Clothes... and other things that matter

A beguiling and revealing memoir from the former Editor of British Vogue

By: Alexandra Shulman

Narrated by: Alexandra Shulman

'She has written about her clothes, and given us some scintillating reading. [...] hugely engaging memoir.' - Emily Bearn, The Spectator

'I really loved this book - it's warm, thought-provoking and honest. In the end, I had to ration myself because I didn't want to finish. In these frankly strange times it was wonderful and comforting.' - Victoria Hislop

'I loved this book. It's great company and a Corona comfort. Alexandra Shulman's style is unaffected, immediate and hilariously dry. She's brilliant at observing everyday feelings in a joy-sparking turn of phrase - but better still she has made me feel so much better about owning too many clothes. Instead of doing a ruthless edit I find myself curating my own private exhibition - inside my wardrobe hang not just clothes, not just stories but my own autobiography.' - Helena Bonham Carter

'From the hat that went to the a Royal wedding to a life-changing bathrobe, Alexandra Shulman tells her life story in clothes ... in her hotly anticipated memoir' -You magazine

'Clothes... and other things that matter is a book not only about clothes but about the way we live our lives. From childhood onwards, the way we dress is a result of our personal history. In a mix of memoir, fashion history and social observation I am writing about the person our clothes allows us to be and sometimes the person they turn us into.' - Alexandra Shulman

In Clothes... and other things that matter, Alexandra Shulman delves into her own life to look at the emotions, ambitions, expectations and meanings behind the way we dress.

From the bra to the bikini, the trench coat to trainers, the slip dress to the suit, she explores their meaning in women's lives and how our wardrobes intersect with the larger world - the career ladder, motherhood, romance, sexual identity, ambition, failure, body image and celebrity.

By turns funny, refreshingly self-deprecating and often very moving, this startlingly honest memoir from the ex-Editor of British Vogue will encourage women of all ages to consider what their own clothes mean to them, the life they live in them and the stories they tell.

(p) 2020 Octopus Publishing Group©2020 Alexandra Shulman

loved the sentimental aspects

Alexandra was a great editor and it's clear that her strengths came from recognizing the unfrivolous, less insipid aspects of the industry. It's sad to learn that her successor was so unprofessional and simply not a good person. I've lost interest in british vogue which I used to prefer over the original American version.

A thorough look at fashion, with references to her own style and life

When I first started this book, I have to admit I almost gave up on it. The early chapters, to me, seemed to focus more on her own life, rather than the world of fashion. But I went back to listening, and I started to enjoy it more.

I felt impressed with her work and its breadth, as I listened. There are many short chapters here, each with a fashion topic of interest. She shares her views on blue jeans, the modern evolution of hand bags, slip dresses, and T-shirts, to name a few. She even covered lipstick, focusing in on one color (pink).

I bought this selection because I wanted to hear what an editor of British Vogue had to say. And as I listened, I came to appreciate her own experiences not just in fashion, but in life. Recommended!

Absolute icon.

A great book for anyone that loves fashion and has an emotional connection to their clothing. Love the historical contexts she gives for different clothing items. Just a wonderful honest story of an industry icon!

Don't take your clothes for granted.

Though I hardly have access to the beautiful designer pieces that the author has been exposed to, I started to rethink about my wardrobe and it's affect on my life.

Loved it

Loved the connection to important life events to regular clothing, that explains our attachments. So true!!