Fashion Designer Isaac Mizrahi: How to Have Style

A makeover often implies that the person looked terrible to start, he says. For Mizrahi, it's more about solving style problems: are you challenged by a tight budget? A full figure? A petite figure? A schedule packed with work travel? A lack of time or inspiration?

With his award-winning flair and fashion acumen, Mizrahi now brings us HOW TO HAVE STYLE (Gotham Paperback Original; October 2008; $30), a beautiful primer that will help every woman resolve her style predicaments and unleash her inner fashionista.

Showcasing Mizrahi's singular approach to looking great, How to Have Style begins with the premise that all women should wear what inspires them. Using twelve real women facing real wardrobe dilemmas, Mizrahi walks readers through the fundamentals of finding a personal style that reflects their authentic selves. With more than 600 dazzling photographs as well as Mizrahi's own sketches, How to Have Style makes it simple to look your best.

A twenty-year veteran of the fashion industry, Isaac Mizrahi believes that fashion should be seriously fun. Mizrahi's How to Have Style is a fun, real-life style guide that teaches women how to tap into their inner creativity to create a look entirely their own. In How to Have Style, Mizrahi takes twelve real women, each with their own style dilemmas, and shows them how to look great. Lisa wants to reinvent herself; Manning wants to be stylish on a budget; Keri wants to look funny and sexy; Rebecca wants to get out of a jeans coma, while Brooke wants to find the right jeans, and Susan is looking for stunning evening wear.

Mizrahi shares his style rules on everything from boots to bags, from skirt length to the right undergarments. Other features include:

A personal fashion questionnaire and how to create an inspiration board that unlocks the secrets to individual style

Hundreds of fashion tips on everything from clothes and accessories to expert advice on skin care and makeup to mixing patterns and wearing color

How to become a collector instead of just a shopper

From the king of real-world chic, How to Have Style will inspire women on how to have fun creating stylish and beautiful looks that embody their own personal style and work with their lifestyle.

MEET ISAAC MIZRAHI
7pm Tonight (Tuesday)

Borders

830 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago

(312) 573-0564

isaacmizrahi.com

About the Author

Isaac Mizrahi is a Libra He plays bridge and is devoted to his beloved collie-mix dog Harry. He has been designing clothes for twenty years and has been awarded four CFDA awards, including a special award in 1996 for the groundbreaking documentary Unzipped. In 2002 Isaac began a successful collaboration with Target® designing apparel and home furnishings. Isaac is presently the Creative Director for the Liz Claiborne brand. Isaac has created costumes for movies, theatre, dance, and opera. Television audiences have come to love Isaac as the host of his own series on the Oxygen Network and the Style Network. Isaac can is currently the host of a daily web series at WATCHISAAC.COM. For additional information please visit isaacmizrahiny.com or watchisaac.com.

Fashion Tips from Isaac Mizrahi to Accentuate Your Shape and Show Off Your Personal Style

How to have Style….

...when you are petite

A common fashion misconception is short people should wear one color from head to toe. Separates of different colors don't chop one in half, but add definition and height.

Black is always great for appearing slimmer and taller...but it's also good to add a bit of contrasting color to the outfit.

...and wear colors

Start small. Accessorize with one color in many different hues.

Once you've embraced colors, start mixing them within spectrums.

Think bright colors should only be on top? Try a pair of vibrant jeans and match them with a complementary color to avoid a too-matched look.

...and reinvent yourself

Women tend to steer clear of white jeans because they think they look fat in them. Not true! White jeans give you a fresh look and can be dressed up or down.

Try matching it with a jewel encrusted jacket (which would look 'mumsy' with black pants) for a glamorous focal point in your outfit.

...from head to toe

When trying to decide which shoes to wear with a skirt of a particular length, the general rule is flats for long skirts, heels for short.

Try on everything to find the right hemline-show combo