Six ways to find your style:

1. Make tear sheets. Read lots of magazines and books and tear out or make copies of things that resonate with you, whether they are whole outfits or just appealing color combinations, beautiful textiles, scenes that evoke a certain era or feeling, or anything at all that you think you want to express with your clothes.

2. Write down your style history. Reflect on your life and take note of the things that have influenced you most.

3. Try a lot of looks. Experiment. Everything I know about my style and my taste has been the result of trying out every look in the book.

4. Constantly ask yourself questions. The more answers you have the more defined your style will be. What proportions flatter you? What fabrics and colors do you love? What kind of mood do you seek to create around yourself? What pieces in your closet do you come back to again and again?

5. Find your style icons and inspiration. Identifying with someone whose style you admire is a great way to figure out whether something is “you.” inspiration equals personal style.

6. Make an effort. Style will not appear in your life on its own. I always feel and look my best when I’m dressed in evening clothes because that is when I make the biggest effort. We can’t go the whole nine yards every morning, but muster what energy you can and you’ll feel better all day long.

This Independence Day weekend we’re looking forward to curling up with a good book. So whether the next few days have you near or far, here are a few reads recommended by Diane and the rest of the DVF team.

Diane: A few that I am reading this summer…Madame de Stael by Francine de Plessix Gray, The Bolter by Frances Osborne, Chicago by Alaa El Aswany and Gloria Vanderbilt’s new book, Obsession: An Erotic Tale.

Abigail: Snow by Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk.  I read it last summer but have picked it up again because it is so beautiful and so timely as it deals with the clash of radical Islam and western ideals. Work Hard. Be Nice. by Washington Post education writer Jay Mathews.  Mathews follows two young teachers as they pioneer KIPP, one of the most successful charter school programs in America.  An honest view of these two young teachers who are changing the way we think about education.  As a board member of KIPP, I was especially excited to see the KIPP program chronicled by Jay Mathews!

Luisella: Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. This book shows that one ordinary person with a strong determination and vision can really make a difference and contribute to change the world.

April: Mine is not glamorous or a trashy beach read, but The Wonder of Boys by Michael Gurian. It is about what parents/mentors/educators can do to shape boys into exceptional men.

Colleen: The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho – He is one of my favorite authors.  He is usually very spiritual in his writing (i.e. The Alchemist) and I am very interested to see how he folds fashion and cinema into his repertoire.

Daniela: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. It’s a quick read and is so inspiring.  It reminds us to follow our dreams and achieve them, as life is so precious. It’s one of those books that you’ll want to keep around and read once in a while.

César: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. The best pieces in here are funny to the point that I almost needed an oxygen tank to restore normal breathing after laughing so hard for so long. The only possible reason not to read this book is if you’d rather hear the author’s intrinsically funny speaking voice narrating his story. In that case, get Me Talk Pretty One Day on audio.

Katie: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. Pulitzer Prize winner!  A lot of Junot Diaz’s writing seems to stem from his personal experience of growing up as a Dominican-American. This novel recounts the history of one family while also recounting the history of the island itself.  It’s both tragic and hilarious at the same time.   Best book EVER!

Claire and Katty in their DVF

Last week DVF hosted a book launch party for Womenomics: Write Your Own Rules for Success, the new tome by Claire Shipman and Katty Kay. The two women (of Good Morning American and BBC News respectively) collaborated on the new book, which explores the role of women in the workplace and gives you insight on how to have it all! The authors were divine in their DVF dresses and everyone from Katy Couric to Al Roker to Charlie Gibson stopped by to congratulate them. Plus! The book just debuted at #10 on the NYTimes bestseller list (Advice/How to) for the week of June 21st! Congrats to Claire and Katty, who even with their busy schedules managed to pop by our Sample Sale last week and pick up some book tour-worthy wardrobe additions.

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Be the Wonder Woman You Can Be!

The Wonder Woman phenomenon continues. Since launching Be the Wonder Woman You Can Be in October, the limited edition comic book and Wonder Woman-inspired collection has been celebrated all over the world, from New York to Paris to Belgium.

Most recently, the book’s message of empowering women and giving back gets a major “wow” from columnist Liz Smith on her website wowOwow. Check out what Liz has to say about Wonder Woman and take some time to surf her site.

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Visit wowOwow…

Ike with Marisa Berenson and Pat Cleveland

Last night DVF hosted the launch of “Style File: The World’s Most Elegantly Dressed,” a new book from Iké Udé and aRUDE Magazine. The event took place in the store and the first floor of the studio, which was packed with friends and fans of Iké and his new book. Guests were not even slightly deterred by the freezing weather, braving the cold to support Iké and get a glimpse of the book – and themselves in it. Hamish Bowles, fashion iconoclast Iris Apfel, image guru Montgomery Frazier and Patrick McDonald were just a few of the Style File subjects to enjoy the evening.

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Iris Apfel with her admirerers