Clothes… and other things that matter: A beguiling and revealing memoir from the former Editor of British Vogue

by Alexandra Shulman

Part memoir, part fashion history, part social commentary, Alexandra Shulman's Sunday Times bestseller explores the meaning of clothes and how we wear them, with a new preface on how recent world events have changed our relationship with clothes

'Warm, thought-provoking and honest.' - Victoria Hislop

'Clever, emotionally intelligent, reveling in style without making us yearn to shop.' - The Times

'Self-deprecating and stylish, this is sure to become a classic.' - Vanity Fair

'It's funny, honest and in typical Shulman style mixes high and low effortlessly. We don't know many people who can write about bras, Donald Tusk and Madeleine Albright all in the same sentence.' - A Little Bird

'Scintillating reading.' - The Spectator

'Alexandra Shulman's style is unaffected, immediate and hilariously dry. She's brilliant at observing everyday feelings in a joy-sparking turn of phrase.' - Helena Bonham Carter

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' 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.
 

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Memoir

368 pages, Paperback

Published January 18, 2022

Reviews

[Meg Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one after a big stint of reading fiction. It was super easy to read especially for someone into fashion. It was a perfect balance of the history of fashion and style, personal anecdote from Alexandra, and insight into life at Vouge. Very relatable and thought provoking!

[Tracey S · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the most part, I enjoyed this memoir, structured around key parts of the author's wardrobe and key memories. Of course there were many many references to her 25 year tenure as the editor of British Vogue. Shulman is an interesting personality - at times she felt very relatable and somewhat recognising of her privilege, and then that would be undermined by recalling memories of buying school shoes from Harrods! She seems to take pains to demonstrate her 'wokeness' with her LGBTQIA+ support, but then the closemindedness returns with a preoccupation with women's bodies being slim (her own and others).
This was a good peek in the way the fashion world seems to work, and references were fun to spot and then Google - necessary because who decided that a fashion book should be illustrated with black and white photos?!

[Hannah Dye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fashion is often dismissed as vapid and self-indulgent. This book demonstrates our clothes say so much more about our identities than we credit them to. A series of light and warm essays relating personal memories to items in Schulman’s wardrobe, complimented by tidbits of fashion history and cultural analysis.

I think when Alexa Chung wrote ‘it’, she wanted to achieve what Schulman did with this book lol.

[Angela Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. It’s light weight and just thing to dip into when you’d like to read that sort of thing. Chapters are dedicated to various wardrobe staples such as blue jeans,T-shirt’s and the little black dress. This is not The Devil Wears Prada but rather a collection of well-written essays by a well respected past Editor of Vogue magazine.
I found it incredibly reassuring to know there’s someone else out there who has so many clothes and obviously is not the Marie Kondo type! Now back to weightier matters ....

[Annie Wu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book, but I never found myself wanting to pick it back up after getting a quarter way through.

[Carolyn Lawry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, entertaining read themed around the authors wardrobe. Almost as good as attending a fashion show.

[Melanie’s reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are very few books that force my hand into reading the end before the beginning, this was one. Let me explain, you see all the chapters are items of clothing and as soon as I saw one titled dressing gown I knew I had to read it. My own dressing gown (of the pink and fluffy variety) is a source of comfort and personally I would wear mine everywhere if I thought I would get away with it. Although I did rather like the sound of the author’s collection and my own is coming along nicely too.

This book charters the author’s very personal account of her wardrobe, from childhood red shoes to jewellery and all the associations that come with them. From Dorothy’s slippers changing from silver to ruby in The wizard of Oz to the shingle beach of Aldeburgh, which I know well, this book also became personal to me. While I’m not a style guru and am more than likely to be found in jeans and a T these days, this book spoke to me on full volume. You see once upon a time there was a girl who loved everything fashion, from reading glossy magazines to coveting Carrie Bradshaw’s wardrobe on Sex and the city. Meaning a trip to NYC and coming home with the most ludicrously expensive shoes bought from what I can best describe as a house. No big signs on Manolo’s store just a discreet little gold plaque but the young fashionista that I once was, well she was deliriously happy.

Even if you aren’t into fashion there is so much more to this book. It is about a woman’s journey through life, relationships, career and motherhood with change and identity being a big part of the story told through a selection of items. Conjuring up evocative memories and told in such a beautifully honest way you can’t help but wish you were friends with her. She has such a familial warmth to her writing that I feel we already are.

Clothes project how we want the world to view us and I hope mine say I’m comfortable with who I am, I have no agenda other than to be me. My shoe collection however may tell another story…..

[Rebecca Mannion · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the *idea* of this book a lot.

Each chapter is named after and dedicated to an item of clothing, accessory, material or colour and, through the prism of these items, Shulman (ex-Editor in Chief of British 'Vogue') explores what clothing represents. There are a few nuggets of fashion history sprinkled throughout and these were, by far, the most enjoyable parts of the book.

But, my God - the PRIVILEGE. I can't tell you how many times she mentioned her nanny or so-and-so's second home. She writes about her lifestyle of regular trips abroad, private schooling and designer clothing like it's completely normal, which felt really alienating.

Also, she constantly refers to how fat she is which is so bizarre as she is definitively not plus-size. She peppers the entire book with comments about her wobbly arms, her stumpy legs and her cellulite with no clear reason why. Basically, if you already have a difficult time appreciating and loving your body, then I would definitely stay away from this book.

Very intrigued to compare this to Enninful's memoir.

[Alessia Hessinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone that loves clothes and fashion, this was hands down one of the greatest books I’ve ever read. But even for those that aren’t very versed in the fashion world, it’s a compelling read. It’s open, honest, funny, and makes one reflect on the world around them. Shulman’s memoir shows how the things we wear on a daily basis have larger meanings than just being pieces in our closets. Our wardrobes consist of our very own life stories being displayed among hangers, as our clothes reflect not just our pasts but the futures we are creating. I feel as though I learned more about myself and what fashion means to me through this read. I cannot recommend this book enough.

[SJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a book be a wardrobe?

When I read this I felt like I was in her wardrobe and each piece brought about a different memory or reminder. The book is a lovely memoir of her time as Vouge editor. The narrative is flows well and there is a mixture of media within the book. I enjoyed this read and found her career fascinating, I my self love cloths and wouldn't be surprised if my items amounted to the same if not more of hers! The preface will resonate with many readers, WFH and not having the routine of getting up and ready for work. This book is for any fashion lover.

[Harmony]

there were times while reading this book that i was able to believe that shulman was just an ordinary human woman, and then i would come across a sentence like this: "I did once have a Karl Lagerfeld shirt ready and waiting, which I wore for a dinner at his house in Paris during a couture week in the Nineties." or "Everyone remembers where they were at the time [of 9/11]. I was on holiday in a beautiful house belonging to the Duke of Wellington that overlooked the plain of Granada."

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly phenomenal memoir - witty, self-deprecating, and a wildly entertaining insight on her time at Vogue. I literally couldn’t put it down.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 - only because I wanted more! Great gossip; great fun; great read!

[Ecaterina Moraru · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a certain elegance to it. Insights, stories and sometimes history of types or pieces of clothing. Yet... hard to recommend

[Risa · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting format for social history and personal biography

[Emma Frothingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

soooo good, i love clothes and memoirs

[Lucy Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book - a life story, told chronologically with a key item of clothing intelligently discussed and mentioned in context within that moment in time. It’s beautifully done.

[Cate Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a warm engaging read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and missed the author's company when it was over. A recommended personable book.