This past month I read The Curated Closet, and I got SO much out of it that I wanted to share a quick book review with you!
Forever ago I posted about The Life Changing Magic Of Tidying Up (my post is here). And while I got a lot of inspiration from that book about how to clean out my closet, I didn’t learn much about how to shop better.
So for the past couple years I’ve stayed in a cycle of buying, cleaning out, then selling or donating… aaannd repeat.
I was no longer hoarding, but I didn’t feel any closer to having a closet full of clothing that fit my style either.
One of the things I really love about this book is that it is INSANELY detailed. There is so much information and homework.
If you do complete the steps (I did everything she said to do), you will learn so much about yourself, your style and your goals before you spend another dollar. It took me a few weeks to do all the homework, back in November, and I had so much fun with it all.
When I was done, I finally felt like I had a clear picture of how I want to dress, what my go-to “uniforms” are and how to shop smarter in the future.
It made me such a pickier shopper, which is what I really needed. And I finally feel like I am building up a closet full of things that I not only love, but that are flattering and useful for my everyday life.
Yay!
I LOVE that the book doesn’t recommend a bunch of basics for everyone, like a trench coat or black heels. I always hate when magazines and blogs do that because there are no basics that work for everyone. I seriously never wear white button up shirts, but every list will always say you need one. Meh.
I love that this book helps you spend the time to develop a completely customized plan for your wardrobe. To me, that’s the key because no two people are the same!
I am super grateful I found this book when I did. If you struggle at all with building up a closet full of clothes that are useful and that you love, this would probably be a good read for you!
P.S. You can read about Emma’s experience with The Curated Closet here!
xx -Elsie
I need to read both the curated closet and the life changing magic of tidying. I’m also torn on whether to watch the new netflix series and I’ve heard mixed reviews x
Brilliant insights. Wish you shared more, there are a lot of great suggestions here. I have found my closet to be in need of a makeover every time I look into it. So, I sometimes wonder what to do about its contents. But this book sounds just like the solution I have been looking for.
OMG! I need this book so badly! My wardrobe is a mess!!! I’ve just got too many things (or too little space) and I can’t decide what to get rid of and what to keep… haha
Did you have to throw away a lot of stuff after you’ve read the book?
Tatjana xx
www.fashionartista.com
what a great idea. i’ve been thinking to it since before the holiday.
thank you so much for sharing
I read The Life Changing Magic Of Tidying Up last year
And love the idea of capsule closet, i have reduced my closet so much but i feel i can do more work in it
This book is the one i need!
http://mykitschworld.blogspot.com.es/
i’ve been so inspired lately by mari kondo and the minimalists and am slowly (it’s been a year and a half of very careful being) building a capsule all year round wardrobe, after realising no one could define what “essentials” were but me, because everyone has a different lifestyle and preferences, i’ve finally come very close to being finished with my wardrobe and i feel like i’ve finally found a style that is practical but that i also feel great in! so happy to hear this book helped you <3
youre the best 🙂 looking forward to the blog post
I am curious about this one – especially because I’ll be moving halfway round the globe later this year and I don’t feel like taking all my crappy clothes with me. I did do some assignments from Colette Patterns Wardrobe Architect (https://blog.colettehq.com/wardrobe-architect) some time ago, which seems like something similar but for sewists (for whom the cost of not knowing their style is even higher).
Thanks for sharing this!
I usually don’t buy this type of books but this looks like a good bedtime read to hopefully finally change my approach to my wardrobe and buying clothes.
I recently moved to Singapore from Belgium, which means that my previously almost completely winter/autumn/spring closet transformed into a 100% summer collection (read= left all my previous clothes in Europe and had to buy everything from scratch).
I am still building it and I already feel I’m overbuying or buying too impulsively, so this might be a good moment to do a small clean-up (I have been living there for only 5 months so I haven’t accumulated that much) and re-start with a new mindset (before it’s too late :p )
I’m gonna give this a try, hope it will work for me too!
xx Al
I didn’t buy any clothes in 2015. I still have a closet full, and I see no reason to buy in 2017 (I get vicarious shopping thrills via my kid, who continues to outgrow things). That said, I see the disconnect between what I wear and what I love but don’t wear, and it’s that I still fall for looks for my old lifestyle rather than my current one. I used to be a boss in an office and appear on TV, so I was very formal and dressy. Now I work from home and have a family and I need clothes that are comfortable and allow for running around without getting dirty or wrinkled. I donated most of my old work clothes–I’m not going to cook three meals a day and go to the playground wearing a suit.
An excellent resource for thinking about minimalist wardrobes is the blog The Vivienne Files.
I just grabbed this book from the library. So happy you had such positive things to say about it. My closet is long overdue for a major overhaul. Is this book something you think you will refer back to (is it worth having a copy)? Thank! D
I read it last month too. It is a lot of work defining who you are and what is your personal style. But it does help you stop buying clothes for an imaginary lifestyle.
Even after a closet purge to end all purges (seven trips to consignment, three to vintage, numerous bags to the cousins)I still have a mountain of clothes. A smaller more stylish mountain however.
I have stopped buying clothes. Completely.
I just bought this book last week and I can’t wait to dive in to it. Curating my closet is one of the things I’ve been knowing I needed to do but just haven’t done.
It looks very nice!!
Carolina 😉
https://carolinascornerblog.wordpress.com
I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a copy for this book for ages now!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Saw your post on Instagram about this and was waiting to read about it on the blog! I definitely want to check this out. I’ve been getting better at curating my closet and getting rid of the styles I don’t wear or don’t fit me properly, but I need some more help!
www.wonderlandsam.com
This book looks beautiful AND insightful – a wonderful combination 😉 Definitely adding this to my to-read list!
Anna
http://thecornishlife.co.uk
So cool you liked it that much! Got the book for Christmas (was on my wishlist ?) and can’t wait to start! I also really liked Marie Kondo’s book, but had the same problem that I didn’t know what clothes to buy. Last spring I tried buying a capsule wardrobe with like 20 items as a blog suggested. It was definitely a step forward but I somehow always end up with clothes that don’t match (especially when you try to dress yourself in the morning:))! Can’t wait to start with the new book! Thank you!
I’m buying this book immediately. Thanks for sharing!!!
Totally agree with this idea