Book it: Gifts to Give and to Get

Fashion books are one of my all-time favorite gifts. There is always an amazing array of "how-to" style guides in a wide range of prices that friends and family of all ages will love to receive. And let's face it: We're all looking for a way to look like a million without spending a fortune. Check out some of my favorite fashion finds published in 2009:

— One of the newest is Eric Daman's new book, "You Know You Want It: Style Inspiration-Confidence" (Clarkson Potter, $29.99). As the stylist and costume designer for "Gossip Girl" and an Emmy-winning assistant designer for "Sex and the City," Eric Daman turns characters into style icons through their clothes. You'll love this book that's chock full of insider tips and secrets. "Gossip Girl's" queen bee, Leighton Meester, writes a wonderful forward.

— "Steal This Style: Moms and Daughters Swap Wardrobe Secrets" by Sherrie Mathieson (Clarkson Potter, $22.95). Another favorite because the author uses "real" women as her models and deals with being "cool" and "never cool." And we all know we could use a dose of cool at any age.

— "Hollywood Intuition" by Jaye Hersh and Karen Salmansohn (Powerhouse). As a celebrity stylist and store owner, Hersh's personal "intuition" comes through in her witty take on creating a style philosophy for ordinary people. She fills the book with great tips and advice called "Jaye-isms" like "Life is not a dress rehearsal, so you should not be wearing dress rehearsal clothes."

— "Style Clinic: How to Look Fabulous All the Time, at Any Age, for Any Occasion" by Paula Reed (Collins, $27.95). Reed keeps her style tips simple and guides readers through up-to-the-minute photos that show great looks in action. Each chapter focuses on a particular element of fashion — coats, dresses, suits, bags and jewelry — making it easy for readers to navigate their way through the world of fashion.

— "The Style Strategy: A Less-Is-More Approach to Staying Chic and Shopping Smart" by Nina Garcia (HarperCollins, $21.95). One of my favorite "fashionistas," Garcia has consistently been an inspiration in her many roles as an editor for Elle magazine, and now Marie Claire, and as a judge on "Project Runway." Her down-to-earth approach is just right for those of us who want to wear high-end looks at lower prices. And I love the illustrations of painter Ruben Toledo. Buy two of these books, and you'll want to frame several of his whimsical drawings.

— "I Love Your Style: How to Define and Refine Your Personal Style" by Amanda Brooks (It Books, $19.99). Not only a great style guide but also a great read. As a vogue.com columnist and former creative director for designer label Tuleh, Brooks takes us inside her fashionable world growing up in Palm Beach, Fla., and then working in New York's fashion industry.

— "Fashion for Dummies" by Jill Martin and Pierre A. Lehu (Wiley, $24.99) is another one of the "Dummies" book series, and novice style seekers as well as trendsetting fashionistas will enjoy this full-color book. There's even a chapter on menswear, guys!

— "Audrey Hepburn: International Cover Girl" by Scott Brizel (Chronicle Books, $45). Who doesn't love Audrey Hepburn, the fashion lover's ultimate style icon? This latest book on her life combines over 600 international magazine covers collected by the author — some rare — that feature the one-of-a-kind Audrey. Fans will love the various looks of Audrey that are captured in the book, from studio stills to casual snapshots. They will see her personal style transformed over the decades. I never get tired of another "Audrey" book!

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association.

Tag: fashion in fashion