Book provides information on styles for all body types

The tips from TV personalities aren't centered on trends, making them timeless.
By SARAH AARTHUN
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Ever watched TLC's "What Not to Wear" and wondered what hosts Stacy London and Clinton Kelly would give you as your rules?
Then their first book should be your new shopping companion.
"Dress Your Best: The Complete Guide to Finding the Style That's Right for Your Body" (Three Rivers Press, $18.95) is your own personalized "WNTW" episode, complete with looks for work, weekend and evening.
It covers all body types for women and men of all ages. Their tips aren't centered on trends, making them timeless. And if you like Stacy and Clinton's witty banter on the show, that same humor is sprinkled throughout the book, making it a fun yet useful read. They even pose as models for their body types (however, Stacy considers herself "curvy" -- she's 5-foot-7 and a size 4. Please.)
I immediately looked up my shape, and I was a little disappointed to see that I fell in between the average and tall heights. In my category, the petite model was 5-foot-2, average was 5-foot-4 and tall was 5-foot-10, which didn't make any sense to me, 5-foot-7. However, as I flipped through the rest of the book, my height was clearly considered average in other categories, which helped me know which rules to follow.
Universal tips are on every page, in every category. My favorite: "Don't be afraid to mix patterns like florals and animal prints, but don't let either overpower an outfit. Use them as you would spices in your favorite dish -- as accents and sparingly!"
Skip and miss
Don't expect to skip straight to your body type in the bookstore and call it a day. You can learn something in every section, including seasonal alternatives to fabrics. They also include an illustrated glossary of all those fashionista terms you never knew. You can even consult the sections on the other sex for gift ideas.
The men's section wasn't as detailed as the women's as far as body types. It seemed as though they didn't spend as much time on them. That said, Stacy and Clinton were able to come up with unique looks for every man, which can be difficult given the lack of options in men's styles.
Overall, if you love clothes, it's fun to flip through and see all the outfits. You can get ideas from every one, from print pairings to shoe choice. Thankfully, you can also look up where all the fabulous clothes came from at the back of the book. I personally want all of the women's shoes.