*You can win a free copy of this fantastic book!  Read for the details!

As my body and fashion tastes have changed over the years I have struggled to find the right “style.” Am I conservative, romantic or casual?  What exactly is “boho chic”?  In my quest to look my best I have watched many episodes of TLC’s What Not To Wear, as well as read any book I could get my hands on with the word “style” in the title.

I read about balance and proportion and how I should display “the girls” and “the junk in my trunk.”  I felt more like a streetwalker than I did a modest woman who just wanted to feel pretty no matter what my size or shape.  After much frustration dealing with points of views that went against my Catholic moral code I finally hit the jackpot with Mary Sheehan Warren’s It’s So You!  With it’s authentic Catholic message of modesty and appreciating the body God gave you, Ms. Warren’s words were a huge encouragement to me.

In this style manual Ms. Warren helps the reader determine their personal style. As the book jacket states “It’s So You!" provides encouragement for valuing your body, becoming a woman whose dignity and elegance command respect, and helping provide inspiration to your family and friends.”  This is exactly what I was looking for in a fashion book. Recently I had the opportunity to interview Ms. Warren to discuss how this book came to be.

“I had been giving fashion seminars and personal consultations for a few years and a book seemed like a logical next step.  Many women who need help may not hire a consultant or even attend a seminar, but they will read a book.” Ms. Warren said. “I also needed a place to go deeper into so many of the issues that I can only scrape over in a workshop or seminar.  Issues such as ‘Why dress well?’, ‘For whom are we dressing?', ‘How much clothing is too much?’ and ‘How do we help our daughters?’ have to be explored by anyone who wants to take fashion seriously, and a book lends itself to that.”

I shared how overwhelmed I get when faced with so many wardrobe choices.  How was I supposed to pick the right thing for my body type and my life?

“Women get overwhelmed with shopping and wardrobe choices because they haven't done the necessary ground work first. They need to know themselves before they can even consider approaching the market. Specifically, this means coming to understand their real lifestyle demands, body type and fit, gut-level fashion personality, flattering colors, comfort, budget, etc.”

One of the things I loved about this book was the detailed questionnaires that helped me determine not only what would look best on me, but what my ‘personal style’ was.

Ms. Warren lays it our very clearly. “Personal style is a woman's successful use of current fashion as a language that speaks what she needs it to speak. She tells of her great value and dignity with her individuality and taste. She tells of her beauty with the flattering colors and styles.  And she exudes confidence because what she is wearing is who she really is.”
While completing the questionnaires the reader begins to come up with a personal style profile. “I wanted my book to stimulate thought so that a reader could make real, life-enhancing changes not only to her wardrobe but to the way she approaches fashion.  My style profiles are mostly self analysis questions which invite the reader to reflect, consider past interactions with fashion, do a bit of mini-research, or even pull things out of the closet.”

Finally the reader arrives at the fashion moment of truth.  Ms. Warren notes-

“The three ‘fashion moments of truth’ are based upon the three Elements of Style (body type, fashion personality, and color palette) and require the reader to purge her closet using a very specific criteria.  This is exactly what I provide a client for a personal closet consultation.  I call each of these three phases a ‘moment of truth’ because women often don't realize how much their clothing isn't actually working for them. The truth is seen when she sorts through each piece one at a time with a very specific mission in mind.  I love this part of my work because it becomes such an ‘ah ha’ moment for anyone who is being honest about what she wants from her wardrobe…and her life.”

I couldn’t agree more. It’s So You! helped me to define who I am in this phase of my life and what I wanted out of fashion. I am now able to choose more efficiently and with greater confidence what I wish to wear and what message I want to convey with my clothing.  I have embraced my figure and it’s challenges because I have a new confidence in dressing it correctly avoiding many of the pitfalls for those of my body type. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is frustrated with how they look and needs some inspiration to make a different choice.  You will not be disappointed with the result.

**Phases is giving away a free copy of "It's So You!" to one of our readers.  You must leave a comment to win.  We will have a random drawing on Friday, December 4, 2009.  Tell a friend and leave a comment.  We look forward to hearing from you!

UPDATE:  We have a winner.  Eliz C. will be sent a free copy of It's So You!  Thank you all for your comments and support for this series!


Mary Lenaburg is a faithful Catholic, a loving wife to Jerry and a proud mother of Courtney and Jonathan. Passionate about faith, family, food, fashion and fiction, she strives to live more like Mary, our Blessed Mother and less like Martha, hoping one day to succeed! She can be found blogging at Passionate Perseverance.

Wow! As a 40-something working mom whose weight, budget, and hair color are not what they used to be and whose style is MIA, this book sounds like a winner! Thanks, Mary.

This is a terrific book. Pick me! Pick me! :)

I would love to read this book!

Great article, Mary! Thanks for sharing. I guess I had never thought about this so much. I think maybe there should be a 4th element of style--budget. Often there are things that I know match me (body type, fashion, color) but as a mom can't justify spending that much. So the challenge is finding your style within that budget.

Please enter me in the drawing, and thanks for the great review! (I would like to read this book, but the current price is rather prohibitive.)

I have been looking for a book combining fashion and modesty--there really are so few out there. The books on modesty tend to be narrow--proscribing the author's own personal style--and the books on fashion, as you said, are often preaching immodesty and offer little practical help for those of us who want to dress for God as well as for ourselves and to please our husbands. I can't wait to check this out!

I'm interested

I despise shopping for clothes--so much time, so many things that don't look good on me, not believing I should spend "so much money" on myself! I recently made myself go out, and I DO feel better in the few tops that are the right shape and color. I could definitely use the inspiration (and motivation?) this book can provide. Thanks!

I just returned to the part-time work force from being a stay at home mom, and I am very excited to read this book. My wardrobe and I need help!!

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