For me, one of the more inconvenient side effects of pregnancy was the fact that I came out with fewer brain cells than before I went in. And it seems like the majority of lost cells came from two specific parts of my brain; the “match word to item” part and the “don’t wear that, it’s ugly” part.

Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s anything I can do about the fact that I told my kid to grab the umbrella out of the fridge this morning (what I meant was that long stick of yellow stuff you smear on toast). But I did find something to help me dust off my sense of style and become fabulous again.

My saving grace was The Lucky Shopping Manual by Kim France and Andrea Linett. Written by the gals over at Lucky Magazine (which is one of my favorite “fashion” magazines…when they’re not trying to jumpstart some weird fashion trend themselves), the Manual is similar to its magazine cousin in that it’s instructional. Unlike the magazine, however, there isn’t anything in the book that you can explicitly buy. The authors wrote the book to help us make great outfits with the things we already own (clarification: the things we own that aren’t tragic) and to help us when we need to add to our wardrobe and go shopping (yay! - no more dressing room panic attacks at Nordstrom).

The book is chock full of helpful style tips for various body types (i.e., what style skirt to wear if you want to look taller), and lays out what basics your should always have in your closet, what to look for when buying clothes (including what to do in the dressing room when you’re trying them on…hint: it’s not panic), as well as fool-proof guides to putting together that perfect outfit (with scads of pictures and inspiring examples).

The book also offers advice on everything from the most flattering shoe to wear with cropped pants to precisely how a jacket should fit over a dress and though I’ve owned it for a few years now, I still find myself pulling it off the shelf when I can use a little refresher, have a specific question, or need inspiration.

Because it focuses on building a complete, timeless wardrobe, The Lucky Shopping Manual is one of my favorite graduation presents for young women who are venturing into the workforce for the first time. After all, every girl deserves a wardrobe that makes the most of her body shape, won’t go out of style in a couple of years, yet allows her to participate in the latest fashion trends. The authors also give solid advice about which pieces to splurge on and which pieces to get at H&M.

After being converted by the Lucky gals, I find myself staring at my closet full of clothes, bemoaned that I have nothing to wear, much less frequently. With some classic pieces and my bases covered, I’m much more confident that I can throw an outfit together in a few minutes…and look and feel great!

If you’re interested in reading additional reviews on The Lucky Shopping Manual, click the Amazon link below. Now go forth and be stylish! ~tcb