I love lists; I love the illusion of order and control that a list gives me.  I make lists all the time; lists are soothing and comforting and calming.  

But a list can also be limiting, because it makes us conscious of what is left out.  The whole idea of a To Do list, for example, is to eliminate all the unnecessary things that clutter our day so that we can focus ONLY on the list and GET THINGS DONE.  And while this kind of focus can be helpful, it can also be stressful, because we're aware of all the possibilities we are passing by.

Fashion magazines are big on lists: Ten Must Haves For Fall!  Twenty Basics For Your Work Wardrobe!  Five Things to Stop Wearing Right Now!  These lists, of course, are designed to kindle a need to shop -- after all, who actually has all ten things on the Must Haves for Fall list?  No one!  But clip the list and head for the mall and all your problems will be solved!

Maybe.

What if there were a list that was NOT about shopping, that was NOT designed to make you feel like your closet is a desert and you are doomed to wear those damn yoga pants every single day for the rest of your life?  What if there were a list that laid out all the possibilities for basics and accessories, all while leaving you plenty of room to create a style that is individual and unique and yours?

I've found that list.

Nina Garcia's second book, The One Hundred, is precisely this: it is a list of Garcia's top 100 wardrobe pieces, items that she would argue every woman needs.  But what I like about this book is Garcia's approach; she is not urging you to rush out and shop, but instead to look carefully at what you own and how it works, and to think about how you can add classic, timeless pieces to your closet to build a stylish, functional wardrobe.

I love that.

Garcia's premise is simple: "There is no ultimate list, as it would go against the very nature of fashion and style, and the frenetic rebelliousness inherent in a truly stylish woman walking down the street wearing that perfectly unexpected mix of color and fabric.  Style is dangerously unpredictable."  She goes on to say that "if you are not altering each or some of the items on this list to suit your personal style, you are not playing the style game correctly or for your benefit."  In other words, a list is only a starting point; how you wear the pieces on it is what really gives you style.

Garcia's list is extensive, moving from staples like the A line dress and trench coat and luggage to accessories like the cocktail ring and the silk scarf.  She covers formal and casual, couture and vintage, upscale and downtown.  There is something here for everyone; you will find pieces you actually own and pieces you wish you owned and pieces you never even thought about owning.

Garcia's book has flaws -- she peppers her list far too liberally with quotations, many of which are actually irrelevant to her project, as though she doesn't trust her own voice -- but her list is provacative and inspiring.  Ruben Toledo provided illustrations for this book, and the book itself is beautiful and stylish.  Garcia talks her way through each item on the list, offering a brief history of its evolution and suggestions for how to wear each piece and recommendations for brands (although most are high end).

Garcia's book is like a timeless issue of Vogue, one that is beyond trends.  It's a pleasant read, and one that will send you running to your closet to see what you own and how you can style it.

Who else is reading The One Hundred?

Bagsnob is awaiting their interview with Garcia -- they're one of her favorite sites (and one of mine, too).

UrbanGirl is giving away an advance copy of The One Hundred -- you have until the 21st to enter.

My Fashion Life reviews The One Hundred and mentions some other great fashion books you might want to check out.

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com.

Susan Wagner writes about style at Fashion Find and ParentDish, and about everything else at Friday Playdate. Have a pressing style question? Email her at fridaystyle.susan@gmail.com.