Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Let's be clear: I hate to shop for clothes. My short (5'1"), rotund (I'm not going to share, but I'm definitely plus-sized) body does not lend itself to a happy day of perusing the racks and searching for the next great piece. Add in a relatively boring sense of style (solid colors, black pants, penny loafers) and fashion and I are not on speaking terms. If this describes you in any way, The Capsule Wardrobe is the book for you. Think of The Capsule Wardrobe as the successor to the KonMari method. If you, like me, have considered a great clean-out but panic over the idea of being naked and afraid, Wendy Mak's book will provide you with some peace of mind and comfort. Wendy Mak demonstrates that it is possible to pare your wardrobe down to 30 items and still have a functioning wardrobe. The thirty items? 7 bottoms (skirts, pants, etc) 6 tops 6 top layer items (blazer, sweater, jacket, coat, etc.) 3 purses 6 pairs of shoes Accessories. (Don't count that. I know it's not 30 but I don't have the book in front of me right now.) Work wear, weekend wear and going out are all included. This does not include loungewear or gym wear. She doesn't tell you to pare down underwear or socks. Just your main dressing pieces. More importantly, she provides a full table of possible combinations. Again, I'm not brave or confident in my attire and my ability to match things up, so having a foolproof guide helps.This book is designed as a jumping off point and not something that is set in stone. Work with it, make it personal, and remember: each part must work with the whole. Don't buy just because it's on sale. How will the new piece work in your wardrobe? Now, the book does have a few weak points. I think every woman will raise an eyebrow at her impassioned defense of skinny jeans (or is that just me?). She defends it ably (your legs and bum don't look as bad as you think, you need to be able to tuck your pants into your boots, etc), but that might be further than most women want to go. Also, she maintains that this will give you over 1000 different looks. I think that might be overstating it, but you'll definitely get over 100. So now that it's January and I'm standing in front of my closets in disgust, looking at clothes I must have purchased on an alcoholic bender, shoes in need of repair that I haven't repaired or discarded, and shirts and bottoms I haven't worn in two years, I'm feeling brave. Between Marie Kondo and Wendy Mak, I can finally remove some of these clothes from my closet and pare down to the essentials. The Capsule Wardrobe is helping me make the decision on what to keep and what to toss/donate/give away and I'm doing so in the knowledge that I'll still be able to leave the house looking relatively put together in the end. Advance Reader Copy supplied by Publisher. This review is my honest opinion.