You Are What You Wear: What Your Clothes Reveal About You Paperback – March 27, 2012

I loved this book. It was entertaining to read, and the content was insightful and interesting and went beyond the kind of fluff you might expect from a book analyzing people's fashion choices. The author cites a wide variety of psychological research throughout the book and delves into the specifics of her own client's stories, so you're not just skimming along with generalizations the whole time. You get up-close and personal and gain real insights along the way into what causes people to wear what they wear and how they can use fashion to resolve personal issues and create the life they really want for themselves.I always enjoyed watching the show "What Not to Wear." This book includes the same kind of specific fashion advice and a similar "wow effect" of seeing a transformed wardrobe, but it includes a whole other layer of juicy psychological insights that make it that much more fascinating. I was impressed by the way the author was able to help her clients better understand themselves and embrace positive changes. The only downside of this book was that it was missing a real sense of conclusion. But I really did enjoy every page.

I had fun reading this book, and I did purge my closet afterwards, although I thought I already had done a good job of that not so long ago, which just goes to show! The nagging voice of reason - or shall I say J. Baumgartner - was stronger. So, it works. There's even a 20-steps-to-purge-your-closet that's pretty perfect.How the book is structured : the main eight or nine reasons why we find ourselves with too many/too small/ too "young" or "old" clothes... each have their own chapter.Of course, the most popular/common reasons come first in the book, and they're also by far the biggest chapters (and let's face it, if you buy this book you're likely prey to the first reason - namely, buy too much stuff). Each is interesting and illustrated by the story of a certain client.There were no real clichés, it was relevant and went to the bottom of the matter.The only thing is out of the different reasons listed, only a couple will apply to you. So while the rest of the book is still very interesting and gives you the complete picture, some things won't be directly relevant for you. However, I certainly didn't mind, and I don't see any other way the book could have been written.

First off, I'm not the book author! To be honest,if I hadn't been a follower of Dr. B's Psychology Today blog, I would have thought this book was just like every other fluffy, superficial style guide. I don't buy style guides because as a busy mom with a limited budget, I feel like I'm n a different planet from those skinny toothpick gals in Prada you see on tv. But Dr. B is actually a psychologist, and this book is about so much more than clothes! Dr. B's whole point is that clothes and shopping behavior are just like any other behavior --they tell a lot about what is happening inside. This book is more about transformation than it is about clothes. I really could relate to the bit where she talks about her grandmother's button collection, because my grandmothers was that same generation, and had literally shelves and shelves of button boxes. If you are looking to understand your own shopping and dressing behavior and make positive changes, you'll find this book both fun and supportive. It leaves you feeling good and uplifted.

I enjoyed this book, on the whole. The questionnaire sections at the beginning about your clothing past, present and future, really made me think about my relationship with clothes: why I buy what I buy, why I keep what I keep. However, Baumgartner herself comes across as pretty shallow and irritating (and not very bright, to be honest), and her psychological conclusions about things look very dodgy to me. The case studies have very little to do with my life. Her advice, for instance, to get rid of the 'lowest' level of your clothing, and wear smarter stuff all the time, simply doesn't marry with my country, dirty, dog-walking existence. We are not all American and we don't all live in cities! However, I think the book is worth it for the questionnaire sections alone, and I will be re-reading those in the future.

I picked this book up because of the catchy title and started to read it at the store. I bought it after getting hooked on the kindle sample. Very basic, clear and to the point. It is a nice intro into why clothing choices matter that doesn't come off as written by the fashion industry trying to get you to buy things. The chapter categories make it easy to skip around the book to what you are most interested in finding out more about. The list of questions provided in each chapter are helpful in getting you started in thinking about your own wardrobe. Each individual reader should know that there may be more or less analysis that they may need to do on their own. Reading this book by itself will not solve your wardrobe woes but it could serve as a good start if you are willing to be honest and explore some of the ideas presented. If you are not someone who has wardrobe problems or is concerned with clothing but enjoy reading short stories about why some people do what they do then you too should consider picking it up. At least try the kindle sample and if that does not hook you this book will not be your cup of tea.