The Cool Factor : a Guide to Achieving Effortless Style, with Secrets from the Women Who Have It

"An excellent idea for a book. . . . Next time I spend more than $40 on an article of clothing, I'll run it by Linett first." --The New York Times Book Review In a culture where trends are born and die every minute, maintaining style and effortlessness at every age requires that little extra something--the cool factor. Being "cool" isn't about chasing trends or defying age but about following a few key guidelines. Yes, the cool factor is a skill that can be learned! In this photo-packed guide, Andrea Linett, a famed personal stylist and founding creative director of Lucky magazine, offers easy-to-implement, actionable tips that will change the way women dress. The tips are modeled by real-life style icons like Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth and Christene Barberich, founder of Refinery29, as Andrea highlights the ingenious ways in which they skillfully pile on layers, or dress up denim for work or a party. The book is organized into chapters that include wardrobe classics, denim, leather, suits, dressing up, and accessories, and features style hacks that turn an outfit into a masterpiece (choosing shoes that instantly slim you, combining tough and feminine pieces, and accessorizing a day-to-night look). Packed with useful lists and examples, this guide is the would-be stylish woman's best friend. Trendsetter Andrea Linett has that rare ability to distill fashion talk into advice that everyone can follow, and in this book she shares the style wisdom she's gathered over years of working in the fashion industry. Here is only the content that matters: wardrobe classics, leather, denim, suits, dressing in black and white, dressing up, getting the right fit, layering, accessories, and hair. Linett's fashion philosophy is illustrated through precise tips and photos of women who do it right, and from them we learn how to develop personal style. Did you think a Canadian tuxedo (denim on denim) was an absolute faux pas? Not if you pair the right shades of denim and dress it up with some serious heels. Were you under the impression that your hair should get shorter with age? That rule no longer exists. Do you want to know how to wear black and white pieces together without looking like a cater waiter? The black and white chapter is filled with some ingenious examples. Finally, Linett rounds out the book with checklists, including must-haves for a hardworking wardrobe, how to breathe new life into old pieces, how to make a trend your own, and how to make sure everything you buy actually fits.