Classic Style: Hand It Down, Dress It Up, Wear It Out Hardcover – Illustrated, May 30, 2017

Kate Schelter is a successful stylist and brand consultant who often communicates her message through delightful watercolor images. Her illustrations align with the life she has created for herself and what she has discovered she values most. I find her insights refreshing in a culture where lives permeated by materialism and social media are losing basic human characteristics cherished by previous generations. Although Ms, Schelter has lived much of her career surrounded by brands that promote a life of luxury and excess, I love her personal philosophy of luxury. She states, 'today, real luxury, to me, is ease, discipline, and personality: surrounding yourself with the people and the things you love, in the place you want to be, and nothing more.' I also really liked her idea of the 'lighthouse effect' in that you will be able to attract what you want into your life by being the light to bring those things into your sphere. Yes, a lot of what she shares has been written in other books, but she lends a fresh slant to stylish musings. For example, when she suggested to wear a wide brim hat in the rain in lieu of an umbrella, it stirred memories of my college years when I did just that. Also great advice that she attributes to a wise grandparent that "there are three things worth spending your money on, in no particular order: education, travel, and real estate' is timeless as is so much of her tips in this charming book.

I originally got this book from my local library and fell in love with it. Please note: this is not a "how to buy ten classic items for your wardrobe" book. Rather, Kate Schelter takes the reader on a tour of her thoughts on design, form, function, nostalgia, clothes, cars, make-up, friends, family . . .everything that creates beauty, meaning and usefulness in our daily lives. Her illustrations are especially charming and the entire book has a light, happy feel to it. I find myself opening it at random pages and reading. Her advice and thoughts are down-to-earth and practical and she is an advocate of buy less, buy better. Because this is not a what-to-wear type of book, I feel that it won't become dated the way many fashion/style books do. A keeper!

Where to start? This book will have a treasured spot on my coffee table for a long time. The illustrations are wonderful, whimsical, and nostalgic, but the text is equally excellent. I found this book inspiring and will be doing a major closet rehab in 2019 based on principles espoused in Classic Style. I started and finished this book in one day - just could not put it down. The best Christmas present to myself, ever.

This is a good, practical guide to classic (kind of "prep") style. It covers all the basics, nicely.The styling is definitely classic. You'll be disappointed if your fashion standards are based on what's trending.The author has illustrated this book with wonderful, evocative watercolors, mostly of clothing items, but also some accessories and visual cues related to the stories she's sharing.And yes, a lot of this book is told in the first person. She's talking about her life and how her sense of style developed... and keeps evolving.She also shares advice that should probably be common sense, but - in this busy world, where so many traditions have been set aside - the reminders are kind of comforting.Author Kate Schelter takes the reader on a journey. Along the way, you'll realize the context of "classic" styling. You'll also understand your own style... and the items you'll wear over and over again, year after year.This is the kind of book we need now, as we focus on buying less, but also investing in items that will last for a long time, still looking as fresh as when they were new.It's a good read. Perhaps not for everyone, but if you're ready for some stability in your fashion and lifestyle choices, this book is for you.

I was hoping for more insights into how to think about classic style. Instead it was more of a journey into the author’s life and her style, which is very New England it seems. Fine enough, but I didn’t find it inspirational or helpful.

Received book quickly, well packaged & terrific value. Condition was even better than described! Would definitely purchase from Care Center Charities again!!

God, did I want to like this book. The author could have been my late best friend (an artist by profession who grew up in the 80s in a big family that vacationed in New England etc etc). I am, like the author, an artist, and her watercolors are adorable! Her fashion sense and life POV are right on the money! It’s well written! What’s not to like?Well, what I didn’t like is that I spent $14 to learn *nothing new*. Nothing at all. Wait, scratch that, I think I learned all about the author... but again, since she is apparently pretty much the same person as my late BFF even that was not new.This is a very personal bad review, you will understand. Other people may not have had the expectations that i did: I thought I was getting a Chelsea-boots-on-the-ground, DIY how to guide on how to get classic gear into your wardrobe and keep it there. That, this book is not. It is a sweet love song to a certain kind of upbringing and the artifacts thereof. Lovely as it is, I had no need for it, sorry.So my bad review is basically for how this book is described and marketed on Amazon. I wish the Kindle preview had included more than the table of contents, 28 illustrations and one page of the introduction. Then I wouldn’t have bought a nice thing I don’t need.If you are already (in no particular order) an artist, a preppie, around 50, quirky, work in fashion, or like ebay vintage stuff, you probably need a few gallons of gas for your old pickup or vintage scooter more than you need this book.

Thought this book would be a book on how to dress. Was so wrong. It’s about living an authentic life. This is a book I will now purchase in hardback.