Reviews for The Lucky Shopping Manual: Building and Improving Your Wardrobe Piece by Piece

The average rating for The Lucky Shopping Manual: Building and Improving Your Wardrobe Piece by Piece based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2009-08-22 00:00:00 Whitney Lynn i thought this book was more informative & applicable that the style guide. the idea of a "shopping manual" kind of make the anarcho anti-capitalist in me cringe, but we all need to clothe our naked forms, do we not? & i am no longer a mere wisp of a 20-year-old, able to fit into any garment i stumble across in the local goodwill, indifferent to slings & arrows which accompany whatever bizarre ensemble i cobble together. i have to admit, i am really attracted to books that are like guides on how to do stuff for which you wouldn't think you'd really need instruction. this book goes through every piece of clothing that may be in a lady's wardrobe, from swimsuit cover-ups to business suits, & explains what the different fashion terminology is (handkerchief hem, scoop neck versus boat neck, etc), how to make sure the fit is correct, & what kinds of cuts & styles flatter different kinds of bodies & how an inappropriate fit can render an otherwise charming garment monstrous. it includes info on how different materials drape & lie so you know what to expect from a well-made item in the changing room, & what to leave on the racks, even if it's totally your style & in a great color. it also offers tips on what kinds of items are worth paying a little extra for, & which ones you should get on the cheap. certainly not all of it is going to be applicable to every woman--i doubt i will ever need a suit of any variety, but at least now i have some idea of what kind of cut might most flatter my body shape, & what trendy embellishments aren't worth the added expense. there is also information on how to care for clothes & get the most use out of them once you have them home, how to combine different wardrobe staples to make them appropriate for various climates & events, & tons of info on how to check the fit in dressing rooms. the authors repeatedly tell the reader to ignore the sizes & to feel free to go up or down a size to get the best fit--don't get so hung up on fitting into a size 8 that you end up looking like a sausage casing. if you have to wear a 10, it's really not a big deal. at the end of the day, what matters is that you look comfortable & put together. this is practical advice that i admit i have thrown out the window when i didn't want to acknowledge that i couldn't really fit into the only 31 waist jeans in the shop. at least not if i hoped to ever sit down in them. they also offer detailed info on what you might need to have a fully stocked wardrobe full of functional, well-fitted clothes that can all be worn together. again, not all of this is applicable across the board. i probably need a few more pairs of jeans than the average woman my age, because i hardly wear anything except jeans. i can probably skip any clothes that are specifically geared to office settings & stock up on casual sweaters & sneakers. but having recently looked into my dresser & realizing that i have about thirty different t-shirts, many in such a state of wear that they are practically sheer, & absolutely no buttons-downs or other tops with necklines actually flattering to my age & shape...i was definitely in the mood to have some manual tell me how to rectify the problem. there also a section on going through your current wardrobe & making difficult decisions about what stays & what goes. i know i have a ludicrous hot pink vintage dress hanging in my closet right now that's about four sizes too big, but i bought it because i loved the color & the beaded detail & the length & who cares if i makes me look like an ice skating hippopotamus? (dropped waists aren't really a good look for large-busted ladies.) i wore it exactly twice & i doubt i will ever wear it again, but have been reluctant to get rid of it before i "get more use" out of it...even though i know i never will! & i've been holding back on buying a replacement party dress that actually looks good on me because i have this pink monstrosity hanging in the closet. perhaps this book will finally enable me to close the chapter on the ludicrous pink dress & get on with my life.

Review # 2 was written on 2010-10-07 00:00:00 Ron Broadfoot I feel like I finally have a textbook I've needed all my life. If you are one of those women who, like me, has never understood the subtleties of what shirts to wear with what pants and which shoes...or what cuts or colors are flattering...or basically just how to get dressed and look like a grown up...then this is the book for you. And even though it was put together by a shopping magazine, I was profoundly impressed that (1) no product or brand promotions are made in the book, and (2) rather than encouraging you to buy MORE, this book is actually aimed at people who have too much in the closet, and it gives guidelines for how to pare down and only keep the most flattering, time-tested clothing. My beloved sister found this book first, and very helpfully made spreadsheets to use when taking closet inventory and planning for future purchases. I will be the biggest nerd in the clothing store this fall--no doubt with an actual shopping list and possibly with this manual in tow--but by golly, I'll finally know what I'm looking for and maybe by spring I'll actually know how to dress myself properly. (Here's hoping!)