Design Your Life: Creating Success Through Personal Style – Internationally Renowned Designer Rachel Roy's Guide for Women

by Rachel Roy

The internationally renowned designer and entrepreneur helps women look and be the very best version of themselves with this strong, sexy style guide filled with practical and inspirational tips and personal insights gleaned from her own journey in life and business. “As a teen, I’d draw the type of glamorous clothes and accessories I longed for. In retrospect I realize that I was a designing the life I wanted and would one day achieve.” As a designer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and working mother, Rachel Roy has a unique perspective on how fashion defines who we are—and who we want to be. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood in California, she envisioned the life she lives today. The head of her own fashion business, she’s a successful, hard-working entrepreneur who believes through style we can help design the life we want to live. Design Your Life is the embodiment of Rachel’s ethos—a style guide every woman, no matter what stage of life she is in, needs to help her define and implement her personal look, motivate her to focus on the person she wants to be and the job she aspires to have, and make choices based on where she wants to go. Rachel offers hands-on tips for developing personal style while staying true to yourself, using and updating what’s in your closest, and adding essential pieces to your wardrobe. Throughout, she shares stories from her own life and the vital role fashion and style has played each step of the way. Elegantly designed and illustrated with more than fifty exclusive color line drawings, filled with her passion, vision, and commitment to empowerment, Design Your Life takes fashion one step further—from looking great to becoming great, from the inside out.

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Self Help, Design

208 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 2016

About the author

Rachel Roy is the daughter of an Indian immigrant father and Dutch mother. She is mother to Tallulah and Ava. Rachel is the founder & creative director of her eponymous brand and a tireless activist for using your voice to cultivate change in the world and to design the life you wish to live. Rachel founded Kindness Is Always Fashionable, an entrepreneurial philanthropic platform to help women artisans around the world create sustainable income for their families and communities. In 2018 Rachel was named a United Nations Women Champion for Innovation, and works for the UN advocating gender equality and other critical women’s issues. In 2015, Rachel published, Design Your Life.

Reviews

[Terri Durling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been a sucker for any books on fashion and style. I have amassed quite a collection over the years and most are repeats of the same tips - know your body shape, know your colors, get the basics (little black dress, white Oxford shirt, etc), and many variations on those themes. Rachel Roy's book goes in a different direction and one I liked very much - dress for you and you alone and don't be afraid to take fashion chances. She peppers her book with lots of personal stories on fashion choices (some hits but plenty of misses, too) she made as well as her work history and background. I love her message about fashion which is about loving yourself, taking chances, mixing it up and letting fashion bring you joy. These are words I have lived by myself with regards to my own personal style so loved having this philosophy reinforced. She had some tips I hadn't read before and although I initially wished there were more visuals, I did like the illustrations and quotes very much. She loves her work and since I am also someone who finds getting "dressed" every day is usually a highlight, this was a great personal read for me.

[Carolyn Forrester · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like her clothing designs, but she should stick to just talking fashion. This "Law of Attraction" junk doesn't hold water. It's the story that the "winners" of our society tell about just how special they are and the universe is aligning things their way...a bunch of bs

[Jean Doolittle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love fashion and always have, since the days I made dresses for my Barbie dolls out of old socks or scraps of fabric that my mother gave me. At the same time, an obsession with beauty and clothes can feel shallow and superficial--our intellect, our career, our personal pursuits, our family and relationships should take a higher place--and they do; but the way we present ourselves to the world actually reflects our inner values. I like to be able to present a confident, creative, interesting persona to the world to match what I try to create on the inside.
While we may say we don't judge a person from their appearance; that's not exactly true. Fortunately it doesn't take a lot of money to look attractive--when you cultivate a sense of style that is authentic and true to yourself you can assemble a wardrobe that reflects who you are and it can help you move closer to who you want to be. Rachel Roy helps you create a personal style through her insights and experience.
It is not a waste of time to learn about fashion choices and wardrobe building, it's another way to empower yourself to build a better life. Put yourself together well in the morning and then don't think about it again as you go about being your glorious self!

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

A tough read as it was just not interesting or helpful. Her style is the opposite of mine and the general tips were generic—and the Chanel quote is paraphrased. Why?? There was nothing helpful in regards career or life advice, mostly just anecdotes that meekly make a point. There are also zero photographs. For how many clothes and outfits she describes, there’s only design sketches for certain ones. Better off reading The Curated Closet or Dita’s Your Beauty Mark.

[Kathy L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of very good advice on fashion and style from a designer with a strong sense of self and confidence in one's vision. One of the reasons this book works is that the author spent more time focusing on inspiring a sense of intuitive, ageless and timeless style, instead of telling us about the current trendswagons that we should be hopping on. The book would have worked better with more illustrations and "show me instead of tell me" moments, but generally, a good starting point to explore the topic of personal style, and a good coffee-table read to flip through from time to time.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book on fashion, style, and life. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this book. Thoughtful reminders on how to craft a style and look that says who you are and projects the life you aspire to live.

[Анастасия · Rating 3 out of 5]

Конечно, в аудиоформате такую книгу лучше не слушать.
Ее нужно садиться и конспектировать, периодически залезая в Гугл, чтобы узнать, что такое блейзер, Оксфорды, биркин и так далее, так как я достаточно далека от мира моды.
После книги острое желание выкинуть из гардероба все, что не отражает меня и мое внутреннее ощущение себя, а также начать больше зарабатывать, дабы купить часы Cartier.

Но для проработки собственного стиля лучше пойти и обратиться за помощью к стилисту, это будет быстрее, чем гуглить разные названия предметов одежды и представлять, как они будут смотреться на вас. Либо с конспектом книги отправляться в магазины, желательно брендовые...

[Kadri Pereira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its and interesting book about dressing in general, and philosophy about why she believes dressing up can enhance our lives. Even though I dont't agree with her that one should buy the most expensive brand name shoes (when your income is small), the truth is quality product do last longer and save you money in long run. There's a few good tips on styling in general, and tips also on how to dress comfy but still stylish.

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasantly written, but felt a bit flat. Likely because fashion is better experienced. The fashion illustrations in the book helped with this a bit. I appreciate Roy providing many practical tips for selecting clothing that fits into a person's life and advice for caring for pieces for long term possessions.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an empowering book for me. I resonated with the author's growth and her practical tips reminded me of the resourcefulness of a person who came from nothing.
I gave the book to my sister to spark her creativity!

[Jinal Sampat · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great read! Simple and elegant graphics makes it fun and engaging. Tones of information on developing your own styles and wear what would make you feel great and confident. Loved it.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read most of it...flipped through the rest. It was okay. Gleaned some info from it that I didn't have before which is always a good thing.

[femily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read on the plane. A nice book BUT it’s a book about style/fashion with NO PHOTOGRAPHS. Very hard to digest.

[Sahar · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some good advice here and there. In general, I don't like her style it gives me early 2000's vibes which is like the worst.

[Erica Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and inspirational little read.

[Jessica Nova · Rating 4 out of 5]

This woman gives solid advice about honing your personal style, and I've never read fashion-related book I've appreciated as much as this one. In addition to sharing her life lessons and little philosophical insights (which I'd never realized before are so important to consider when defining your personal aesthetic), I loved that the author included so many PRACTICAL tips. She recommends key wardrobe pieces, telling the reader why they work and the messages they portray, and she shares helpful design rules relating to contrast, balance, etc. To anyone interesting in curating not just their wardrobe but also the personal aesthetic that it represents, I would definitely recommend.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who is somewhat fashion challenged, this book gives great insight and ideas for creating a versatile, sustainable wardrobe. Roy uses her personal style choices to give examples of how and why to make certain fashion choices, from apparel to shoes to accessories. I definitely have a better idea now of how to build a great wardrobe.

I received a copy from First Reads in return for an honest review.

[Melissa Rivera]

Won this book through good reads giveaway and liked it very much, I thought I was pretty good when it came to picking out clothes and matching them up but after reading Rachel Roy's book I was stunned how little I knew. I actually went out after reading this book and bought new outfits

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this in a goodreads giveaway! A quick, fun, & diverse read that anyone would want to checkout! I love Rachel Roy and how she empowers you to be anything you want; including fashion tips that benefit you at any age!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel Roy offered some great tips in her book about adding some signature wardrobe items and how to wear them. I enjoyed the book since I'm into fashion. I gained a new perspective how fashion styling and some useful new wardrobe tips to follow.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a library book that I had to keep requesting. It didn't take as long as it looks on when I started to when I finish. It was an interesting read to see how someone worked hard for what she wanted. So I say follow are dreams!

[Lori Ben-ezra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Rachel Roy gives interesting pointers on how to up your fashion and express yourself with clothes.

[Sarah]

Basic messages are good ones (less is more, buy quality, etc) but I'm sure this is one I'll forget I read w/o logging it here.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can be read in a day.

[Alana Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love Rachel Roy, her style and her designs but I didn't love this book. This is basically a self-help book centred around anecdotes about her life coupled with helpful fashion tips. It is a beautiful layout with very chic sketches.

I really enjoyed the chapter on 'Investing Wisely in Your Wardrobe with the insert on the types of Handbags 101 by Andre Leon Talley.

Although the fashion tips were solid and helpful, I felt like they could have been depicted via pictures than sketches of outfits. I also felt like certain chapters could be more impactful with a recap bullet point section at the end. I also thought that some of the advice was a little gendered and steeped in respectability, particularly on the chapter on 'Sexy'. She is definitely catering to a certain class and aesthetic. The last few chapters also felt a little monotonous.

Overall, it is a cute read with great advice.

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh.