CLOTHES AND OTHER THINGS THAT MATTER by Alexandra Shulman

 Not only has Alexandra Shulman been the longest serving editor of British Vogue,  (1992 to 2017), she is also an engaging writer, very relatable, and best of all surprisingly down-to-earth for someone having spent nearly half of her life in the lofty exclusive towers of Vogue. Refreshingly, she is no Anna Wintour - I can't imagine her wearing her sunglasses for any purpose other than sun protection. How normal! 

So it follows that I loved this memoir that Alexandra has written. She tells her stories around the clothes she wears and loves, how they are important or have significance in her life, in the various roles she plays as a daughter, a mother, a wife, a lover. How clothes shape the person she has become, how clothes define perceptions of power and leadership. The black dress, the bikini, the trench coat, the floral dress, the white shirt - all items that most women have in some form or other in their wardrobes. Best of all her body has never been what we perceive a perfect fashion model body to be - her's is a real woman's body, which connects 99% of the female population to her! And so making this such an accessible book to read - don't we all like to wear clothes that make us feel good, even if we have curves and bits and pieces in places we don't want.  Sure, she has had access to clothing and their designers that very very few of us could ever hope to even look at, let alone wear. And yet we can all find  a smart white shirt from the chain stores, or a pretty floral dress for summer. Her chapter on her bikini experience touches heavily on body image, how women are expected to look at all stages of life, how a random photo she took of herself in a bikini as a mature woman went unintentionally bonkers in the media. 

But this is not just all about her! Full of anecdotes about the fashion industry, behind the scenes at Vogue, how the magazine takes shape, the politics of fashion, feminism, the trends and issues the industry has faced over the 25 years she was at the helm. Fashion purists might find it all a bit trite, gossipy and dull, but for the average fashion punter this is a real gem.