A short list of things I’ve always assumed can’t be gleaned from a book: Kissing, dancing, dressing. After spending the weekend with the recently released Nordstrom Guide to Men’s Everyday Dressing, I am prepared to say that I may have been wrong about the last.

It’s not that trend expert and author Tom Julian’s tips on the “workday dressy” look hit, in my mind, just the right note, or that I agree wholeheartedly with all of his ideas about and details. In fact, bits like this, “Whether they stand out because of contrasting color, innovative shape, or vibrant thread, out-of-the-ordinary buttons give a simple shirt flair and personality,” on the subject of Novelty Buttons, (see also: embroidery on denim pockets) strike me as potentially bad information. We all know that guy, and I think any book that attempts to address style and tell the reader what to wear needs to be taken with a grain of salt, and maybe the veto power of a trusted friend.

I do think that style can’t be taught. It can, however, be encouraged and cultivated, and maybe, with varying success, copied or co-opted; kind of a fake-it-til-you-make-it thing. And for guys transitioning from sweatshirts-and-Levis to oh-God-please-don’t-make-me-wear-Dockers, or from dot-com-layoff to now-what???, the Nordstrom Guide (available in stores and online) makes simple work of identifying basics (sport shirts, sweaters, pants, shorts, jeans, outerwear) and finding a way to pair each with good info, and good photos, on fabric, details, shoes, and day-to-day applications (which is where you get into “workday dressy” and “travel dressy” and other uncomfortable -y constructions).

And the Nordstrom Guide isn’t trying to the Rachel Zoe or Sporty Spice book (thank God). This is definitely a starter tome. It’s not for the guy who obsessively watches the Dries runway shows, or even for the guy who already owns seven Steven Alan shirts and knows when and where to sport his Quoddy driving mocs. I think, actually, considering it’s for-the-beginner feeling, the hardest thing about giving a guy the Nordstrom Guide is the implication that said guy needs the guide.

But that brings us back to the gentleman in transition. And these days, there are certainly a few of those hanging around.

Although there is no chapter on suiting, smart bits on tailoring, proper fit, cuff length, and dress shirts will be helpful to guys getting into the five-days-of-ties lifestyle. Still, this book won’t answer his questions about notched collars and three buttons vs. two. For that, I suggest spending a lunch hour with Brett at the downtown Nordstrom, Luke at Mario’s, Butch at Butch Blum, John at Jack Straw, or Gian at DeCaro Sartoria.