Bringing Style to World Book Night

Lovers unite – book lovers that is. Because April 23 is your night to spread the love – and you thought that was just for Book Club.

Last year, World Book Night began in the UK and it was such a hot success, the U.S and Ireland have taken up the idea.  So now tens of thousands of book lovers will be spreading the good word by passing out free World Book Night paperbacks "to promote the value of reading, of printed books, and of bookstores and libraries to everyone year-round."

Why am I telling you this now? Because in order to participate, you have to sign up by February 1.

I may be the only one I know who doesn't belong to a book club. That doesn't mean I lack for books though. My apartments becoming a Collier brothers-like library.

But I thought I'd take this opportunity to apprise you of a few style books worth note:

Chanel: The Vocabulary of Style, by Jerome Gautier. Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel was such a fashion innovator that what you're wearing right now was undoubtedly influenced by her in some way. The LBD, pearls, tweed as womenswear – all came from Chanel's style sensibilities. You'll learn more than you think, and not just about fashion.

Parisian Chic: A Style Guide, by Ines de la Fressange, our favorite French Boomer model who first paired Chanel tweed with jeans, brings us her accessible style sensibility as applied to almost anything.

Joaquin Sorolla and the Glory of Spanish Dress with introductions by Andre Leon Talley and Oscar de la Renta, the latter who conceived the exhibition of Spanish clothing styles at the Queen Sofia Museum — this book ties together that gorgeous display with the breathtaking panoramas by artist Joaquin Sorolla installed at the Hispanic Institute. It shows how inexorably fashion is linked with history — I had to have it.

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty. The book to accompany the record-breaking exhibit at the Met of the legendary designer's work. The clothing has a vocabulary all it's own, and the cover is an eerie echo of both his fashion sensibility and his fate.

Hats, An Anthology, by Stephen Jones. Another stunning exhibition first at the V&A in London which moved to NYC's Bard Graduate Center, chronicled and expanded upon by radical-yet-refined master milliner Stephen Jones.

The Diva Girl's Guide to Style and Self-Respect. In our recent 'conversations" about toddler & Tiaras, preteen plastic surgery, and porn star fashion for young girls, this book by Cheryl Ann Waddington & Sonya Beard is a must get to help girls find their truthful fashion as style sensibilities without trading on their sexuality or self-esteem.

Harper's Bazaar: Greatest Hits. Editor-in-chief Glenda Bailey compiles the gutsy and glamorous past of America's longest-running fashion magazine.

The Little Black Book of Style, by Nina Garcia, Project Runway's cutting-edge judge and Marie Claire magazine fashion director guides you to find your own fashion voice.

Love, Loss and What I Wore – Ilene Beckerman's original book that inspired the ongoing Off-Broadway hit, about how our memories are woven into the fabric of our apparel.

Other books we've covered in the "pages" of StyleGoesStrong:

Another Ilene Beckerman book: Makeovers at the Beauty Counter of Happiness — the author explores if she could have been happy, maybe even happier, if she'd spent less time trying to be prettier.

Allure, the iconic style arbiter Diana Vreeland imparts her singular insights on how style, and allure, go far beyond how you dress.

Lorraine Massey, doyenne of the DevaChan Salon and author of Curly Girl: The Handbook, now in a newly expanded second edition, helps you define what kind of curls you have, and then how to care for them.

Shoestring Chic by Kerrie Hess. Adorably illustrated insights into cheap & chic, savvy style.

My City, My New York -  Author Jeryl Brunner provides insights into this most famous city's famous denizens — where they go, what they do, why they like what they like.

Where do you go for style advice?
Who's Your Beauty Muse?
The Style Muse in Your Own Backyard