The Conscious Closet: The Revolutionary Guide to Looking Good While Doing Good

by Elizabeth L. Cline

The Conscious Closet is not just a style guide. It is a call to action to transform one of the most polluting industries on earth--fashion--into a force for good. Readers will learn where our clothes are made and how they're made, before connecting to a global and impassioned community of stylish fashion revolutionaries. In The Conscious Closet, Elizabeth shows us how we can start to truly love and understand our clothes again--without sacrificing the environment, our morals, or our style in the process.

Genres: Nonfiction, Fashion, Self Help, Sustainability, Environment, Audiobook, Adult

348 pages, Paperback

First published August 20, 2019

Reviews

[lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read Elizabeth Cline's first book, Overdressed, I wasn't terribly impressed with it. However, I have never, ever forgotten it, and over the years since I read it I have completely changed the way I buy clothes, all because of Overdressed. Overdressed also put me in a quest to find a better way to style myself, which led me down the rabbit hole of fashion blogs, books, TED talks, etc. It may always be a work in progress, but I like how aware I've become about fast fashion, and how destructive our current fashions can be for the environment.

So even though I wasn't too inspired by this book, I suspect I will think about it for years to come. It's a little bit frustrating actually that this book didn't come out in conjunction with Overdressed because it has every scrap of information that I spent years gleaning from the aforementioned research. I could have saved myself a ton of time by just reading this book! And clearly, Cline and I were looking into the same things because almost everything she mentions in her references were things that I have found on my journey to be more environmentally fashion conscious. This book summarizes a lot of good information, and breaks down the different material types, and offers suggestions of places to shop. One thing that annoyed me about this book (it also REALLY annoyed me about Overdressed) is that the author gushes about certain designers, or places to buy clothes, but these places cost WAY more money than most reasonable people can afford. This doesn't bother me quite as much as it once did, partly because Elizabeth Cline offers better alternatives to buying clothes than she did in the last book (she talks a lot about ThredUp, Poshmark, etc.), and partly because since reading Overdressed I have become a big fan of buying something that costs more and having it last for years and years. I still can't see spending $1000.00 for a skirt from Stella McCartney but I can see keeping an eye out reasonably priced Stella McCartney on Poshmark.

Cline also talks about how to make clothes last, and I understand what she's saying about not using dryers, but as someone who was raised in a house without a dryer, I would tell you that I would never, ever go back to not using one. There are reasonable ways to use one that don't destroy your clothes. Line drying presents its own problems. Also, Cline is a DINK (Double Income No Kids) like me, so hand washing, and line drying our clothes every once in a while may work for us, but I can't imagine this being a realistic solution for people with kids.

Take this book with a grain of salt, but it's not bad! Thanks Elizabeth Cline for making me aware of things I never would have thought about.

[Lorilin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really had no idea how much fashion contributed to global warming and global waste. Good grief, we really are using our planet as our own personal trash can.

By far, the most important action I took while reading this book was cataloging the clothes I already have. And by "catalog" I mean that I made a spreadsheet and wrote down each main piece of clothing I own (the everyday stuff like t-shirts, tops, pants, jackets, workout wear, and shoes). Then I recorded the brand name, the material content, and where the article of clothing was made. That in itself was eye-opening--not only to see the sheer number of items I own (and to calculate the very small percentage that I've actually worn in the past year, yikes), but also to see the materials that I wear, how quickly some of the cheaper ones have worn out, and where my clothes come from. I expected everything to be made in China, but that wasn't the case. Most of my clothes are made in Vietnam and Indonesia.

On a side note, my cashmere sweaters are made in China, because the fiber the fabric is made of comes from a Tibetan goat. The first cashmere sweater was made in Kashmir, so that's why we call it that. Fascinating, right?

This book has honestly changed the way I dress myself. I realize that I have so many pieces that I can use that I currently don't wear. I am going to find more creative ways to wear the clothes I have. While going through my closet, I discovered that I have way more tops than bottoms. Moreover, I have a lot of repeats of everything, which means I pretty much wear only two "looks." If I were to buy maybe one or two different types of bottoms, like a long winter skirt or wide leg pants, I'd be able to switch up my silhouettes and stretch out my wardrobe options.

I'm also going to buy better quality, and I'm going to buy less often. The author is a big proponent of clothes swapping and buying second hand, but I'm just not there yet. I'd rather buy a really nice sweater and wear it until it disintegrates. That's just more my speed, since I hate shopping.

Overall, just an absolutely fantastic read. I zipped through this one and got so much out of it.

[nero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gotta be real here, a lot of this book was either... redundant or very US-centric. I'm also not sure if Cline just thinks her readers are incredibly oblivious as to how selling things online works or if the average American really doesn't have a clue about any of that. Either way, I just found that baffling and ended up skipping quite a few sections because they either mentioned specific US stores and brands or were so basic that I didn't want to waste my time on them. I also think many parts could've been shortened.

What saved this book for me, however, were the chapters on fabrics, fixing clothes, garment workers and the fashion industry in general. Also, it did give me the kick in the butt I needed to stop looking at prices & buying the cheapest things available and finally commit to something I've been wanting to do for a long time: Invest a bit more money in my closet but actually buy higher quality pieces made from the fabrics I like the most, preferably also from sustainable and fair brands, cut out buying from fast fashion retailers completely (though I already shop resale 90% of the time) and to not compromise anymore. Quality over quantity!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

What it does best, is reveal the culture gap between USA and my (not wealthy, but also not really poor) country. Taking shoes to the cobbler is a regular occurrence and everyone and their dog knows how to sew a straight stitch and reattach a button. Well, at least it is so in my family. While I have seen a lot of the sentiments about clothing and their disposability on the rise in our culture as well, I feel we are not as far gone as Americans. And I sure hope we never will be.

The thing is, if you've been interested in sustainable fashion for a little while, you will probably already know everything described in the book. It is entertaining though and the interviews offer some insight in business side of more sustainable choices.

[Lesr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t think I’d enjoy this book as much as i did but I learned so much. Loved it.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not quite in this book’s target audience (like, I am not spending bajillions on the Latest Trends and I definitely cannot afford an apartment with washer/dryer in unit, lol) but I still got a lot out of this book. The Patagonia product placement aside.......I did really appreciate learning about visible mending, smarter shopping (buy PERFECT), and resale value. A mixed bag for sure, but I’m going to try to put what I can into practice!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m seeing a lot more conversation lately about the negative impact of fast fashion, but not much discussion of what to do about it besides get upset. Enter Elizabeth Cline. The Conscious Closet is an actionable roadmap for how to build a sustainable wardrobe with especially great information on how to shop for quality and take care of your clothes so they last longer. So much information! I finally know what rayon is.

[Kerrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

a must read!!! an amazing step-by-step guide on how to be a better fashion consumer. i should have listened to sam when she lent me her copy to read many years ago, but we made it here eventually!

[elle ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, this was a book of bullet points. Because of that, there are so many YouTube channels or videos that I would recommend much more highly that tackle this topic in an interesting way (that won’t have you falling asleep).

★★ Stars

My problem with this book is that I don’t know who it is for. If you have never, ever delved into sustainable fashion/the problems of the fast fashion industry, there is some good information in here to get you started. However, personally, if I had no context on any of this, I would have been so overwhelmed with how the information is presented to the reader or listener. As someone who has been studying this topic for over 10 years (yes, I was that 15 year old obsessed with Marie Kondo and sustainability), there really wasn’t a single new piece of information I learned in this 9 hour audiobook.

I also think that the three style types according to Cline are polarizing and stereotypical: the minimalist, the traditionalist, and the style-seeker. If you’re actually interested in learning more about your personal style and what you like, I highly recommend looking into Allison Bornstein and her 3 style word method.

Overall, I was disappointed in this book. The information felt very surface-level while being presented in a way that felt confusing, and there were too many lists that felt like they went on forever. I’m on the hunt for a book to share with friends and family who are interested in the topics of sustainable clothing and overconsumption, but this did not end the journey for me.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh boy, did this book open my eyes. I really wish I had read it before I did my big closet/attic cleanout a few months ago! I have been an overconsumer of clothes since I've been in the womb (sorry, mom) and I truly did not realize the impact of my careless buying habits. I've gotten more into buying secondhand recently, and after reading this book, I pretty much never want to buy a new article of clothing again. I still have a long way to go but this book definitely gave me tons of ideas for buying more consciously, mending, thrifting, and more.

[erebus K Rushworth · Rating 2 out of 5]

CW: Privilege

Ok I'll preface this with a caveat. I am NOT the target audience. This book is primarily aimed at informing profligate USAmericans about how to have a less wasteful lifestyle, and rely less on sweatshop labour. The author presupposes that its audience will have smart phones, readily available internet access, and be able to save money for clothes by skipping a few barista coffees.

I truly appreciate the gist of a book that is predominantly about the joys of owning clothes that you will wear a long time, and hiring/sharing clothes that you may only wear once. Repairing, reusing, rehoming, resale, and recycle is all really valuable for lowering waste. However, as a reader of science fiction and books with monsters in them, I was a lot more perturbed by some of the things in this book, as it gave me a view of a culture that was completely alien to me.

This book has a lot of bad news in it about the ways in which (predominantly) Americans dispose of their clothing waste. The reality of ship loads of junk and unwashed clothing being lugged all the way to end up in landfill in Ghana because nobody could use it is just really disheartening, but I can't necessarily say it was shocking. That the waste of the American empire is outsourced to developing nations shouldn't really be astounding to anyone, so I'm happy if Americans are becoming self-aware about that.

I am a disabled solo mother of three living in Aotearoa (New Zealand), who has lived beneath the poverty line for most of my adult life. More than half the clothing I own is years old, and most of it is gifted or was bought second-hand. The sections on how to spot-clean stains, or wash and dry clothes so that they don't wear out... blew me away. It's normal practice here to line dry and I was 34 before I even owned a dryer. I was taught from a very young age (4? 5?) how to sew on buttons, make a seam, take in waists and raise or lower hems. It's sad that this sort of thing is becoming considered "lost knowledge". It was a huge wakeup call to identify how my upbringing provided me with essential skills that I needed to ensure I don't need to replace an item of clothing if a seam is damaged. The number of times I have sewn up my children's school clothes boggles the mind.

I am also aware that people can get to adulthood without this knowledge or without it even being encouraged. The guides in this book cover some basics that would be really useful if you haven't engaged with any handcrafts or mending before. Some of the wording is ill-chosen though. I know a lot of disabled people who don't have the physical dexterity to do even basic repairs on clothes. If you can't tie shoes or do up buttons, handling a needle and thread can be a big ask, and it's hugely presumptuous and Ableist to say that this is something that "anyone can learn to do".

Resist the temptation to buy a cheap knock-off, and get a good, high quality, genuine leather handbag from a trusted brand-name. Very high quality designer handbags can be had at affordable prices on resale websites.

I just about exploded reading this... and was inspired,
to post a disbelieving rant on Facebook (more proof that I am a sad old lady :P ). When you have to save up to get a second-hand "cheap knock-off" at a thrift shop, there is no way that a resale website is going to sell you a designer handbag for anything close to "affordable". Affordable is one of the most subjective terms there is, so that is a ridiculous claim to make in a book like this.

I did value the concept of identifying a garment's $/wears value. Although most of my garments have a $/wear of 0 (gifted clothing worn 5 times has the same value as gifted clothing worn 40 times), it does help to identify how much money one is wasting on buying garments made with inferior craft and fabric. A $20 pair of pants isn't saving you much if you can only wear it 20 times before the fabric wears through (my poor pyjamas).
This really plays into what Terry Pratchett fans will know as "Boots Theory" or "Vimes' Law" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_t...
If you can afford to buy a better, longer lasting item (or you have the money to drop on a real bargain when it's in a limited window of opportunity) it will cost you less in the long run than it would cost the person in poverty who does not have the ability to make the wiser purchase, even if they wanted to.

All my moaning about money aside, this book does contain an interesting writeup on the fibres used in clothing. I finally understand why rayon(a.k.a. viscose) is biodegradable (it's just treated wood pulp; which is also good to know if, like me, you do any work with fire and want to steer clear of melty plastic fabrics). There are some exciting modern innovations in the textile industry, and more due to come, as there is increased demand for fabrics that do not have toxic residues or leave behind plastic microfibres.

[Emilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that I wished for when I read Overdressed. After going into enormous detail about the evils of fast fashion, and the fashion industry at large, the author kind of floundered to know what to instead. Only buy thrifted? Make all of your clothes by hand yourself? Keep what you have and never buy anything again?

In comparison, this book offers a comprehensive guide to supporting ethical and sustainable fashion. Each section was so thorough it easily could have been it's own volume, so this ended up feeling more like a cohesive series than one book. Cline does a great job teaching you what to look for to find high-quality garments; how to put together a wardrobe that makes you look phenomenal; how and where to buy ethical, sustainable, and stylish clothes (and how to afford it); what you should know about fabrics; how to care for your clothes so they last forever, from stain removal and tailoring to mending and how to improve the way we do laundry; and finally how to make a social push for changing the fashion industry.

I felt the importance of her first book, but this is the book that has made me feel confident and capable of great change, and given me a fantastic blueprint to follow as I do. "Style is a worthy, beautiful, and deeply human pastime." Would absolutely recommend.

[Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book/author: The Conscious Closet by Elizabeth L. Cline
My rating: 4.5 stars

My OPINION: This is actually a pretty good book, even for someone who literally does not care about my clothing or clothing choices, it really opens your mind about how horrible some of the fashion stuff is on the environment.

Positive: it shows you how bad fashion is for the environment, pretty interesting choices and things to do in order to get to a conscious closet.

Negative: I feel like it could of easily been shortened to a kindle short or something like that and still get the same message across, kinda felt like it was just dragging on some things to make extremely clear what it is talking about, even though, I already knew from an earlier page.

Overall: not quite the best, but would be an easy 5 stars if it was a kindle short.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this!!! Lots of practical advice for building a smaller wardrobe with more durable items that will last for years. I’m feeling motivated to shop less and with more intention. I think there’s good advice in this book for any shopper, whether you buy a lot of fast fashion or are a skilled thrifter. My only complaint is that there wasn’t as much information on the environmental impacts of fast fashion, but I think that was more of the focus of this author’s first book.

[Rachel Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me a very long time to read as I set it aside many times. Despite it taking me awhile to get through the dense information, I found it extremely thought-provoking and educational. The book gives clear ways to be a more responsible consumer which I look forward to trying and referring back to the book for advice and reminders.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative book about how to reduce your textile waste, make smarter and more ethical purchases, how to extend the life of the clothes you have, and the textile trade and lack of a livable wage. The book was set up well and easy to read..

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so comprehensive, I can't believe how much the author decided to tackle. Obviously some of the tips are things most of us are probably familiar with, like not supporting fast fashion or buying fewer clothes, but the author did a good job mentioning eco-friendly brands I had never heard of. I feel like the author did a good job of mentioning that not buying fast fashion can be really expensive and tried explain that by shopping used or resale or repairing the clothes you already own can be a lot cheaper, a lot of the brands mentioned as alternatives are at price points that are not really attainable for most of us. I feel like this book would be a great reference book to keep around the house and pull out when you need specific parts of it, like the sewing section or the section on how to downsize the amount of clothing you own. I think the way I read it, just a few sittings where I read every section, the amount of information was a little overwhelming and I didn't feel like I remembered many of the tips. I received this book for free from NetGalley.

[CL · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did this book have an editor? The premise is worthy, and after reading several other books on the perils of fast fashion, I had hoped to get some kind of real advice. Instead, the author states the same facts and figures about global pollution, landfills, poorly paid garment workers...over and over. Yes, we get it, otherwise we wouldn’t have bought the book in the first place. When she finally comes close to offering something concrete, she refers the reader to another section or chapter while repeating the same facts about landfills, etc. Frankly, there might be useful information in the book, but I was so fed up by page 80 that I stopped reading. We all need to know about these issues and all need to be part of the solution. But this book won’t help us get there.

[Klaudyna Maciąg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dużo tu wartościowej treści i ważnych tematów – jakie tkaniny wybierać, jak nie przesadzać z zakupami, jak dbać o ubrania i kupować świadomie, jak komponować garderobę i wspierać odpowiedzialne marki. Autorka ma wiele trafnych przemyśleń, ale mam wrażenie, że polskie wydanie jest nieco niedopracowane – np. gdy wspomniane zostają rozkręcane na Instagramie akcje, angielskie hasztagi są bezpośrednio tłumaczone i... nic się pod ich polskimi odpowiednikami nie znajduje.

Dodatkowo mam wrażenie, że momentami autorka za bardzo skacze z tematu na temat, chcąc ująć ich jak najwięcej – a efekt jest tego taki, że niektóre zostają potraktowane bardzo szczątkowo i tak naprawdę lepiej by było nie poruszać ich wcale.

Niemniej – uważam, że przeczytać warto. Daje do myślenia.

[Tori Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this book had existed five years ago when I started researching a lot of the same topics covered in this book. It would have saved so much time to be able to gather all the needed information in one go. All the same, I found myself still picking up new information and resources for a more sustainable and ethical approach to consumerism. Highly recommend this to anyone just starting to think about where the items in their home come from or even for those who have already started working towards those goals. Really everyone should read this as an eye opener to a new way of living and buying.

[Chrystopher’s Archive]

DNF after the first couple of chapters. An important subject, but I found the writing style to be a tad bit dry and the content of limited use to someone not already a fashionista or interested in becoming a fashionista.

If fashion is your thing and you're curious about how you can offset the environmental impact of the industry, hive it a shot, it may work for you.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to consume and very informative! My copy is covered in post-it’s marking pages I want to reference again and again.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book as requiring reading for everyone who wears clothing/shops for themselves.

I do wonder if what Cline is saying - that we can have it all (both a truly sustainable, and a fashionable and up-to-date wardrobe) is truly correct. I suspect that for true sustainability/staying within planetary boundaries, we may need to buy significantly less than we do now. (I would love for some academic to punch some numbers on this - what if everyone in the west, or in the world, purchased accordingly to some average of Cline's recommendations? What would happen?) I also wonder about her encouragement of buying and reselling clothes on sites like poshmark: if I buy fast fashion clothing on poshmark, am I not helping to send the signal to others that there is a resale value for their new fast fashion purchases? Is this truly sustainable in the long run?

All that said, I'm sure that if more people read Cline's book and followed some of the recommendations, this could be incredibly positive for the sustainability of fashion. And I am grateful to her/this book for filling a gap and laying out the 'how to' of sustainable fashion - especially in light of greenwashing from so many companies - while also recognizing the importance of our wardrobes to our personal and professional lives.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

on one hand, if this is a topic you’re not well-informed on, I think this will be a great fount of knowledge. I can definitely see me reccing this to people because it’s pretty accessible on that front, so I would pick it up for that reason if you don’t know a lot about the impact of the fashion industry.

there were also a lot of great resources in the book, from brands to a reading list to sewing instructions, and I might honestly pick up a physical copy of this book just to keep and reference. I’ll definitely be referring back to it the next time I need to purchase new cleans, and theres a lot of tidbits to keep in mind.

on the other hand, this is absolutely written from the POV of a liberal capitalist, and it permeates it. The entire section about renting clothes made me cringe. sure, rent if it’s a one-time thing, but renting all your work clothes?? Girl what?? the solutions are all deeply capitalist, the furthest the activism goes is NGOs, and the “manifesto for a fashion revolution” had me making faces on my commute.

at one point, someone she’s interviewing says, “Why in the world would any company choose every day to prioritize their profits and paying the lowest price possible over ending that kind of human suffering?” thaaaaat’s capitalism baby! this book is definitely better than her prev one, politically, but that’s not saying much…

overall: I rec this book in terms of sheer facts, if the fashion industry’s impact isn’t smth you’re familiar with. I also rec it in terms of company resources - if you’re trying to find ‘sustainable’ brands and companies, this book has got you, and gives you ways to find more. do NOT read this book for its politics, it is very liberal centrist and doesn’t really. do anything. ✌️

[Paige E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely interesting. I mostly started reading this to learn more about sustainability and knowing what to look for in quality clothing as I purge my closet for the new year. Some parts were a little redundant or she spent a lot of time talking about things I already do (donating clothes instead of throwing them away, thrifting, tailoring items rather than getting rid of them etc.). For sure made me rethink a lot of the clothes I buy and where I get them from. Appreciated all the tips for avoiding bad chemicals and changing our laundry habits to be more sustainable. I’m also not someone who struggles with wanting to buy luxury items so those parts weren’t as interesting to me, but I did like a lot of the other finance stuff and what is worth your money/what to look for in your clothing. Overall, very interesting and good if you are starting a sustainable fashion journey or just interested in learning more about how to be more conscious about what you buy! Will be looking into brand ranking and ratings from now on too for ethical and sustainability efforts!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Cline's Overdressed at the start of 2021. THIS was the book I was looking to read in January. A well researched guide for beginners on where to start on the ethical/sustainable fashion topic 👏
Some of these practices are easier said than done(mostly financial)... I think Cline drives the 'Progress Not Perfection' point home well.
We have options today, let's talk about them! I love Elizabeth's honesty about where she was and where she is now. To see such growth is inspiring and I love thinking about the potential that is to come for all of us on this Buy Less/Mend More, Quality over Quantity journey! 🌎♻️🪡🧵

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as a Christmas gift in 2020 from my sister, so it feels extra appropriate for me to have finished this today! I learned so much and definitely plan to return to certain sections, as in a lot of ways this book reads more as a reference book than a non-fiction work you read straight through (although that is what I did during this reading). I can't wait to begin implementing some of the ideas discussed here into my life, particularly in diving more into acquiring new clothes in the most sustainable ways possible. Would highly recommend if you are into fashion and/or sustainability!

[Mel Auffredou · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I couldn't give this 5 stars is that I wish Cline had come down more critically on the actors of fast fashion (perhaps she did this in her first book?). Anyone advocating for conscious fashion should never mention H&M or Zara in even a neutral context. Those executives should be imprisoned. However I learned so much about concrete actions I can take to build a more functional, sustainable and ethical wardrobe and everyone should read this in order to truly understand the brands and items that we interact with and wear every day of our lives.

[AnnieHil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shopping is just enough harder in Europe (What size am I? Is this store I’ve never heard of fast fashion? Is that store a good value? Pay these shipping costs or my rent? Are we dressing up for the end times or...?) that I’ve had to slow my roll and think about my retail habits.

The book is thoughtful not preachy. So if this is something you’re already thinking about, the book will only give you momentum. The textile chapter alone is worth the read, and I’ll return to this reference again and again.

[Ditchface · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solidly motivating and accessible guide to being a better consumer and responsible carer of one’s hard-earned fashions!! I appreciated Cline making frequent reference to the need for collective larger scale action, not just by consumer choice, but by pressuring companies and legislators to mandate widespread protection for workers and the environment. It was great to learn about different fabrics, their care and crafts to fix up those clothes we actually don’t want to have to replace, but keep forever!