Why Did I Buy That?: Fashion mistakes, life lessons

by Kirstie Clements

Perfect for fans of Maggie Alderson and Marian Keyes's Making It Up As I Go Along . Musings, style tips and thoughts on being a woman from one of Australia's leading fashion experts.

'Like chatting to a - hilarious - best friend, who happens to be an A-list fashion insider.'  - Maggie Alderson

'It's possible to both love fashion and see through it at the same time . . . Kirstie Clements is a very wise woman.'  - Laura Brown, Editor-in-Chief, InStyle

Kirstie Clements has seen trends come and go, from the sublime to the ridiculous, but she knows real style when she sees it. This is about how to spot those wardrobe gems, from a classic loafer that makes you feel comfortable in your own skin, to a beautiful winter coat to take you through more than one season. Why Did I Buy That? is for those with an interest in style and fashion who want to know what to wear, what to buy and how to age stylishly in these changing times.

Sharing personal stories, musings on fashion trends and thoughts on everything from gender to selfies, Why Did I Buy That? is about how to successfully edit your wardrobe and lifestyle, how to live decadently on a budget and how to spend your money more wisely. Oh, and how to kick ass in your career with a well-chosen blazer. It's also for those of us who want to look good in our thirties and beyond without becoming a slave to fashion (or the surgeon's knife).

Including loads of clever style hints and tips and a foreword by Brooke Boney, Why Did I Buy That? will take you by the hand and help you confidently navigate the often-challenging world of fashion trends and impulse buys. Seasonal updates allowed.

Genres: Fashion

272 pages, Paperback

Published April 5, 2022

About the author

Kirstie Clements is a best selling author, editor, journalist, consultant, and key-note speaker, with vast first hand experience in the luxury industry. Kirstie worked for Condé Nast International and Vogue for more than 25 years and was editor-in-chief of Vogue Australia for 13 years (1999-2012). She has written articles and columns for numerous publications, websites and newspapers and most recently, books.

Her first, In Vogue, 50 Years of Australian Style (co-authored with Lee Tulloch) was published in 2009 by Harper Collins. Since then she has released The Vogue Factor (MUP 2013) her memoir of nearly three decades in prestige fashion publishing, which achieved global press attention, culminating in an appearance on US talk show The View with Barbara Walters last May. She was also featured as the cover story on You Magazine in the UK’s Sunday Mail.

The Vogue Factor was released in the UK by Faber and Faber in July 2013, (with a reprint scheduled for July 2014) and the US edition launched in February 2014 (Chronicle). The book has also been released in Spain (Aguilar), Mexico, China and Poland and is now an international bestseller. She released her third book in November 2013, Tongue In Chic (Victory Books) a salacious and cheeky behind the scenes look at the world of fashion publishing. She has also co-written Fashion, The First Fifty Years from The Australian Women’s Weekly, which was released in May 2014 by the National Library Australia. She is now working on her next book, a work of non-fiction to be released by MUP in 2015.

Kirstie has also written for various publications and websites including Elle, International Traveller, Australian Traveller, The Australian Woman’s Weekly, The New Daily, Sunday Life and The Guardian and has made numerous appearances on television, including Today, Sunrise, The Daily Edition, Mornings and Studio Ten (guest panelist).

Kirstie lives in Sydney, Australia, is married to a Frenchman and has twin sons.

She is committee member for Grey Matters, which raises funds for brain cancer research and is an ambassador for Camp Quality.

Reviews

[Rebecca Duke · Rating 2 out of 5]

'Why did I buy that' - me after trying to read this book

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'm not fashionable, never have been, never likely to be, but have been increasingly drawn to the spectacle of high end fashion as I get on. I had to have this book, why did I buy that indeed? But I read it promptly, which doesn't happen to all the books I buy, indeed, not many of them. And it was most enjoyable to dip in and out of.

An enjoyable collection of essays largely from The New Daily (https://thenewdaily.com.au/author/kir...). Edited, and with introductions. I learnt many things, including the word normcore, so obviously obvious it doesn't need to be in the index.

Laugh out loud funny at times.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and gripping read. I felt I was having a coffee with a friend, talking all things fashion. Some great pointers and things to remember when purchasing, which as a stylist I found great advice.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, easy read. Glad I bought it 😆

[Joanne O'Dea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting from this book, but I don’t think this book met those expectations. I think I was hoping for maybe a bit more psychology around purchasing and fashion and tips for curating personal style.

This book is a collection of essays and articles which are a series of observations about fashion, makeup and beauty. The articles are divided into chapter but it didn’t appear to me that the are to les within chapter carried a common theme. The article which Carrie’s the same name as the book’s title was buried in the second chapter and didn’t feel like it was properly addressed the way the book alluded to. In saying this is was given a proper homage in the conclusion.

I did gain a few valuable tips in this book. I thought it was an interesting comment that we don’t need to add more clothes and accessories to our wardrobes, what we need is more time to look through our belonging to our outfits together. I liked the idea of the “unexpected shoe” and right at the end when it was noted that luxury is ultimate comfort.

[Kylie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a shopaholic trying to mend my ways this book was a much needed read.

While Kirstie doesn’t lay down hard and fast shopping rules there are some great tips and tricks centered around finding your own style (not always going for what’s in fashion) and ways to refresh your wardrobe. As someone who has always struggled with heels I found the view point here very refreshing.

After reading this book I know I personally am making more informed fashion choices and being a bit more mindful which is exactly what I hoped to get out of this book.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable enough read that was written in an engaging and conversational way, I thought it better than her first book. Some decent advice regarding the cultivation of a quality wardrobe, although readers of high fashion magazines aren’t likely to learn anything new.

[Talia · Rating 3 out of 5]

there's some useful advice in the beginning about key wardrobe staples and buying quality items. that section is nice and it's easy to read. but then about halfway through it seems like she has run out of things to say and it's less interesting.

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of published articles. Readable and open and honest. The question is relatable but the topic induced guilt. Fashion can be so frivolous at least the author grounds this in reality

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfairly (?) I feel I was constantly comparing this to Alexandra Shulman’s Clothes and other things that matter. And this came up wanting as a result.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite enjoyed the sections on Melbourne and Sydney.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read for anyone who likes fashion.

[Juliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Validates the fact that I never cared about fashion. Comfort and utility was always more important.

[Bianca Singh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know exactly what I was expecting when I started this, but this book fell flat of those expectations. It was more a series of essays that did not necessarily resonate with me.

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish for once, I could read an Australian authors book, published by an Australian publisher. Americanised versions keep finding their way into my hands and I want to scream.