'The fairy godmother doling out advice is the eminently stylish Lucia van der Post, who manages never to patronise her reader or -- as other guides do -- write as though she has been lobotomised ... Her tips on simple but treacherously difficult things like how best to wear black are vital reading' -- Vogue 'With no-nonsense bravura she filters out the rubbish and highlights the ways to age glamorously, dress chicly, entertain fabulously, be a supportive and warm friend, mother and wife ... Insightful, practical and poignant' -- Easy Living 'Poised, elegant and idiosyncratic, Lucia is the grande dame of style ... Good advice was never so glam' -- Eve 'Finishing school in a book' -- Daily Mail/ Weekend 'If the word elegance touches you in a deep, primal place, then this book will do it for you ... this book is soaked in the essence of van der Post, heady but grounded with earthy undertones' -- Good Housekeeping 'Much-adored journalist crafts wise words about fashion, fun and family' -- Daily Candy 'A lot of information packed into this single volume, from how to dress for your age to the author's pick of the best cleansers and moisturizers available' -- Sainsbury's Magazine 'Some tips are common sense while others are authoritative gems of insight. The Financial Times "sage avoids being patronising, and offers an entertaining read, even if many tips are achievable only with a good wage' -- The Big Issue 'This fantastic style companion reveals the secrets of achieving an uber-glam woman-of-the-world lifestyle ... This book could change your life for the better. Even your mother would approve' -- Now Magazine 'Things I Wish My Mother Had Told Me "benefits from the author's chatty style and covers everything from dress to make up, plastic surgery and modern etiquette' -- Financial Times 'Winsome tome packed with shrewd fashion advice ... it's a big cut above all the other fashiony "how-tos". No "how to face the paparazzi" rubbish here, just common sense, and a dash of glamour' -- Sunday Times/ Style 'Packed with golden rules from style queen Lucia' -- Look 'A compendium of wardrobe, cosmetic and all-round advice from The Times" style writer' -- Grazia 'Van der Post's book is the most grown-up self-help book I've read' -- Scotsman 'Every inch as gorgeous as a book on style should be' -- Glamour 'Wonderfully old-fashioned ... you'll find yourself reading it all.And maybe even putting some into practice. After all, life is too short not to live it elegantly and well' -- Sunday Canberra Times 'An arbiter of style ... Full of fabulous, glam motherly advice' -- Sun Herald (Australia) 'Ahelpful, all encompassing guide to everything a stylish woman needs to know ... all written as though a dear friend is sharing a lifetime of experience with you' -- Townsville Bulletin (Australia) 'Comprehensive compilation covers such subjects as make-up skills, vitamin injections, plastic surgery and wardrobe advice' -- Daily Telegraph (Australia) 'Van de Post has put in writing everything you wish your mother had told you, and she has done it with the style and pizzazz she is renowned for' -- South Coast Register (Australia)

Lucia van der Post has a weekly style advice column, 'Ask Lucia',in The" Times" . She was the founding editor of the Financial Times"'s How to Spend It "magazine and has also written for the New Statesman", Departures" and many others.