Swell: A Girl's Guide to the Good Life
by Cynthia Rowley & Ilene Rosenzweig

Publisher:  Warner Books
ISBN:  0446524565

Fashion designer Cynthia Rowley and her fashion editor friend Ilene Rosenzweig have defined a new type of stylish girl -- the swell.

"Swell is the place where spirit and style meet," the authors say. "We wanted to write about joie de vivre -- only less French."

By combining the chicness of American style icons like Audrey Hepburn with examples from the authors' own lives, the book serves as a guide to the modern girl, covering everything from tipping to developing a signature style.

The beauty of the book is that despite the authors' fashionable pedigrees, its philosophy lies more in living well and having a heck of a good time doing it than relying on snobbisms or "must-haves."

In keeping with the breezy tone of the book, the fashion tips are equally familiar and easy to digest like "taking one thing off" (as in jewelry) before you leave the house, and having a clutter-free closet as keys to swell style.

More creative are the suggestions that you find inspiration for your wardrobe from everyday influences -- in this case jelly beans in pretty colors found in the bottom of a purse.

The beauty tips are good too, such as how to pose for the camera to look thinner, and how to get that sexy, disheveled look.

For the younger style maven in particular this is a pretty swell book.

Cynthia Nellis, your Guide for Fashion