Catchy title spoke to me

How to Date Your Wardrobe: And Other Ways to Revive, Revitalize, and Reinvigorate Your Style by Heather Newberger       

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Indeed the content and presentation was a great reminder about revisiting and reassessing your wardrobe. Make no mistake, I love clothing and textiles. So much so that I find it hard to throw things out. I’ve held on to vintage clothing from the 1930’s (I bought in the 70’s, or pillaged from older relie’s wardrobes ‘cause I adore the styles, the fabrics and the cut of those earlier fashions.) I still have fav jeans and pants I bought in the 80’s, even if I no longer fit into them. (Indeed I haven’t for many moons. Sigh!)

So how does this book help? There’s not much that is new but I like the short, sharp presentation.it’s  reminded me that I can relook at what I have, and apart from those vintage pieces, I can look at how much I can reshape my thinking and subsequently my wardrobe. 

As Newberger stated, “It’s easy to lust after the past” but don’t be constrained by what you used to wear. So true! Hilariously, I recently bought a wondrous slip dress, cut on the bias (I so love that bias cut). I adored it, but crucially I had a moment’s judgement lapse and completely disregarded the truth. I am no longer a slim young thing , I’ve actually never been tall and willowy is definitely out. Fortunately it looked fabulous on my daughter, so situation saved! See I needed to look at the current me and not the past me, not be trapped by a past “narrative,” to look to the now as the book encourages.

As Newberger so pertinently reminds us,

“Lusting after someone else’s style can be helpful for inspiration, but when it comes to dressing your own body, it can frequently lead to cluttered closets filled with garments that may look better on someone else.” Oh! Point painfully taken!

The chapter on buying reaffirmed my strict policy—if I can’t return it I don’t buy from that place, and 

I need 30 days to consider to return or not. Any vendor allowing that has my support. Otherwise, forget it.

And buying multiple sizes. In some cases where I’m unsure of the labels sizing I’ve done that but that’s a huge initial monetary layout so the article has to be super special for me to consider that action, and ideally the company has to offer free postage for delivery and return.

The difficult chapter was buying things on sale. Hands up—guilty! I really need to take this on board  as I’m so-oo tempted!!

I related to Newberger’s word about jeans. If you find a pair that looks great on. Buy them. Better to have 2 or 3 pairs that fit well and look good than to buy more that don’t. A definite occassion when “less is more.”

This is a no nonsense look at cultivating and reassessing your wardrobe which just suited me.

A William Morrow and Custom House ARC via NetGalley 

Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change