If you don’t have time to worry about what to wear every day but still want to look good, this book will help you create a stylish wardrobe for any season on any budget. Decision fatigue is real. You have many important choices to make during the day and only so much mental bandwidth. Getting dressed can be a dreaded daily task that takes up valuable time best spent on something else. Style expert Alison Lumbatis wants to help you make fashion fun again. Alison shows you how easy it is to build a basic yet beautiful wardrobe starting with the clothes you already own and adding other classic mix-and-match elements that work for any season on any budget. Once your wardrobe is set, you can use the easy outfit formulas in the book to take the guesswork out of getting dressed, freeing you up to focus on bigger priorities. Looking fabulous while saving time is the ultimate win-win.
I have always been one of those people who can’t put outfits together - I have no idea what I’m doing. You should see the photos of me through the years. It’s just embarrassing.
When planning an outfit, I go through this endless session of matching a top with pants/jeans. Then I go through a second session of trying on every pair of shoes in my closet with it. Once I decide on shoes, it’s jewelry time. “This or this?” And on it goes with jacket, handbag, belt, etc. It is exhausting. Who has time?
Meet Alison Lumbatis.
What I have learned from her is a lot. One of my favorite things she teaches is, “Shop your closet first.” Don’t go buy something if you already have it. She doesn’t pressure me into buying new clothes. She gives me permission to love the things I already have, but haven’t known how to make use of.
The second thing Alison taught me is, “If it’s not a ‘Heck, Yeah,’ it’s a NO.” This has been the most freeing thing. I bought so many clothing items in the past because I thought I *should* buy it, I wanted to like it, it was on sale, it didn’t fit great but I loved the color, etc. I would force myself to buy a piece of clothing, but my heart wasn’t in it. Learning to wait until my heart leapt as soon as I tried something on and said, “Yes! This!” That is worth waiting for.
Now Alison has taken her years of experience, feedback from customers, and personal insights and put them into a book. I keep this book in my closet, of course!
In this gold mine, Alison teaches you step by step how to start with the basics, how to determine your own personal style, how to dress for your body type/shape, and how to purge the clothes you don’t wear. She gives you permission to clean out your entire closet! And she gives you permission to love/accept your body and your clothes. How about that? Have you been wanting to make a change? Here you go.
Her formulas are simple and allow for your own creativity. She teaches you about neutrals and color palettes. That’s why she has drawings in the book instead of photos (which would quickly date it and limit color choices). You’ve got to use the colors you wear best. She shows you how.
Style-wise, I don’t look good in her suggested horizontal striped tops (they make me look wide and boob-y), but I happen to love small prints and florals. Fine; I sub in what works for me. Also, I look really bad in the long cardigans shown (they overwhelm me and make me look huge) - no problem - I get a different style of cardigan/jacket that looks better on my body.
She gives you a framework in which to operate. You go by the formulas and then personalize them for you. Anyone can do this. It simplifies everything.
She includes a dressy/business chapter as well. For office wear, it’s pretty easy to take the formulas and apply them to a variety of outfits. She didn’t need to dedicate a lot of chapters to this.
I highly recommend this book. Thank you, Alison, for all you have done for so many women. Your loyal fan base loves you!
I’ve been following Alison Lumbatis for years and have a couple of her outfit formula packages. I love her outfit formula approach, I use them paired with my StyleBook app to pre-build a bunch of outfits and get the most out of my wardrobe. While I’m on the topic, I highly highly recommend the StyleBook app! It’s like Cher’s closet in Clueless, but an app on your phone. I use it every week to manage my capsule work wardrobe and get dressed with hardly any thought, and never repeating an outfit in a single month, despite only having 4 pants, 1 skirt, 1 dress and 7 or 8 tops in my work wardrobe. This book is a great companion piece to, or introduction to, the outfit formula approach. It really has timeless ideas that can work in an infinite number of ways depending on body types, styles, colors, etc etc. the book is compact and feels good in the hand. I think I’d like to own a copy (I read a library copy) to keep in my closet and return to when I need inspiration. I deducted a star because there was way too much unnecessary religion. Like I get that others are religious and are motivated by that in the things they do, but it was borderline too much. I don’t need bible verses with a book about what shape pants work on my hips and what kind of tops to pair with a pencil skirt. Like, c’mon. Overall the book/Alison Lumbatis is great for anyone that’s not super crazy about fashion but wants to look out-together.
The Ultimate Book of Outfit Formulas is so much more than a book of style or outfit inspiration. Alison doesn’t just teach you how to dress stylishly, but she shares why it matters and encourages you step by step to develop your own style for your body, your lifestyle & your budget! Packed with so many great tips and ideas, this is the only book on style you need! It’s like having a personal stylist at your finger tips!
I picked up this book about a month and a half after it was published- so brand new. And it feels a little dated to me. Of course with the amount of time that it takes to publish a book, you can’t have up to the minute fashion information in print so I understand. And the target audience (moms who want to break free from their yoga pants rut) don’t really need THE latest in fashion but it makes me wonder how long this book will be relevant. I did look at the author’s Instagram account and she does seem to be keeping up with new trends so there’s that.
If you are the aforementioned target audience and really want some concrete advice, you might want to take a look at this book. I looked at it because I am interested in fashion and I read a lot about it and even have taken some online courses. Coming at it from that POV, there was nothing new here for me.
My biggest complaint with this book was the cheapness of the publishing. The book is printed in black and white and pink. There is a page with a color wheel that is only done in shades of pink and gray with color names (“green” and “yellow” etc.) overlaying the grayscale (pinkscale?) coloring. SERIOUSLY? So then when the outfit formula calls for a specific color of clothing other than pink you really have to use your imagination to see those burgundy skinny jeans or that red plaid shirt. It’s atrocious and makes for a very unpleasant reading experience.
In conclusion, I don’t think this book is bad, and wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it but it wasn’t helpful for me in my situation and the color publishing situation, while you could overlook it, is a real turn off.
The introduction was a complete turn off to the book. Nothing like being blindsided by religious nonsense in the first chapter to turn one off of reading more. There are better books for style out there.
I have followed Alison on FB and IG for several years and jumped at the chance to read this first ever book! This read guides you on everything fashion for everyday women. Wearable classics and trends set in outfit formulas capsule style. I love that it is for “every age, every body and every budget. The book is full of tips and tricks and I love that their are sections on body shape, and seasonal wardrobe staples. Pick up a copy. I know you will be referencing it often. It’s also small enough to tuck in a purse to reference when shopping. I received an ARC but was in no way compensated for my opinions or review.
This book is a easy to follow guide to fashion and coordinating your wardrobe. All aspects of dressing your best for your own life are addressed. I especially liked the seasonal overviews and the body shape guide. The material will be very familiar to women have been following the GYPO guides. This book summarizes most of the GYPO outfit formulas and guides. Overall, I really enjoyed the book.
I love Allison’s concept of thinking of making outfits as meal planning. She includes a capsule wardrobe for every season in this book and I got some good outfit ideas.
This book is most useful if you don’t follow Alison’s work already and/or use her outfit guides, but even if you do there are goodies in here that are almost worth the price of the book on their own, such as the vacation packing section. (Life changing!)
Everyone - no matter their personal style - will benefit from her down to earth advice and keen fashion sense! I definitely recommend this book for anyone from absolute beginner to the girl who just wants some more polish to her look.
I LOVE this book! As an empty nester, entering into a new season of life where I am retired and no longer going into an office, it’s easy to get in the rut of athletic wear every day! Alison has made it so easy for me to redefine my my style for this new season of life! She is so down to earth, provides practical advice and tips, and has helped me eliminate excess! Highly recommend!
I liked this book! Since the pandemic I’ve been really into clothes and this book did not disappoint. She pulls all the classics together and makes a year around capsule wardrobe.
All you need is: 1. Chambray shirt. 2. Jean jacket. 3. Moto leather jacket. 4. Blue jeans 5. Gray jeans. 6. Black jeans. 7. White tee. 8. Grey tee 9. Printed shirt/blouse. 10. Striped shirt. 11. Leopard Belt. 12. Leopard booties. 13. Neutral wedges. AND MIX AND MATCH!
I wear everything she described in this book. Nothing but the classics! The Outfit Formula is an outer layer, shirt and jeans. I recommend this book for anyone who has a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear.
I love using Allison’s outfit formulas. It makes getting dressed in the morning the easiest thing that I do all day. There are lots of great tips in this book as well!
There is some good basic advice in the book and it is well written. There are no photographs. Outfits and cutting are down as drawings. The outfit formulas are basic and dated (lots of advice on styling skinny jeans).This is a book for someone who lives a very casual lifestyle. If your workplace expects something other than jeans, you won't find this helpful.
Also, the author does not understand body shapes. Inverted triangle bodies apple bodies are not the same shape. Most of the outfit formulas work best on triangle and rectangle bodies. Shirts with horizontal stripes figure heavily in the formulas.
I recommend not buying this book. There are better options.
Great condensed book on how to put together complete outfits, though if you live in a climate other than a typical 4 season Northern Hemisphere one, you'll have to get creative and look at other seasons.
But, my HUGE issue with this book is the amount of unnecessary Christianity throughout. Scripture quotes, multiple mentions of God etc etc. As a non Christian this was a huge turnoff in an otherwise excellent book, making me feel once again, that people in America view Christianity as the default and everyone else needs to just deal with it. I don't need my fluffy reading material to remind me that some people think I don't belong here 🙄
This book is an inexpensive way to see what the seasonal Outfit Formulas are like, and to test the concept to see if you like dressing with a formula. I have tried some of the formulas, seasonal and others, and I like them but something is missing, I am not a Classic, I do not wear stripes and I do wear dresses. So I have adapted, with varying degrees of success, the formulas to my style. It is a challenge. So when I heard this book was coming out I was hopeful there would be more in it about how to adapt from Classic to other styles, maybe with examples, and also maybe broader definitions of what those styles are made up of and how they can be pulled together within the formulas so everything works together, like it does for classic. It doesn't do this, just touching on it really. The information in this book is basic style information, nothing new. But one thing that is helpful is having drawings of the formulas. It will be easier to imagine my own clothes in place of the drawings instead of photos of real clothes. Synopsis, good to sample the formula idea and see drawings of formulas. Not so good, very basic for the money, feels very written to stay at home moms, which it is, so it's a success unless you're not one.
The Ultimate Book of Outfits gives great tips on how to create your own capsule, so that you ALWAYS have something to wear. Alison also teaches you how to curate your closet, pick your best colors. style rules that are no longer rules, and even teaches you the names for all the various styles. I especially loved her sections on what jewelry to wear with what necklines (always so confusing for me) and her what to wear for your shape section.
Alison has put so much information and her doable style techniques into this fabulous book. I first leaned about Alison through her fun Get Your Pretty On style capsules that I love to do. In her new book, she takes her years of experience and pulls it altogether for her readers. I found the book helpful as both a positive reminder of some fashion tips as well as plenty of fresh ideas that I didn't know!
This book would make a fabulous gift for a mom who is transitioning and wants a refresh of her life (hello empty nester:) or for the fashion lover!
I was hooked by the introduction when the author said her style fell apart when she started working from home and fell into a rut of wearing yoga pants and a faded sweatshirt everyday. I work from home and had a similar experience, although I was never that fashionable anyway. I'm the kind who works in my pajamas a lot of days, so I could relate to her experience of not bothering to look good anymore. I was a bit turned off when she talked about how she doesn't have a passion for style and she doesn't know anything about style - then why did you write a book about style? Doesn't that indicate some passion for it? However, I enjoyed the cute illustrations of different outfit "formulas," the way they were organized by season, and the shopping lists of basics needed for each season. The outfit formulas are easy and doable and don't require buying expensive clothes or following strange fashion trends. There are also other helpful style tips sprinkled throughout. I might have to buy some leopard print shoes! Overall, an easy read with useful style information and cute illustrations.
I happened upon this little gem while looking on our library's search engine for an ultimate book about some kind of animal for my daughter. I'm not sure what possessed me to put it on hold--I've always had a skeptical attitude about "fashion" and have had a mindset that the whole idea of fashion is rather frivolous. But this book rewired my thinking.
Lumbatis comes at the topic through a soft Christian lens without being overbearing or pushy. She asserts that "You are wonderfully made by your Creator" and that you are worthy of feeling confident about what you wear and how you look. I loved her approach.
The book itself is a very accessible handbook that helped educate me on fashion basics including relevant vocabulary, styles that flatter different body shapes, and classy and easy apparel combos. I loved the use of graphics to help show what types of clothing items and accessories work well when paired together. This book is fun and empowering.
I’ve never been naturally stylish. It never came easy to me. In the past, I’ve read magazine articles, blog posts, and other books meant to help you avoid fashion faux pas. Alison makes it easy to be stylish. She gives you a formula. Not like a complicated math problem formula, it is a plan that takes the guesswork out of getting dressed. I used to dread getting dressed in the morning. I used to hate the clothes in my closet. Since I’ve been following Allison from Get Your Pretty On, I have learned how to shop (I used to hate that too) and how to put outfits together. I also love the parts of the book when she shares her personal struggle with style and talks about deeper issues of confidence and self-image. I can’t recommend Alison’s book and Get Your Pretty On highly enough! I pre-ordered the book and it arrived early. I also received an advanced copy.
While much of this book I feel was a bit of review for me (I was raised by a mother who did color-analysis and wardrobing and skincare throughout the 80s and 90s), I did really appreciate the particular chapters on HOW to properly clean out your closet, the encouragement of purging, & how to achieve seamless wardrobe formulas that will work for any body type season after season. While my style is a reflection of my own personal personality, and I am not quite as classic as the author, I did appreciate her suggestion on simple, basic staples she recommends for EVERY closet. I can see where this book would be very helpful to those just beginning this style-discovery journey and wanting to embrace a more minimalistic, capsule wardrobe season by season. Overall, I enjoyed it, but not tons of new information. Thought it was very well done though, and loved the cute illustrations throughout!
I have been following Alison and Get Your Pretty for years. I’m also an annual member of her seasonal Outfit Formulas program. She is amazing and her outfit formulas have helped me get dressed without all of the morning chaos and decision fatigue.
This book is amazing. It’s got everything you will ever need to put together stylish outfits no matter what kind of life you lead.
As an entrepreneur, my days always look different. Sometimes I’m working from home creating content, and other times I’m meeting with clients or other colleagues. No matter what my day looks like, there is an outfit formula that will make me feel confident and put together.
This book is for all ages, all budgets, all sizes, and all seasons!
Well, now I know who is responsible for making all the stay at home moms in their 40s dress like cheugy little toddlers from an Old Navy catalog. I’m giving this book two stars instead of zero simply because people who dress like that will appreciate the pictures. Otherwise, don’t waste your time. This won’t tell you how to develop style, identify your style, work with items in your closet to build outfits, or build a capsule wardrobe unless you dress exactly like I described earlier… lots of chambray shirts, leopard flats, ankle boots, repulsive scarf accessories, and (dare I say) pastel colored skinny jeans. If you don’t live, laugh, love with your Rae Dunn mug every morning, you’re gonna hate this book.
So, full disclosure: I was already a huge fan of Alison and GYPO before I read this book so maybe I’m a little biased but I think this book is awesome! For long time GYPO fans, there isn’t much new info in it but rather an insight into Alison herself and the community she has built with passion and pride. It made y heart warm. But for people new to GYPO I think it is a WONDERFUL introduction into closet curating (instead of caught up consumerism) and all the super classic formulas are there to play with. One thing I REALLY loved was the formula drawings! These are timeless and really well done. Super cute. All in all, I love it! Well done!
I really enjoyed this book, I found it a helpful step by step guide for addressing your wardrobe. As said in the book, she's creating a system for creating your outfits & wardrobes. There is guidance from start to end of the process- addressing & cleaning up your current wardrobe, finding the colors that work for you, and types of items that work for your body type. Then bringing that focus for each season. Many items recommended will work throughout multiple seasons, so it can help to identify what you may want to invest in a bit more. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a go-to guide on keeping your wardrobe fresh and lower stress!
Made my way very slowly through this book over the past several weeks. I’m sure it would be very helpful for lots of ppl but it just wasn’t for me. And the cramming of Christian moments in it was jarring.
I already read and loved Curated Closet, which was more useful to me personally so I was probably kinda beyond what this book was offering. There seemed to be a disconnect here between aiming for a capsule wardrobe but still buying more new pieces every season? This is counter to my approach which is to try and get as little clothing as possible that covers every season. Again…I’m sure it’s a great resource for others, just not for me.
For the money, this was an excellent little book. I especially liked the overview of what style tops and pants work for the different body types. This book was a game changer in helping me whittle down my closet another notch, figuring out which styles will continue to serve me and which I can let go.
As a heavier, pear shaped person, I’ve always been told not to wear stripes. But thanks to Allison, I’ve made the correct style of striped tops a basic. As a fall coloring, I’ve always been fond of leopard prints too and liked the encouragement to wear them as basics.
The “shop” your closet advice was so effective. I really did have most of what I needed.
Alison has helped me think about outfits differently. My closet suddenly has tons of options without even shopping. After reading her book I have new insights on how to put outfits together from things I already own. I also am more aware of what staples I need to feel In the gaps and which pieces will be around for a long time that are worth putting a little more money into for quality items. I’m also learning how to be trendy without spending too much and filling in with those classic staple pieces.