Curated Closet

[Wavingnotdowning]

I am just reading this amazing book. Has anyone else tried The Curated Closet. Any tips?

I am definitely going to read up on project333 - thanks

My book arrived today! I’ve just sat down with it. I’m looking forward to reading it.

I've ordered the book - sounds good!

How is it?

I need a revamp.

I’m liking it so far, but I haven’t got far enough through to be able to give you a decent answer. One of the first parts of it is to gather loads and loads of pictures of clothes and images you like the look of. The purpose being to find patterns and themes in what you like. I’m only up to that bit but can report back again, if needed.

I just got a 2nd hand copy ! Looks good ☺️

MissLucy I did Google and there are at least 4 books with the same title. And I wanted know which one was being discussed.
Happy with that answer? Jeez

I don’t know if you’ve been answered yet but it’s the Anuschka Rees one.

I love the Curated Closet! I’ve been going through it for around 6 years. It helped me identify my outfit formulas and feel more confident in what I should be looking for to fill gaps in my wardrobe instead of picking up pieces of clothing at random.
the Pinterest board I created as Anuska suggests was out of control though! It still confuses me a bit now but I really am rubbish at dissecting outfits- I just got drawn to images which all seemed pretty unrelated.

I did go and try on tons of different things in shops- unfortunately I tried a maxi dress which was totally the wrong shape on me (I need waist definition) and I then wrongly assumed long dresses didn’t work on me. Now I know I just needed more of a midi dress but it was several years later I realised that!

the thing which really helped was identifying and then investing in the under represented areas of my wardrobe. Day to day I’m either at the stables, actually on a horse, walking my dogs or cleaning houses. I didn’t really need 5 pairs of Airmax which I was too scared to wear very often because they’d be wrecked in 5 minutes!

So for example.. This a/w I bought an Equidry coat for £160- it’s not exactly flattering but it kept me so warm and dry and I can do yard jobs, ride and dog walk in it. I’ve worn it every single day so far! I also got some leggings with the matching crop tops so I had a cohesive base to add to. I have a long way to go still but I was very lost and resistant to spending money on the practical stuff I actually needed.

I have whole notebooks containing my notes on the book. I did get the workbook as well but I didn’t learn too much more from using it- it is nice to have though. She has a website with useful blog posts on it as well but I don’t think it’s been updated for a while.
Looking forward to hearing about how you all get on with it.

I’m in the early stages of reading the book. I’ve been totally lost with my style but have found the suggested practise of pinning outfits I like to Pinterest very interesting. Definite themes are beginning to emerge from what looks like a jumble of random postings. I’m tending to gravitate toward natural fibres - wool/linen/cotton in earthy and neutral colours. I’m becoming more decisive about what I like and dislike and am less inclined to seek validation from external opinion - It’s a start - and exciting to see an embryonic sense of style emerge from years of style wilderness 😂 I’m taking my time with this book… it’s making me far more critical of fast fashion and is now having an influence on my purchasing decisions. I want to buy fewer, better quality items of clothing. Decluttering my wardrobe has led to a house declutter. This book has helped to initiate a whole mind shift in the way I think and live my life.

@BeretRaspberry thank you :)

It all sounds fascinating - but what i can imagine happening with me is, i'll pin lots of outfits i like the look of, but they'll be totally unsuitable for my shape.

I know i can't wear the outfits i love the look of.

Which is why i think my wardrobe is a mish mash of mistakes. Items where i've given in to fancy but look bloody ridiculous, and things i'm bored solid with but i wear because they suit my figure.

I had the same thoughts. I think I would pin lots of outfits that either don’t suit me (eg I love yellow and orange but look terrible in them) or are unsuitable for my lifestyle (mostly WFH in a freezing house but do a daily often muddy school run!)

I am wondering about that too, to be honest. Although to be fair, I struggle so much with clothes because of my size so that’s half the battle. Hopefully it will help though and the book was only £6.90 so it’s worth a punt.

I have, however, also just received the workbook from Amazon as I do love stuff like that and it’s payday so why not!😂

lol - if nothing else it will be fun and it's never a bad thing to have a fresh look at what we keep buying!

I've got so much of the same darn thing or close variations of it ... Looking in my wardrobe is a complete snooze fest! 😂

But ... does that mean i've already got the sacred 'capsule wardrobe' after all ?!?! 🤔If so it's no fun 😂

I recommend this book every time someone asks about re-vamping their entire wardrobe on here. I think the advice is measured and sensible which tends to be the opposite of advice you get by some people. One thing that stands out to me is her comments about buying clothes that are “flattering” which is essentially about looking slimmer. Style is not about disguising your body and you need to liberate yourself from this notion. I mention this because of the comments about not being able to wear certain styles because of your size… you (we) have a lot of conditioning to unpick around that.

I haven’t explained that very well…. The author believes in finding your style regardless of size ( and not having that as the main driver)

Yeah. I noticed she ‘berated’ the word flattering and that warmed me to it even more. The issue I have at my size is not being able to find well made and well fitting clothes. I know a lot (not all) plus size people I follow are very different from what I like. Like there’s a lot of pin up/50’s stuff or bright dungarees or in your face colours. Which are just not ‘me’.

Mine’s the same! But again, mine could be size related and even less choice. I think when I find something vaguely ok and not awful, I buy numerous. I bought some denim joggers from M&S last year and thought they were great so bought 5 pairs in total. I like to tuck a t shirt in them but noticed recently when I do that, it looks like I’m wearing a nappy!😂 I think I’ll either have to go much shorter for the t shirt or get rid of them.

Now that I am really getting into the book, the big revelation for me has been her description of a 'fantasy wardrobe'. It has stopped me in my tracks. I am so guilty of buying for my fantasy life, and I had never realised this before.

One thing that stands out to me is her comments about buying clothes that are “flattering” which is essentially about looking slimmer. Style is not about disguising your body and you need to liberate yourself from this notion. I mention this because of the comments about not being able to wear certain styles because of your size… you (we) have a lot of conditioning to unpick around that.

Oh I'd heard of the book but didn't know that about it Divebar2021. Now you've got me interested!

@Floisme

Yep I can’t find the section now to quote it but her aim is to help people find their own style away those rules we’ve all dragged around with us to do with “age appropriateness” or size. ( Thanks Trinny & Susannah for contributing to that.). It isn’t a ticky box “buy a trench coat and a white shirt” in the pursuit of the perfect capsule wardrobe either. There is quite a bit of thought that needs to go into it though. I’ve needed to really rethink everything since I cut my hair “short short” so I could probably benefit from rereading it. I always imagined that you had your style pegged though Flosime ? ( for some reason I have tweed jackets lodged in my head for you)

Oh yeah I'm very into a tweedy look but I also have an inner Grace Kelly that pops up occasionally Divebar, so I flip flop sometimes. I also enjoy the whole process of thinking about clothes. I must admit I'd pigeon holed the book as a 'Here's a short cut to dressing well' kind of thing but it sounds like I'd got it wrong, thanks for the intel!

@BeretRaspberry

If you’re talking plus size then I agree with you… a couple of influencers I follow I find are just following the main trends. They’re not doing anything particularly interesting - still buying fast fashion. One recommendation I have would be to find a good tailor or seamstress and get clothes altered. A small tweak can make a big difference.

I follow a few stylists but most aren’t plus sized and I’ve never seen them size anyone that’s objectively fat. If they’ve styled larger people, they have been taller with no lumps and bumps or tums etc.

And then the plus size fashion accounts are nice to see in terms of body diversity but I haven’t found any with the same style as me. I found a woman called ‘I’m just me - Marleen’ and I like some of her outfits but then she does massive Shein hauls and that doesn’t sit right with me.

I had a thread myself about how to look better fat, perimenopausal and grey haired/washed out skin. I got a recommendation for Clare Watkins who I like, though she’s not as big as me. And I’ve found a lady close by who makes from scratch and does alterations so I’m going to look into that once I’ve got a bit further with this book!