How Not to Wear Black

Book excerpt: Shop better, buy less, and dress to tell the world "this is me"! Anna Murphy, Fashion Director of The Times, shares her tricks for dressing to feel confident and comfortable, look modern and fabulous, and define your personal style - without always resorting to black. Your clothes stake your place in the world to a voice, a path, a future. Choose who you want to be and how to dress well accordingly. As Mark Twain said, "There is no power without clothes". Anna draws on her years of inside fashion knowledge and style experience to help you work out your "clothing happy place". What best flatters your body? What expresses your sense of self? And how do you build a sustainable wardrobe that will serve you day in, day out, for years to come? Explore why less is more; how to layer, the tricks of mixing and non-matching, and how to dress up neutrals. Follow Anna's tips on the 9-5 work wardrobe, what to wear for that special event, and how to carry off athleisure in style. Also discover the best length of dress or trousers for you, your perfect jeans, and how to invest in a handbag that you will use and love for ever. Immerse yourself in this inspiring, realistic, and practical style book and you, too, will be able to throw chic outfits together effortlessly, have something you want to wear for every occasion, and create wardrobe that, with occasional shopping forays, can last forever. Make fashion your friend!