Until recently, I worked for a non-profit organization that often received donations of clothing for our clients. Even though we were always understaffed and overworked with everyone doing whatever needed to be done, I was not allowed to sort the donated clothing. Oh, sure, I can tell the difference between a gently used sweater and a ragged, raveled, threadbare sweater. The trouble is that I have no fashion sense. If left up to me, our clients would have been given hideous, decades-old clothes simply because they met my criteria for wearability - i.e., they looked new. Of course, there’s a reason those things looked new: whoever bought them in the first place realized their mistakes and shoved the muumuus and holiday-themed knitted vests into the back of the closet for 20 years before finally cleaning house.

If The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style had come along sooner, my job responsibilities might have included fashion counseling for the clients. Lucky editor Kim France and creative director Andrea Linett have compiled “a book full of essential fashion pieces and accessories, smart shopping tips, and an extensive store guide that will help any woman integrate new style into her existing wardrobe.”

The Lucky Guide describes fashion according to ten iconic looks – Euro Chic, California Casual, Rock and Roll, Posh Eclectic, Mod, American Classic, Bombshell, Arty Slick, Bohemian, and Gamine. If you already know which of these styles suits you, The Lucky Guide will give you invaluable tips for spicing up what you already own with a few new pieces or combinations. If, like me, you haven’t a clue what style you’re inflicting upon the world, this book has everything you need to sort out your blunders and pull together a look that will make you and everyone around you a little more comfortable.

France and Linett are adamant that we aren’t required to settle on just one style, either. Through photographs, descriptions and examples, they make it easy to combine two or more of the iconic looks or to just put together pieces from any of the styles for a given occasion. Examples include the Euro Chic icon (Princess Caroline of Monaco), the Bombshell (Scarlett Johansson), California Casual (Cameron Diaz), and Bohemian (Jade Jagger), to name a few.

Each style section includes information about choosing essential pieces and accessories, how to get the look, combinations and choices for year-round wear, and a store guide to help you find those new items to complete a look. Models offer tips for achieving each style, including some of their favorite pieces and designers.

The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style is so beautifully designed that you’ll probably want to just browse it the first time through. Sections are organized perfectly, making it easy for readers to find the information they need with a quick flip-through. The best part of this book, in my humble fashion-challenged opinion, is the clear presentation of style basics. After the first read, I knew the styles that are most comfortable for me and exactly how to get them. No more dithering in the clothing stores, and no more getting home with a blouse that looked fabulous on display but totally jarring with every other piece I own. Every woman who has a closet needs this book!