I have to admit. I used to LOVE shopping for clothes. I mean, I would schedule an entire day to peruse sales racks at the local designer discount venues in town. I’d cancel plans so I could make it to the attic or basement sales held twice a year at the department stores at the malls within a 35-mile radius from my home. I would go from rack to rack, store to store, sometimes sustaining myself for hours with only a bagel, a large Sprite and some Chewy Spree candies.

Then reality hit. Teen and young adulthood “crises” such as “the big exam” and “Saturday night’s plans” were gone. The biggest things I could see through life’s windshield as I hurdled through years 22 through 30 became those associated with, oh, owning a home, paying bills, planning and cooking meals, my marriage, and raising our two sweet children. I have no idea how I’d spend an entire day shopping now. I’d probably get bored after an hour — or realize after two hours that everything in my shopping bags were for my husband or the kids.

Needless to say, fashion took a back seat. I mean it sat in the way, way back.

Yet now that I’m past the spit-up covered shoulder years (they do pass quickly!), and almost past bedroom-slippers-only period, I am a little more open to being a little more, shall I say, fashionable. It’s hard for me to even type that word because I’m such a low-profile chick and prefer not to stand out at all. Many days, I don’t feel like getting out of my velour track suit, and you know, that’s okay. But for those occasions when I do want to, and especially those when I must, I need a little bit of guidance.

Okay. I need a lot of help. I am not afraid to admit my weaknesses here.

I am so glad I was able to read this book: The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own, by Nina Garcia. Yes, you might recognize that name. She’s one of the fashion judges on Project Runway, a television phenomenon that has taken over slews of gals (and guys) within my social sphere. I don’t know about you, but for me, her being the author automatically gives it three stars and ups its legit factor by a ton.

Why do I love this book? Let me count the ways:

1. It is broken down into 100 things, no more, no less — all organized alphabetically. The explanations are very simple and the reading is quick. The definitions are helpful, especially for the fashion illiterate like myself.

2. The illustrations are kitchy! Bright! Playful! All the things I love in book art.

3. Historical snippets are throughout this book, telling how things came about, got their names, or evolved over time in fashion circles (and how they might have come full circle). You throw any kind of history into most any book and I’m hooked.

4. Great, sometimes funny, easy-to-follow tips and ideas on how to wear said items or how to pull off the look.

5. Neat listings of suggested designers and brands of showcased items, which gives you a tried-and-true favorite flavor mix to go by.

6. Fun snippets tell you “as seen on” famous flicks or “worn by” notable actresses.

I learned (since this is turning out to be a full book report here):

1. What a cocktail ring is

2. How to fearlessly bring in animal prints

3. How to pick a tasteful bikini for my age (read: Not frumpy, but not trying to look like a cast member of Laguna Beach, either)

4. That there are things I’ve never tried but think I really, really want to (like real red lipstick, brooch wearing, bringing back my charm bracelet and opaque tights).

I also learned that there are two things that I need to change or vanquish: Wearing sweats to bed, and the terrycloth robe.

After reading this book, I realized that fashion is everywhere…..but I have recently become somewhat oblivious to it. As I read some of the descriptions, I realized my dad’s mom, Mama G, is a very fashionable woman. During her younger days (and by “younger,” I mean in her early 60s), I remember her wearing (and have seen more photos of her in) Hepburn-like blazers, striped sailor shirts with wide-legged pants, and the ever esteemable driving shoes. There was (and is) a lot of class in that petite little five-foot-one frame of hers.

I’m so glad I crossed paths with this great read. It’ll be my go-to book from now on whenever I have a closet quandry.