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Wardrobe Wisdom from a Royal Lady's Maid: How to Dress and Take Care of Your Clothes
Alicia Healey spent four years working as a Lady’s Maid in Buckingham Palace, and now she travels the globe ensuring that some of the world’s wealthiest people look their best. She’s distilled her expertise about what to wear and how to care for your clothes into a handy gift book. She reveals how to pack like a pro, whether it’s for a weekend away or a grand tour. Her advice takes the stress out of ironing and organizing your wardrobe. You can stop wondering about what to wear to an interview, a church, a wedding, a black tie reception or any other occasion. And when you pack your clothes away, you’ll be confident they’ll stay in tiptop condition. Finally, there are her 10 essential tips for looking a million dollars on a tight budget. As well as Alicia’s wise words, she’s peppered the book with amusing behind the scenes anecdotes from her job as a 21st-century Lady's Maid and insights into the life of lady's maids in the past.
- GenresNonfictionFashion
128 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2019
15 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 21, 2019

This is a gorgeously illustrated 'how to' for dressing and taking care of your clothes written by Alicia Healy who trained at Buckingham Palace, before travelling the world, taking care of her wealthy clients' wardrobes - in summary I couldn't have been more excited about this book when I saw it on the shelves in Waterstones. The part where it has been published by The National Trust also greatly excited me as I spent a summer volunteering with The National Trust in their historical fashion collection and loved every minute of it.
However, I didn't pay enough attention to the sub header on the front cover of 'How to dress and take care of your clothes' as this really did feel more like a guide on how to wash and care for your clothes and less like the royal version of Fashion Babylon meets Downton Abbey which is what I thought it was.
Part 1 How To Dress is possibly the most interesting as this deciphers dress codes ie what actually constitutes 'Morning Dress' and what to wear to certain events, however the events listed are 'Royal Ascot' and 'The Royal Caledonian Ball', not exactly everyday occurrences for most people?? However, as someone who's main interest in horse racing is what the lady's are wearing on ladies day I did find it all very interesting.
There is also 'The Lady's Maid's Capsule Wardrobe' which was the same tried and true pieces that always pop up in 'capsule wardrobes' or 'wardrobe basics' articles, which of course included the ubiquitous 'white shirt' - does anyone actually own one anymore? And if so, do they wear it???? I work in an office with a 'smart casual' dress code and will frequently wear a dress, topped with a cardigan and heels to work. But I can not think of any of my female colleagues who would wear a white shirt? If any of them do wear an actual shirt they tend to be black or brightly coloured?
In part 1 there is also the fascinating and rather insightful section on 'What To Wear To Buckingham Palace', which as someone who is probably never going to go to a Palace, I found very compelling and next time the media shows pictures of investitures or garden parties I will be looking to see who stuck to the dress code.
Unfortunately Part 2 and Part 3 ' Wardrobe Organisation' and 'Care of Clothing and Accessories' all felt like information that I had either read before or if I wanted to know I could have googled when the need arose. I will keep this book to refer back to it as reference but I only skimmed through parts 2 and 3 as I didn't really want to read about how to wash my clothes while I was having a nice relaxing bath.
As I have previously said I did imagine this book to be a mix of Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones and Downton Abbey as in I expected more stories and juicy titbits from the authors time working at the Palace or with her private clients. Nothing scandalous or salacious that would get anyone in hot water, as I am sure she has had to sign a non-disclosure agreement, but just some tasty little extras such as 'did Person A really spill red wine down Person B's vintage Madame Gres gown?' or how many of those black Launer bag's does the HM The Queen really own.
There are five brief sections on the history of ladies maids and ladies maid with the National Trust which I found most enlightening, as these sections are referenced I think I will be looking further into the books that provided the information for this book.
Did I like this book? Yes I did. But would I recommend it to people to buy? No, not really, I'd just offer to lend them my copy as it wouldn't take anyone long to read and I think it's the kind of book you would only read once.
This is a gorgeously illustrated 'how to' for dressing and taking care of your clothes written by Alicia Healy who trained at Buckingham Palace, before travelling the world, taking care of her wealthy clients' wardrobes - in summary I couldn't have been more excited about this book when I saw it on the shelves in Waterstones. The part where it has been published by The National Trust also greatly excited me as I spent a summer volunteering with The National Trust in their historical fashion collection and loved every minute of it.
However, I didn't pay enough attention to the sub header on the front cover of 'How to dress and take care of your clothes' as this really did feel more like a guide on how to wash and care for your clothes and less like the royal version of Fashion Babylon meets Downton Abbey which is what I thought it was.
Part 1 How To Dress is possibly the most interesting as this deciphers dress codes ie what actually constitutes 'Morning Dress' and what to wear to certain events, however the events listed are 'Royal Ascot' and 'The Royal Caledonian Ball', not exactly everyday occurrences for most people?? However, as someone who's main interest in horse racing is what the lady's are wearing on ladies day I did find it all very interesting.
There is also 'The Lady's Maid's Capsule Wardrobe' which was the same tried and true pieces that always pop up in 'capsule wardrobes' or 'wardrobe basics' articles, which of course included the ubiquitous 'white shirt' - does anyone actually own one anymore? And if so, do they wear it???? I work in an office with a 'smart casual' dress code and will frequently wear a dress, topped with a cardigan and heels to work. But I can not think of any of my female colleagues who would wear a white shirt? If any of them do wear an actual shirt they tend to be black or brightly coloured?
In part 1 there is also the fascinating and rather insightful section on 'What To Wear To Buckingham Palace', which as someone who is probably never going to go to a Palace, I found very compelling and next time the media shows pictures of investitures or garden parties I will be looking to see who stuck to the dress code.
Unfortunately Part 2 and Part 3 ' Wardrobe Organisation' and 'Care of Clothing and Accessories' all felt like information that I had either read before or if I wanted to know I could have googled when the need arose. I will keep this book to refer back to it as reference but I only skimmed through parts 2 and 3 as I didn't really want to read about how to wash my clothes while I was having a nice relaxing bath.
As I have previously said I did imagine this book to be a mix of Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones and Downton Abbey as in I expected more stories and juicy titbits from the authors time working at the Palace or with her private clients. Nothing scandalous or salacious that would get anyone in hot water, as I am sure she has had to sign a non-disclosure agreement, but just some tasty little extras such as 'did Person A really spill red wine down Person B's vintage Madame Gres gown?' or how many of those black Launer bag's does the HM The Queen really own.
There are five brief sections on the history of ladies maids and ladies maid with the National Trust which I found most enlightening, as these sections are referenced I think I will be looking further into the books that provided the information for this book.
Did I like this book? Yes I did. But would I recommend it to people to buy? No, not really, I'd just offer to lend them my copy as it wouldn't take anyone long to read and I think it's the kind of book you would only read once.
June 22, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book- I am quite particular about clothing and fabric care and treatment, so it is wonderful to have it all in one place. The royal dress code section was good fun and a nice bonus. I would say that this is a reference book more than a "sit and read". Would be a good gift for someone moving out and doing all of their own laundry (if they aren't already doing it).
July 1, 2019
If you ever worried what you would wear to a lunch with HRM of England, this book is for you. Also good for those of us who are just dreaming about it.
June 28, 2019
This is a great resource for any woman on how to best take care of your clothes, create a capsule wardrobe, pack efficiently, etc. It also includes some interesting tidbits about lady's maids in history that I really enjoyed reading.
November 18, 2021
What a fun and light book! A joy to explore. Reading this book allowed me to peek inside the inner world of British royalty in an elevated and educational way. The author served as a modern-day Royal Lady's Maid at Buckingham palace and later as a wardrobe consultant for high-profile clients including a Middle Eastern Royal family.
There are three distinct themes woven together: the social season of the British aristocracy, historical information on Lady's Maids as well as glimpses at the author's modern-day career, and finally more accessible advice on dressing and wardrobe maintenance for the modern average woman. Cute fashion drawings also decorate occasional pages.
The book opens with a basic description of different dress codes. It then dives into a rundown of major events in the British social season with advice on what to wear to each event. This section was too specific to be helpful to my American (& non-Royal) life. But I found it interesting to read as an ardent Anglophile! It could provide great ideas for Americans who want to host gatherings and mimic the British social season. (If you do, please invite me!)
As the book continues, the reader begins to get more information on Lady's Maids and finally advice applicable to the average woman. The back section is a virtual reference book on how to store garments based on type and material as well as how to remove stains based on type of stain and material. Some of her advice seemed overly fussy, but was in keeping with her professional role. (There were also a few references to uber-expensive wardrobes that were beyond my comprehension. I guess you do need a multi-million dollar wardrobe to justify a full-time person tending to it. Wow!) Since her full-time job was maintaining expensive wardrobes, it made sense that she would exert this level of detail and care.
This would be a good book to store in the laundry room, so that you can look up her particular advice for each type of stain and material as you encounter it. I gained some wisdom for my personal nemesis - olive oil stains on cotton clothing. And I learned that my go-to approach of sending things to the dry cleaners was actually not a good idea. Ideally items are only dry cleaned once a year before going into storage at the end of the season. The British have a higher tolerance for just airing things out and spot cleaning than I do! Or maybe I am just more use to wearing washable fabrics.
I loved the idea of a modern day Lady's Maid and this book prompted daydreams about what her life was like inside Buckingham Palace. The author is discreet and doesn't give away any personal information about her clients, as you would expect from a top-end profession. But that didn't stop my imagination! I also appreciated the reference section at the end - if you want to buy a hat or use the drycleaner preferred by the Royals, she provides that contact information. Speaking of hats, reading this book encouraged me to wear some! Why do the British get all the fun?! There was also a great section on how to wear scarfs. Great info and ideas!
The author strongly encourages neutral shoes and handbags. She points out that the Queen uses the same seasonal shoes & handbag with all her changing brightly colored outfits. I never thought about that, but it makes sense. The author also encourages a capsule wardrobe of limited but high quality pieces for the average woman. Neutral and classic things can be used for decades, if properly maintained. That is what the Royals do! The British mentality of "make do and mend" even in wealthy circles shines through. It is the opposite of fast fashion and very appealing.
There are three distinct themes woven together: the social season of the British aristocracy, historical information on Lady's Maids as well as glimpses at the author's modern-day career, and finally more accessible advice on dressing and wardrobe maintenance for the modern average woman. Cute fashion drawings also decorate occasional pages.
The book opens with a basic description of different dress codes. It then dives into a rundown of major events in the British social season with advice on what to wear to each event. This section was too specific to be helpful to my American (& non-Royal) life. But I found it interesting to read as an ardent Anglophile! It could provide great ideas for Americans who want to host gatherings and mimic the British social season. (If you do, please invite me!)
As the book continues, the reader begins to get more information on Lady's Maids and finally advice applicable to the average woman. The back section is a virtual reference book on how to store garments based on type and material as well as how to remove stains based on type of stain and material. Some of her advice seemed overly fussy, but was in keeping with her professional role. (There were also a few references to uber-expensive wardrobes that were beyond my comprehension. I guess you do need a multi-million dollar wardrobe to justify a full-time person tending to it. Wow!) Since her full-time job was maintaining expensive wardrobes, it made sense that she would exert this level of detail and care.
This would be a good book to store in the laundry room, so that you can look up her particular advice for each type of stain and material as you encounter it. I gained some wisdom for my personal nemesis - olive oil stains on cotton clothing. And I learned that my go-to approach of sending things to the dry cleaners was actually not a good idea. Ideally items are only dry cleaned once a year before going into storage at the end of the season. The British have a higher tolerance for just airing things out and spot cleaning than I do! Or maybe I am just more use to wearing washable fabrics.
I loved the idea of a modern day Lady's Maid and this book prompted daydreams about what her life was like inside Buckingham Palace. The author is discreet and doesn't give away any personal information about her clients, as you would expect from a top-end profession. But that didn't stop my imagination! I also appreciated the reference section at the end - if you want to buy a hat or use the drycleaner preferred by the Royals, she provides that contact information. Speaking of hats, reading this book encouraged me to wear some! Why do the British get all the fun?! There was also a great section on how to wear scarfs. Great info and ideas!
The author strongly encourages neutral shoes and handbags. She points out that the Queen uses the same seasonal shoes & handbag with all her changing brightly colored outfits. I never thought about that, but it makes sense. The author also encourages a capsule wardrobe of limited but high quality pieces for the average woman. Neutral and classic things can be used for decades, if properly maintained. That is what the Royals do! The British mentality of "make do and mend" even in wealthy circles shines through. It is the opposite of fast fashion and very appealing.
April 8, 2020
Thật ra thì kỳ trước mình có take 1 lớp về Communication and Behavior, mà thầy lại là chuyên viên tư vấn trang phục và behavior. Thế là khi thấy quyển này cũng khá là ham xem nó như thế nào :)) nửa đầu đọc cũng khá ổn, kể cả nếu các cậu không có ý định 1 ngày nào đấy diện kiến nữ hoàng :))) thông tin khá hữu ích để biết nên mặc gì vào la liệt các sự kiện ở các công ty lớn và khi làm việc với đối tác nước ngoài. Tất nhiên vì đây nó như kiểu guidebook nên sẽ hơi kiểu theo conservative side, nhưng thường bảo thủ thì sẽ không sai được. Nửa sau quyển này thì đột nhiên biến thành kiểu Hướng dẫn nữ công gia chánh cho người mới bắt đầu??? Có khá nhiều đoạn bị lặp lại vô tội vạ (có thể là do quyển này nó là chắp vá từ khá nhiều bài trên blog của cô này nên việc biên tập lại chưa được sát sao lắm?). Anyway là phần sau quyển này mình chắc mất phải gần 2 tuần để lết được đến đoạn kết khi cô này cô ấy chỉ đọc giả cách xỏ chỉ vào kim :)
July 7, 2025
The book covers everything from what to wear to how to take care of it all—lingerie to high jewellery. It’s incredibly well thought out and very thorough. The advice is rooted in genuine experience and expertise, and the layout is elegant and easy to follow. The illustrations are lovely and really help bring the advice to life.
Some readers have said you can find this information elsewhere, and yes, that’s true. But Healey's experience and perspective set this apart.
Would I recommend it? I’d say: if you're curious about etiquette, royal dressing codes, and how to care for your clothes the way professionals do, it's worth checking out. It’s a beautiful reference book, and even if you don’t read every page, you’ll want to keep it on hand.
Some readers have said you can find this information elsewhere, and yes, that’s true. But Healey's experience and perspective set this apart.
Would I recommend it? I’d say: if you're curious about etiquette, royal dressing codes, and how to care for your clothes the way professionals do, it's worth checking out. It’s a beautiful reference book, and even if you don’t read every page, you’ll want to keep it on hand.
June 24, 2019
A great combination of practical tips and interesting historical accounts of ladies' maids. Recommended for any Royal Family fan or British culture fan, as well as anyone wanting to be mindful about a gorgeous and well organized wardrobe.
January 30, 2020
I feel like my dislike of the book is primarily my fault. Why did I think I would care about how to clean shoes? Who the hell does clean their shoes? Though, I did get to learn a little bit about royal protocol. Now I know what to wear when I next go to the Henley Royal Regatta.
December 17, 2022
Hiểu hơn về thời trang, quý tộc xưa và nay qua góc nhìn của một cô hầu gái/thị nữ từng làm cho Hoàng gia Anh
Tựa Việt: Thanh lịch như một công nương, hơi "over" xíu, dù tác giả từng có kinh nghiệm thật
Tựa Việt: Thanh lịch như một công nương, hơi "over" xíu, dù tác giả từng có kinh nghiệm thật
December 27, 2018
Easy to read but I was expecting more on wardrobe style and fashion, it’s heavily weighted to caring for garments.
April 22, 2019
Repetitive.
February 9, 2020
A super helpful, fun quick reference on wardrobe care. Learned some solid tips and wish I'd read this years ago!
May 16, 2020
Lots of helpful advice. I liked that there are stories of lady’s maids.
March 15, 2022
Interesting, but light reading.
September 29, 2021
Have you ever wondered how to get an expensive clothing item clean? Found a hole in your favorite sweater? Cannot decide what to wear to an event? Alicia Healey has written the book for you. “Wardrobe Wisdom from a Royal Lady’s Maid” is just the book you need to answer all of your fashion related questions. From what to wear to a wedding to how to repair clothing this little book is a fabulous reference for anyone wanting to take good care of their clothing and accessories. I actually learned a few things especially about cleaning stained clothing safely, Healey narrows it down by fabric type, and clothing storage. The book contains excellent appendices and resources for useful products, terminology, and more. If you are looking for a how-to book about caring for your wardrobe and accessory investments this book is for you. I recommend it.
April 17, 2022
Interesting
This is an interesting read. The first part of the book is interesting, but not very useful unless you get invited to a great deal of highly formal events such as royal garden parties. Sadly, I do not. The second part of the book has a great deal of useful information on caring for clothing, shoes, accessories and jewelry.
This is an interesting read. The first part of the book is interesting, but not very useful unless you get invited to a great deal of highly formal events such as royal garden parties. Sadly, I do not. The second part of the book has a great deal of useful information on caring for clothing, shoes, accessories and jewelry.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews