Wardrobe Strategies for Women

This book is not for everyone. However if you are interested in color theory, silouette enhancement and description of fabrics, it is a "go to" book. I have also found it helpful in other areas of study such as watercolors, drawing, and home decor, with transferable knowledge from one area to another. It is not an "of the moment" book, as photos are dated, but has timeless content that can be used again and again.

The most informative, detailed, explanatory style guide and wardrobe manual I have read (and I've read them all). Totally recommend this book to anyone obsessed with dressing for themselves and making sense of the information provided in other books to date.

Rasband says personal color differences are so subtle that people needn't limit themselves and reminds that coloring is relative and appears to change depending on setting and does change with age and health. She then goes on to give detailed advice, from color theory, on how to alter the appearance of a color that is difficult for you to wear by, for example, using the Law of Areas. That's really what I want to know - how to wear whatever color I want by experimenting with the amount of it and the colors juxtaposed with it and, yes, an adjustment to my makeup colors or intensity. The book is formatted as a course workbook and thoroughly covers everything in one volume, surpassing my two shelves worth of wardrobe books. In fact, I am going to purge a number of confusing and misleading volumes in favor of referring to this one and plan to check Rasband first before I decide to read yet another wardrobe book. If you only buy one, I would start with this one. She uses a yin yang system of analysis of fashion "types" and garment details, much like Kibbe's Metamorphosis. They also seem to break down according to ingenue versions and more mature versions of the same sort of type. Superior and unique method of editing your closet and analyzing as you do. Scaling Down is better on why you really don't need to be afraid to let go of too much but Rasband is better on figuring out what little you do need and how to decide what goes. Covers capsule wardrobe ("clothing clusters"), borrowing from other types a la Emily Cho whom she credits (yes, I have those books, too), body builds including pregnancy, closet arrangement, wardrobe care, analysis of print fabrics and texture. Much is presented in detailed charts and throughout she anticipates your questions and answers them. Very much a "just the facts, Ma'am" pragmatic kind of approach. This is the antithesis of those shmaltzy books that try to prop your failing ego with little pep talks and exhortation or that chide you for letting yourself get out of hand. I didn't feel psychologized. She assumes no knowledge on your part and proceeds to tell you everything useful in a straightforward, respectful manner with no condescension or imperiousness. She explains and justifies her points throughout and does not ask you to take her word on faith. It is utterly factual and is about the information and how you can apply it and not about her or trying to be like her. Though this is the older edition, I found most of the photo illustrations still appealing and wearable. Ignore the atypical mannish outfit on the cover.