On February 2nd, Grace Helbig released her second book Grace & Style: The Art of Pretending You Have It. At first glance, this may look like a quirky style guide from the perspective of your favorite YouTuber, but it is actually a fun read about how Helbig faces the world of fashion. Unlike typical style guides that advise readers about what to wear on a job interview or how to achieve the perfect winged eyeliner, Helbig takes the opportunity to talk about her personal relationship with clothes, share her favorite ways to trick people into thinking you took a shower, and her dedication to what she believes are the 10 commandments of online shopping.
What I love about this book – and what I initially fell in love with while reading her last book, Grace’s Guide: The Art of Pretending to be a Grown Up – is the relatability that comes along with her writing. Helbig doesn’t sugar coat anything. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather read a breakup letter to a pair of heels than an essay about why I should own ten pairs of shoes I don’t know how to walk in. Along with Helbig’s personal stories about her first trip to Limited Too (same, girl) and the pressure from your peers to look a certain way, there is a refreshing perspective that inspires the reader to explore a brand new relationship with style. Helbig’s style is something I’ve always adored – she taught me the beauty of owning statement necklaces to make any outfit look like you actually made an effort – and this book definitely takes it to the next level. After reading it, rather than feeling the need to run out spend my last paycheck at CVS for new makeup, I found myself excited to see what new things I could do with what I already had in my closet.
Helbig also adds a unique spin to what you would typically expect to see in a style guide. Of course there are “must have” lists and recommendations of her favorite products, but in typical Grace Helbig fashion (pun definitely intended), there are silly anecdotes that you can use to create new looks. She shares BLTs and BFFs (Better Looking T-shirts and Best Feet Friends), writes diary entries from the perspective of sweatpants, and adds her personal touch of sarcasm to some quotes from famous people in the fashion industry. My favorite is probably Karl Lagerfeld’s “One is never over- or underdressed with a little black dress”, which is edited to read “One is never over- or underdressed if they allow their crippling social anxiety to keep them from going to the party altogether.” She gets me.
If it isn’t painfully obvious at this point, I loved this book. I highly recommend it to anybody who is interested in learning about how Helbig developed her own ideas about fashion, or someone who wants the reassurance that you can definitely use dry shampoo instead of showering on a daily basis – as long as you pair that practice with the “carry deodorant at all times” advice she shares in her first book. Want to wear shoes with French fries on them? Interested in how to revive your favorite T-shirt you got when you were ten that you can’t seem to throw away? Wondering if you should order that French bulldog ring and live out your dream as a dog parent? If so, I would definitely pick up a copy of Grace & Style. Because as Grace proudly states, “when it comes down to it, “style” is just a simple way of saying “I showered.”