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The Style Formula: The Art and Science of What to Wear

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In this book, Aricia Symes, founder and master stylist of Unfoldid, sets out an objective, fact-based approach to styling that any person can use. Whether you’re preparing for a red-carpet event or to take your kids to the playground, Aricia’s Style Formula will help you get dressed with ease and in a way that makes you feel your most confident. This isn’t a rule book of “do’s” and “don’ts,” but an actionable guide to unlocking your personal Style Identity.

With Aricia’s foundational formula, you will be able

Pick clothes that highlight the areas you choose.Build a functional wardrobe that contains only pieces that work for your body and lifestyle.Take pieces from your wardrobe and put them together to create outfits for any occasion.Embrace the creative side of styling to craft looks you love.Get in touch with your personal sense of style—what makes what you wear uniquely you.The Style The Art and Science of What to Wear will reshape the way you think about getting dressed, giving you the tools you need to transform your look in the way you want—without having to invest in a whole new wardrobe. The secret lies in the science of style.

209 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2025

57 people are currently reading
2230 people want to read

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Aricia Symes

2 books5 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Lucia.
142 reviews16 followers
October 17, 2025
A surprisingly helpful guide if, like me, you still have clothes from high school and all other seasons of your life so you struggle finding the right fit for this season. There are exercises and explanations along the way if you really want to invest a lot of time in being a self-stylist, or if you're lazy like me, easy to understand tips along the way that you should keep in mind next time you're shopping or dressing.
Profile Image for Mae B.
496 reviews12 followers
June 17, 2025
Really great ideas for styling oneself. It broke the subject matter down in a way I could easily understand it. Definitely recommend it.
Profile Image for Kewannah.
132 reviews9 followers
September 26, 2025
** I am reviewing this book on behalf of NetGalley, but the thoughts are my own. **


I haven’t read a style book or magazine in years, but since I tend to dress in a uniform—usually a dress with a blazer or sweater—I was curious about the author’s “foolproof fashion formula,” or Style ID as she calls it. I like the idea of having a blueprint so that no matter what I grab from my closet, I’ll look polished and actually love what I find there.


Getting to that point requires wading through a few chapters of setup. The author talks about her clients, raves about her formula, and then there are testimonials and case studies that go on way too long. Honestly, if I wasn’t reading this to write a review, I would have skipped ahead.


Then it gets good at Chapter 3.


There are exercises to figure out your body architecture, which might not be what you think it is, plus her concepts of vertical versus horizontal body proportions. She makes you do the work, and once you’ve mapped that out, you can start to understand the science behind the Style ID.


The section on color science really made me rethink what I assumed was just a TikTok-ified 80s fad. I found my palette (cool winter) and realized I already loved a lot of the colors in it because they were in my closet all along. Now I know why they work, and how to play with color to flatter my skin, add visual weight, or trick the eye. I even bought a coordinating set in a store based on this chapter alone.


I’m fascinated by her concept of a palette-based wardrobe where everything mixes and matches. It reminds me of that viral Steve Harvey video for men where he explains how five suits and five shirts can create 75 looks. I’m moving toward that mindset for easy mornings, but I still love my pops of color. Those out-of-the-ordinary pieces are “specialty pieces,” not wardrobe staples.

I spent a lot of time on this chapter because she also talks about how trends and colors tempt you, but you have to consider chroma, hue, saturation, and other factors before jumping in. 


I also really like her concept that you should prioritize “one-and-done” items that work on their own with no accessories or gimmicks.


Other highlights: the outfit creation flowchart is smart and succinct—I would love it as a PDF or JPEG to reference when shopping. She also shares decluttering tips that I’ll combine with Marie Kondo’s system to finally make decisions about items that have been sitting in my closet forever.


One thing I noticed in my advanced reader copy (probably fixed in the final version) is that several QR codes meant to link to more content led to 404 pages. That was a letdown.


I’m done reading, but I’m treating this book as a reference guide I’ll return to while refreshing my wardrobe. I’ve applied some concepts while shopping, but I haven’t yet done the anti-mood/mood boards or photographed items I love in my closet. It’s not that those exercises feel tedious, only that I read faster than I had time to implement everything. I want to fully commit to the system to see how it works for me.


Who is this book for? Anyone who wants to look polished and put together in clothes that fit and flatter without overthinking daily. It’s not like older style books that prescribe what skirts to pair with which tops or what to wear to a black tie barnyard spring carnival wedding. It’s deeper and foundational. The book teaches you how to use elements of the Style ID to evaluate fabric, color, body architecture, cost per wear, and how many outfits an item can generate before buying it like a stylist would. Once an item passes that test, you can basically pick outfits in the dark and know they’ll work.
Profile Image for Kenzie Tuttle.
Author 1 book3 followers
August 2, 2025
*** I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review ***

4.5 Stars - The Style Formula gives a thorough explanation of how to build a functional wardrobe that will showcase your personal style while being versatile for a wide variety of situations. Explanations are clear and easy to understand. The book contains great flowcharts for picking pieces and putting together outfits. The graphics in the color analysis section were excellent additions and I have a much better understanding of my color palette now. The information about how to make an outfit more or less dressy is very comprehensive.

I really appreciate the gender-neutral approach to styling. As a woman with a more masculine build who likes enhancing those features, I find that other style guides/tutorials focus on trying to make me look more feminine. It was refreshing to read a book that embraces the idea that not everyone is going for the same silhouette. I love that the focus is on allowing people to create whatever silhouette they like best.

Making the lifestyle pie chart was very helpful. I realized I have way too many casual clothes for my pie chart and I need to balance it out with more dressy casual clothes. I have my formal clothes for work and my casual clothes for outside work, but I don’t have much for things like going to a nice restaurant.


 My one suggestion is that I’d like more information about what effect each type of fabric or cut has on a person’s silhouette. The information that’s there is really helpful, but that’s something I’ve struggled with a lot. I often put something on thinking it will make my shoulders look broader, but it doesn’t have the desired effect. I think something like a chart listing what a style/cut will enhance and what it will downplay would really help me.

I’m very excited to get started on my closet edit. I’m definitely missing some basics and I realized there are some pieces it’s long passed time to say goodby to. This book has given me so many new ideas for outfits and I can’t wait to start playing around with the pieces I already have. I’d strongly recommend the book to anyone struggling with what to wear or just wanting to level up their wardrobe.



 Thank you so much for the copy of The Style Formula. I’m grateful for the opportunity to read it!
Profile Image for Grady.
Author 51 books1,822 followers
August 30, 2025
‘Dressing for yourself starts with you’ – Guidance from an expert

Massachusetts author/stylist Aricia Symes is the founder of Unfoldid, and now in addition to her role as a personal stylist as well as a popular speaker she shares her concepts in book format for all to read and learn a Style Identity, or as the author states, ‘I teach the art and science of style – not only to new moms, but to all people. My clients learn about the Style Formula: a formula for creating looks that work for them and reflect how they want to look. They can then apply it themselves, every time they get dressed.’ Her Style ID aims to ‘demystify, simplify, and de-stress the act of creating outfits.’

Learning how to dress “appropriately” is a factor we all face, and Symes makes discovering how to dress authentically and confidently, based on the use of personal colors, body architecture, and lifestyle that highlight our unique characteristics, a welcome lesson. Helpful concepts are accompanied by fine illustrations and references to her online aids to encourage entry into a style presentation that is our own. Very accessible guidance and beautifully written!
201 reviews10 followers
June 24, 2025
The Style Formula by Arica Symes is an approachable guide to personal style that helps readers move beyond trends and really understand what works for them. I liked how Symes broke things down in a supportive, practical way — the diagrams and flowcharts were a nice touch.

One thing I really appreciated was her tip about using a stiff yardstick or ruler (instead of a flexible measuring tape), along with a mirror, to help better assess your proportions and body shape — a very smart and practical suggestion.

I think this is a good starter book if you’re looking for advice on how to build a more intentional wardrobe. But having read many fashion and wardrobe advice books, I found this covers much of the same ground as most others — there wasn’t a lot new here for me. I also would have loved to see more visuals and style examples, since imagery really helps bring these concepts to life.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Thanks to NetGalley and Advantage Books for this e-ARC that will be published August 5th 2025.
Profile Image for Margarita Garcia.
1,028 reviews22 followers
August 24, 2025
I found this book because I lived my whole life in a city where the weather was always hot, and I moved to a very cold city. I was struggling with myself trying to find my style, and I found this book that helped me not only find a style, but also become more confident and authentic. ‘’The Style Formula'' is a compelling guide that will show you how to discover your style. With practical tools and insights, this book will become your go-to reference. It is a book that is easy to apply in everyday life without feeling overwhelmed. In addition, this book offers an empowering message, strengthening your confidence and making your style a tool for self-expression. Another thing I would like to highlight about this book is how this book will help you save time and reduce the stress of trying to choose what to wear. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for inspiration to simplify choices and create their own style.
Profile Image for Cee.
394 reviews
August 3, 2025
Very interesting! Lots of interesting info on why we may dress as we do-society’s expectations, our parent’s preferences and more. I like the concept that our body is not why something may not look best on us but that the garment is not right! We all seem to blame our body shape. I really liked this quote: “The Style Formula is not about changing your body. It’s about objectively understanding the body you have and learning to artfully manipulate your look with your clothing choices.” It’s in Section II where the fun begins! There’s lots of great advice/tips on how to chose the best pieces for your wardrobe. Oh, and the QR codes linking to the author’s website with additional info is an added bonus! If you are the least bit unhappy/not excited about how your clothes look on you I highly recommend reading this book!
42 reviews
July 17, 2025
I enjoyed reading all about finding my personal style. My closet is pretty stuffed and I have been wanting to hone down my wardrobe for years. This is just the book to help with that.

I look forward to going into my closet, trying on clothes and adjusting necklines, lengths to see what flatters most. Discovering my body architecture by using a yardstick vs a fabric measuring tape makes sense! Being realistic about my lifestyle and building a foundation wardrobe from there.

I loved the ideas about how to dress up (or down) a basic outfit. Although I do wish there were photos or sketches to accompany the many ideas.

Thank you to NetGalley and Advantage Books for this ARC copy
Profile Image for Gianfranco.
574 reviews7 followers
August 21, 2025
I wasn't expecting it

I read this book on my wife's recommendation and didn't expect much. At 30 years old, I felt out of touch with my style, and this book was an excellent revelation. I was skeptical, thinking I would be reading a book about trends and how I should dress according to my age and the occasion, but no, I found a very down-to-earth author, someone who helped me as a reader understand a little more about the relationship between identity and image, how to interpret your body and your attitude, and translate that into your own defined style—and why not, a very cool one too. I loved the book and actually recommended it to a couple of friends. They're just as skeptical as I was at first, but we'll see!
Profile Image for Almiria.
751 reviews10 followers
August 21, 2025
The Style Formula by Aricia Symes is exactly the book I was looking for! It’s the perfect guide for people like me who are clueless about style. It guides you through appropriate dressing and styling guidelines for a diverse and practical range of events. Best of all, it doesn’t prescribe specific things to wear. It encourages readers to build a style and wardrobe based on what suits their individual personality and body type.

I love that the book doesn’t require one to spend a lot of money on new clothes. It teaches you how to reuse and repurpose pieces you already own and how to get the most use out of new items. If you are not sure what your style is, Aricia Symes provides useful guidance on how to discover what you like. Highly recommended.

Profile Image for CarlitasFox.
1,475 reviews28 followers
August 22, 2025
Highly recommended
If you like fashion and enjoy wearing clothes that enhance your image, then you should read “The Style Formula” by Aricia Symes.
The idea here is to transform your image without spending so much money. Aricia gives ideas to use the clothes you have in your wardrobe and combine them in an intelligent way. Along the chapters, you’ll learn about clothes in general, colours material and shows to match and make an outstanding but comfortable image depending on the activity you have to fulfil. Everything is practical and useful for people who don't have the time or probably the money to dress according to the occasion. I found it really engaging and I learned a lot about the combination of clothes. It's a gem!







Profile Image for Marina  Lujan .
929 reviews15 followers
August 22, 2025
I love fashion, but I felt like something was missing: finding my own style. This book was just what I needed. Aricia Symes clearly explains how to discover what truly represents you, without imposing rigid rules. What I liked most is that it's not about spending money on new clothes, but rather learning to use what you already have in your closet, combining pieces in creative and practical ways.

I started applying the tips and I can already tell the difference; I feel much more confident when I dress. It's a useful guide for both special occasions and everyday life, and it opened my eyes to how to highlight what I like most about myself. Obviously, I've already recommended it to my friends, and they're happy with it.
Profile Image for Liz.
1,390 reviews32 followers
August 24, 2025
In this book, author Symes helps readers make the most of their appearance, so they feel good and confident. She also shows people how to make a good impression through their speech and behavior. This book doesn't aim to advise readers on how to dress according to the latest trends, but rather to show them what types of clothing and styles best suit them based on their height, build, and age.
I truly recommend this book to all readers who want to learn how to dress according to their body type and tastes. Furthermore, the author's explanations are extremely dynamic and easy to follow.
Another point I highlight is the myths vs. reality that this author expresses. I felt identified with many of them or could identify my thoughts in them. Certainly, a book to recommend.
Profile Image for Aneley Sánchez.
988 reviews24 followers
August 22, 2025
Simply great!

The world of fashion is something completely unexplored for me, and I must say that this book gave me a lot of information about it. Although I always felt good about the way I dressed, here I found many tips to take my style to the next level.
Aricia Symes in The Style Formula combines her knowledge and years of experience with science-based facts to deliver a style formula suitable for everyone.
I really liked it because it taught me how to choose a look that reflects what I am really looking for, and the best part is that I can do it feeling comfortable with my choice. It exceeded my expectations. It is a very useful read.
Profile Image for Melissa Hernandez.
412 reviews17 followers
August 30, 2025
I know there's a whole history behind clothes, color, and style and everything in between. I think this book is a good start to all of that. The author talks about having clothes that can handle multiple events, can handle different kinds of color coordinations, and also doing their best to avoid over consumption. At the end of the day, Symes just wants your clothes to complement your body where you will feel confident and amazing. There are so many ways to wear pants, tops, etc. that there really is an art and science behind it. I was kind of wishing there was a little more of a science, but I'm viewing this book as a start to it all.
Profile Image for Stephanie Peterman.
74 reviews2 followers
September 4, 2025
This was a GREAT giveaway win! Thank you so much for the ARC!

The Style Formula is neither prescriptive nor restrictive and is straightforward enough for anyone to understand. Obviously no two people have the exact same silhouette, lifestyle, personal taste, etc. and this book provides what is essentially a blueprint for anyone to assemble an outfit that works best for them in a way that's partly based on body measurements and tones, but mostly based on what you want and need from your clothing. This book is a great primer for building a wardrobe that can be easily mixed and matched for each individual need/want, all while staying true to your personality and saving you time.
617 reviews5 followers
December 11, 2025

If I wrote a book on how to style a wardrobe it would be much like this. There are no rules, just suggestions. The point is to be true to yourself. The clothes must suit you, not the other way around. You must be practical. What do you do with your days and your nights? What’s the your weather like?

The formula here comes from manipulating proportions to achieve balance. The author considers every factor such as color, shape, texture, pattern, size, etc. to help accentuate your assets and diminish what you consider your faults. She includes additional factors such as lifestyle and climate. She also helps you clean up your closet and shop wisely.

This is exclusively about clothes. No make-up or hair. For that you’ll need to consult other books.

Unfortunately only simple line drawings illustrate her points. How nice if we could see the examples in some color photos! They’d no doubt be cost prohibitive but what a great addition that would be.
Profile Image for Brenda.
1,349 reviews25 followers
August 21, 2025
I find this read to be really interesting. Not a fashion fan or anything but I like the simplicity of the guide, and how it helps those who want to change or improve their style to do so in a very easy and simple way.
Personally, I like that it doesn't promote fast fashion, but being more frugal and more creative with the things we have. Also, it helps find a style for your daily life to be confident and comfortable at the same time.
I think it is a very nice read and very useful to find your style, spending less, benign, more authentic and comfy.
960 reviews3 followers
August 29, 2025
More than a Book

While this is very much a how-to book for wardrobe building, it also has advice about practicalities such as the budget, closet space, and lifestyle choices. The advice is clear, concise, surprisingly universal, and refreshingly unjudgmental. Symes also refers the reader to her website for additional help.

For me, the drawbacks are the graphics or lack thereof. They’re low contrast, which makes them hard to read and they’re infrequent.

Still, a useful book and a process that would be fun to tackle with a friend.
Profile Image for Ro U.
62 reviews
Read
October 1, 2025
I recently lost a considerable amount of weight, so I was intrigued to pick this up, as I'm trying to learn more about my new body and what I want my style to be. The Style Formula started off a bit slow, but then I found it wildly helpful with activities, measurements and thought exercises that helped me refine what works best for my body type, how to actually figure out what my style is and how to make it serve me. I definitely recommend it!

Thank you Netgalley and Advantage Books for the ARC!
Profile Image for Lauren Kamran.
29 reviews
June 6, 2025
This was a great informational book! As a fresh 25 year old with a fully developed frontal lobe, I have been grappling with finding my true style and dressing the best for myself! This book offered practical information to really help narrow down what is missing when it comes to your current wardrobe and how to take what you already have and make it work for your body and personality! Feeling much more confident now on how to style myself based on my unique characteristics!
24 reviews
August 17, 2025
I received a free Kindle edition of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.

Symes lays out how to find your best colors and most flattering styles in easy to understand chapters. I'm not a big fan of shopping; I don`t want to buy a new wardrobe. I plan to use this information to pare down my stuffed closet and get to a place where I only have clothes I feel good wearing. I am confident that if I follow the guidelines in the book, I will finally get there!
1 review
August 5, 2025
Amazing Book!

OMG! FANTASTIC READ! Literally what my grown daughters and I have been searching all over for - a book to guide us for a lifetime on STYLE! Aricia Symes writes with honesty and very relatable anecdotes as she delves into topics like “Crafting Your Closet” and “Reflecting Your Likes & Lifestyle.” This is much more than a keeper!
Profile Image for Melissa Borsey.
1,890 reviews38 followers
September 3, 2025
Once you learn the Style Formula you will be able to put together outfits that will be guaranteed to look good and feel comfortable on you and your particular body architecture. I really enjoyed learning the science of creating the perfect outfits. Definitely worth the read. I thank Advantage Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Profile Image for Author Mike Froom.
130 reviews3 followers
September 8, 2025
this is definitely a book that was not written for me in mind but there's nothing wrong with being a man and learning something that could help out the women and feminine people in my life. who knew that there was a science behind what you wear to make you look good help you feel confident and just present your best side to society.
Profile Image for AMAO.
1,937 reviews45 followers
July 5, 2025
🐦‍🔥🐦‍🔥🐦‍🔥🐦‍🔥🐦‍🔥
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Janet.
1,459 reviews41 followers
July 27, 2025
This was a Goodreads giveaway winner. Great detailed concept on how to complete an outfit. Good advice.
Profile Image for Audrey.
77 reviews10 followers
September 1, 2025
Easy to follow along with and put the ideas into practice. Love the no nonsense, practical approach. A complete toolkit at your fingers. A great resource and an easy read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews

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