Standing in front of your closet and feeling like you have nothing to wear is an experience almost everyone can relate to. Despite owning plenty of clothing, many people still struggle to dress confidently each day. How to Get Dressed by Alison Freer offers a solution that’s practical, inclusive, and empowering. It’s not a fashion rulebook—it’s a handbook for building a wardrobe that actually works for your body, lifestyle, and budget.

Written by a Hollywood costume designer, this book challenges outdated fashion rules and replaces them with real-world strategies. Freer doesn’t preach about trends or promote perfection. Instead, she teaches readers how to make clothing choices that lead to self-confidence, comfort, and ease.

If you’re looking to stop stressing over your appearance and start enjoying the process of getting dressed, this book delivers honest, smart, and body-positive advice grounded in years of on-set styling experience.

About the Author

Alison Freer is a professional costume designer who has worked in Hollywood for years. Her role requires her to dress actors of all shapes, sizes, and identities in ways that are both visually impactful and comfortable. Unlike fashion editors or social media influencers, Freer comes from behind the scenes, where function and fit matter as much as aesthetics. That firsthand knowledge shapes the advice in this book, making it realistic, flexible, and tested under pressure.

Freer’s approach is refreshingly free from judgment. She isn’t here to tell you what to wear. She’s here to help you understand how clothes work, how they can make you feel better about yourself, and how you can stop obsessing over size tags or trends that don’t fit your life.

What You’ll Learn from This Book

This book is structured to help readers rethink their relationship with clothing. It walks you through evaluating your current wardrobe, understanding proper fit, learning garment care, shopping with intention, and defining your personal style. All of this is delivered with clarity, humor, and warmth.

Understanding Fit Over Fashion

According to Freer, the biggest obstacle to dressing well isn’t a lack of style—it’s poor fit. She teaches readers how to spot tailoring issues, understand why clothes don’t sit right, and what you can do about it. Whether it’s a blazer that pulls in the shoulders, pants that sag in the wrong places, or a dress that fits beautifully except for the neckline, this book shows you how to assess and adjust your clothes with confidence.

Even if you’re not a sewer, you’ll learn hacks using tape, safety pins, and layering that can correct fit issues on the fly. And for those who want to explore tailoring services, Freer offers tips on what to ask for and how to find a good tailor.

Cleaning and Caring for Clothes

Another standout section covers clothing maintenance—something rarely addressed in typical fashion books. Freer shares the tools and products used in Hollywood to preserve and protect garments under the most demanding conditions. You’ll learn how to remove common stains, preserve fabric quality, and clean delicate materials properly.

By taking better care of your clothes, you extend their life and save money in the long run. Freer also explains why many people overwash their clothes and how that contributes to fading, shrinkage, and wear. With her guidance, readers learn to adopt a more thoughtful, sustainable approach to garment care.

Shopping Intentionally

Freer helps readers take control of their shopping habits. The book challenges the idea that owning more clothes leads to better style. Instead, she offers a framework for purchasing pieces that genuinely serve your lifestyle, are easy to mix and match, and make you feel good. She also shares strategies for shopping secondhand and evaluating garments based on construction, material, and versatility—not just price or brand.

This chapter empowers readers to stop chasing trends and start building a wardrobe based on personal needs and values. The advice is especially helpful for those who find shopping overwhelming or feel unsure about how to evaluate fit and quality in a store.

Redefining Your Closet and Style

Freer walks you through the process of cleaning out your closet in a way that feels constructive rather than emotional or judgmental. She emphasizes self-reflection: What do your clothes say about how you live your life? What pieces make you feel powerful or authentic? What sits untouched in your closet, and why?

Once you’ve decluttered with intention, the book helps you define your core wardrobe—what Freer calls your “uniform.” This doesn’t mean wearing the same outfit every day. It means discovering which silhouettes, colors, and fabrics you reach for repeatedly because they reflect who you are. Building your closet around these preferences leads to greater satisfaction and less stress.

Who This Book Is For

This book is ideal for anyone who:

• Feels unsure or overwhelmed when it comes to fashion
• Wants to gain confidence in their personal style
• Has a closet full of clothes but struggles to put together outfits
• Wants to avoid wasteful shopping habits
• Needs practical tips for maintaining garments and extending their wear
• Seeks a body-positive, inclusive approach to style

Whether you’re completely new to fashion or have experimented with different styles for years, this book offers a grounded, refreshing perspective that prioritizes self-expression and confidence over fashion rules.

Key Benefits of Reading This Book

• Learn how to identify and fix clothing fit problems
• Gain confidence in shopping for clothes that truly serve you
• Discover stain removal and garment care strategies from a professional
• Organize your closet with intention and clarity
• Build a wardrobe that reflects your real life and personal taste
• Embrace style without shame, size anxiety, or perfectionism

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book only for women?
No. While some fashion examples are drawn from women’s clothing, the concepts and advice are inclusive and adaptable to all genders. The tone of the book is welcoming to anyone seeking confidence in their style.

Can beginners follow the advice?
Absolutely. The language is accessible, the structure is logical, and the suggestions are easy to apply, even for those with no prior fashion knowledge.

Is it budget-friendly?
Yes. Freer emphasizes mindful shopping, tailoring existing pieces, and making smart choices—not spending more. The book offers tips for all budgets, including secondhand shopping and affordable clothing care.

Does it require sewing skills?
Not at all. The book includes practical fixes for non-sewers and explains when a trip to the tailor might be worth the investment.

Will it help me develop a personal style?
Yes. One of the book’s main goals is to help readers understand what makes them feel confident and comfortable, so they can build a style that’s authentic and sustainable.

Why You Should Read This Book Now

If you’re tired of feeling frustrated with your wardrobe, or if fashion advice has always felt like it was meant for someone else, this book will feel like a revelation. How to Get Dressed doesn’t talk down to you, and it doesn’t assume you’re trying to become a fashionista. It respects your individuality and gives you tools to express it through clothing that fits, flatters, and feels good.

Every day you get dressed. With this book, you’ll learn how to do it with less stress and more satisfaction. Instead of battling your clothes or hiding your body, you’ll learn to work with what you have and love how you look.

Final Thoughts

How to Get Dressed by Alison Freer is a modern, inclusive, and user-friendly guide to personal style. It offers realistic solutions to common fashion frustrations, encourages self-acceptance, and empowers readers to create a wardrobe they genuinely enjoy wearing.

Rather than focusing on fashion trends or magazine spreads, it centers the real experiences of getting dressed every day. With her clear voice, practical advice, and deep respect for the reader, Freer creates a book that is both inspiring and useful.

If you’re ready to make peace with your closet and feel more confident in what you wear, this book will guide you there.