The Wardrobe Project
Reviewed By Janet Mawdesley December 22, 2025
Author Emma Edwards
Distributor: Wiley
ISBN: 978-1-394-37687-2
Publisher: Wiley
Release Date: 28 November 2025
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A Year of Buying Less and Liking Yourself More
What is it about body image we struggle to accept even though we see the same body in the mirror every day? Who is the ‘fantasy woman’ we all have deeply imbedded in our minds, our psyche?
Why do we shop, and shop, and shop for clothes that never, or seldom, achieve the look we are searching for, demanding and failing to create would appear to be answerless, that is until Emma Edwards had an epiphany and set out to find answers to this vexing issue!
The Wardrobe Project consisting of not buying any clothing for twelve months, came about after a particularly harrowing experience with online shopping, not for the first time, when the desired, lusted after garment finally arrived only to fall a very long way short of achieving the sought after look as depicted on a rail thin model on the site.
Emma, a plus sized gal, who has always had issues with her size, her chunkiness and lack of confidence used clothes to create or try to create an image to represent whatever she felt was required, spending time, effort and money towards this end.
Realising that something had to give she took the brave step of committing to total abstinence from any form of clothes shopping for one year. She set strict guidelines to ensure she did not regress.
Plunging in she had serious doubts, but as the year ticked past, she met the challenge of working with what she had, discovering so much about herself and her wardrobe choices. This helped create a greater understanding of why she craved the addictive dopamine hit of new clothes and the deeply ingrained psychology we are carefully trained to accept by modern day marketing.
More than just a book on meeting a challenge to stop shopping for clothes, The Wardrobe Project peals back the layers of a shopping obsession and by doing so has led to a way of life that is lived consciously for Emma Edwards and many other women who needed help to challenge their obsession with shopping.
Set out in a nice easy style, with absolutely no judgement, Emma Edwards illustrates clearly why we do what we do and how we can change our habits to make better choices, understand the mental directives that encourage wrong choices, leaning to say no to temptation via online shopping, sales, markdown and lets face it excessive overspending.
The Wardrobe Project is a book that is enlightening, even for those who really don’t like shopping but feel they must, as to why we do it and how to go about making serious changes which lead to so many unexpected bonuses in lifestyle.
With the Christmas and Boxing Days sales fast approaching, if you are someone who can’t resist a ‘good bargain’ treat yourself to The Wardrobe Project, enjoy the read and accept the challenge as your New Year’s resolution! Go girls!