A few lucky women have been born with style — think Diana Vreeland and Jacqueline Onassis — but for most of us, style is something that comes with time and experience. Above all, style begins with a sense of who you are and your self-confidence. Style comes from opening yourself to the world around you — to books and movies, art, music, travel, and especially to other people.

In this upbeat and engaging book, designer Kate Spade talks about the many people and experiences that have inspired her. For Kate, movies as varied as The Swimmer and The Red Balloon have influenced her vision of style, as have such places as Mexico (where she and her husband, Andy, vacation each year), Napa Valley, and her hometown of Kansas City.

In the pages of Style, you”ll find a large section devoted to the colors Kate most loves and suggestions for combining them. Accessories, which are the backbone of her wardrobe, are given full treatment here, including shoes, handbags, hats, gloves, and jewelry; and a portfolio of Kate”s personal favorites from her own closet is showcased. Style in the office, evening style, even ideas for style when you travel and when you play are all featured here. The last section of Style focuses on maintaining your wardrobe, including tips on organizing your closet, caring for vintage clothes, and keeping your jewelry in good condition.

Style, with 230 watercolor illustrations, is a wonderfully personal and friendly book intended for readers of all ages and style temperaments. If there”s one rule Kate espouses, it”s that true style comes when you follow your own rules. Moreover, as the writers William Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White once wrote, “To achieve style, begin by affecting none.”

Publishers Weekly

Fashion designer Spade has become a sort of style icon of the new millennium. First it was her ubiquitous handbags, then it was shoes, next came stationery and now she”s telling us how to pen a thank-you note, what to pack for a beach bonfire and why a summer rainstorm calls for capri pants and flip-flops. This trio of “small books” is targeted squarely at the put-together woman (or the woman who wishes she were put-together). Each book mixes chatty but straight-ahead prose with cute line drawings. Spade”s presence is evident throughout, between her personal anecdotes (in Occasions, she lets on, “One of my favorite things to do is shop flea markets, wherever I am”) and the charming sketches of women sporting sparkly but demure shoes. While united in theme i.e., the modern woman embracing tradition, grace and old-fashioned beauty the books each have their own niche. Style mainly addresses what-to-wear issues and reads like an abridged version of the recently published style guides from Lucky and InStyle magazines. Occasions focuses on entertaining from cocktail parties to holiday dinners. And Manners covers such subjects as artful conversation and re-gifting. Style is probably the strongest of the three, as it”s the subject on which Spade has the greatest authority. But Occasions and Manners are solid, too, if not exactly groundbreaking (they brim with grandmotherly advice, with a bit of Letitia Baldrige”s modern etiquette thrown in). Taken together, the books should please hostesses and would-be Marthas of all ages. (Apr.) Forecast: This collection should take off, thanks to Spade”s name, planned author appearances at her retail stores, a direct mail campaign to the company”s 100,000-plus name mailing list, TV radio and print publicity and a tie-in to the launch of Spade”s new “at home” collection. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.