Closet Smarts: Flatter Your Figure with the Clothes You Already Have

Ignore the previous reviews that focused on proofreading errors. This is a must have for any busy woman who wants to look her best. I not only gained fashion knowledge from this book but also enjoyed reading it! Emily Neill makes you feel like you're on a shopping trip with a friend who has a great sense of style & fashion. Her style is straightforward, honest & easy to understand. She gives lots of tips about what is flattering to all different body types and what you should never wear. There are sections on tops & bottoms - she details what necklines are flattering, which sweaters, pants etc. She gives lots of examples unlike other books that give you few examples. The book is also well organized by body type so you can go straight to your type in each section. I actually enjoyed reading about the other body types as well as my own. Now I can go shopping armed with the knowledge and confidence about what looks good on me & avoid what doesn't. Just becuase it's in style & trendy doesn't mean it's flattering! Like everyone, my life is busy and now I can stop wasting my time with unflattering clothes. Lastly, Emily's use of real women with real bodies is particularly effective. It's easy to see how fantastic they look when they dressed correctly for their type.

Reading through Emily Neill's book was an extremely inspirational experience. I wanted to go through my closet immediately and start reorganizing and I am pleased to say that I got rid of the one cashmere sweater set that I kept around out of guilt and no longer clung to those black turtle necks that swallowed me up. No use keeping things out of guilt! Out with the shapeless. Emily Neill offered some great advice for all shapes and sizes of women and provided a clear and empowering voice for women to enhance the best and detract attention from the troubled spots. Loved her voice-- straightforward, honest and smart. Thank you!!!! My only request next time is to include the flat chested post two baby body!!!!

This book is great. Down to earth and full of easy to remember pointers. The models all look great; surprisingly, and unlike lots of other fashion books, they look like real people. Many body types are represented and I could pick out my own features easily. The author focuses on real clothes as well, not fashionista designs. I felt able to go into my closet and pick out what works for me and get rid of some of my baggy, hide myself clothes. Excellent.

Here's what I really like about this book: - Actual real people of all sorts (the *REAL* sizes they wear are listed, which is very nice, in all those magazines the stars weights and sizes are totally fabricated, it seems) are used as examples. - The real people look fantastic and how they got that way is totally reasonable and not due to them changing their bodies, just what they put on them! - You can totally tell that the clothes they use in the book are like normal "I can buy it at the mall or in a catalog" type of clothes. In so many of the other books I've seen like this, or even in magazines or on those shows, they dress people in crazy expensive stuff so OF COURSE they look good! I'd look good in a Chanel suit too! sheesh! In this book, I actually recognized stuff I'd seen in stores which made it all feel so much more 'do-able'. Very down to earth in that way. Over all I would highly recommend this book, 5 stars for sure!

Since having my children, I've been struggling with finding clothes that suit my new (but not improved) body. Like other reviewers here, I like the show What Not To Wear (UK and US versions) but have not found the information they give out to be very specific. This book gave me firm guidelines about what would look good on my body type -- and showed me examples with REAL women (all beautiful, none perfect!). Hallelujah! The writing was not only clear, it was actually entertaining, and I put down the book feeling better about my body than I EVER have after reading a fashion magazine. Brava, Emily Neill! I can't wait for a sequel about shoes, accessories, maternity wear...