Ready to Wear

April 15, 2004
Dressing well is more of a science than one might suspect, asserts wardrobe consultant Andre. Five strategies are at the heart of her philosophy, beginning with an assessment of lifestyle and proceeding to the development of a shopping focus. The emphasis is on clothes investment strategy: the building of a base wardrobe, assessing your clothes, understanding your own style, and then and only then, venturing out into the stores. Lest the subject seem too frivolous, she inserts personal anecdotes and "insider tips" that do help streamline wardrobe management. Some examples: if purse switching happens frequently, consider storing cosmetics, glasses, and other handbag paraphernalia in small, zippered pouches. The minimum number of shoes for work? Three--dress pumps, loafers, and ankle boots. This handy book functions as a refresher course for those who continually moan about having nothing to wear as well as a basic reference for new-to-business women workers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)