on some women with short legs. They don't mention that part because they seem to cater to the woman that is between 5'5 and 5'8. A section on small petite women would've made this book complete for me, but I still think it's a great buy and I have been inspired by it.

I love Lucky magazine, and shows like What Not To Wear, so I was very excited about this book. It has some good information about fit, body type, and how many of certain items (such as T-shirts) a girl really needs. I also liked the inserts about various designers and their personal styles. But when it comes to breaking down a wardrobe, the actual clothes pictured are so trendy that they were "over" by the time of publication, and I worry that the more literal-minded among us may use them as some sort of standard. These are not classic items that everyone needs and can (or should) wear. The best way to use this book is abstractly...and even then, it's just not the best manual of its type. Many of the suggested outfits were inappropriate for any sort of event, and others were just silly. I was disappointed.

This book is really written for the under 30 year old woman. It is very detailed and thoughtful but I really couldn't say that I picked up any good fashion ideas for my age group (50+ years). I have bought The Pocket Stylist by Kendall Farr and some of the "What not to wear" series and have found them fantastic and appropriate.

I think I will give The Lucky Shopping Manual to my daughter who is 25 years and she will love it.

I bought this book on a whim, thinking that what with being a teacher, a receptionist, and an actress, having a book full of outfits is just what I need to get dressed in the morning.

... Oh, and was I right. But there's so much more. Sure, I consult this book before dressing, and I flag pages with outfits I want to try, but more importantly I have a newfound appreciation for quality over quantity. Yes, I still shop at Forever 21 and H&M, but this book give you a logical list of "splurge items" - a good coat, a pair of boots, a leather bag - things that don't go out of style. Now, when I shop, I ask myself if the $[...] bag is on the splurge list. No? Then it's out of my mind.

When I moved to New York I brought three wardrobes with me - one from college, and two from my parents' home. Needless to say, that was more crap than anyone could wear in a year! With the help of this book, I pared down my obscene closet to a manageable albeit extensive wardrobe. Do yourself a favor - spend the money to get this wonderful guide.

Good points--the way it helps you imagine the clothes you already own in different combinations you might not have thought of. It is a pleasure to browse through.

Bad points--the clothes and aesthetic seen in the photos are trendy, so I suspect this volume won't age well. Also, body shape is not considered--a good or bad thing, depending on the reader's prior knowledge of what works best for their shape.

I have wanted to buy this book for several years now after seeing it in a Barnes and Noble. I recently purchased it, much less expensive than it was at Barnes and Noble, and I am very happy with it. If you enjoy reading fashion magazines and love clothing then this is the book for you. It is entertaining to read and helpful. I am in the process of reorganizing my closet and this book has a lot of advice on essential items that you need in your closet as well as a checklist to help you decide whether to keep certain articles of clothing. It is so important to know how to dress your body to look its best and this book will help you do so. Definitely a must in your book collection!