To those out there who are struggling to pick out an outfit in the morning… I get it!
To the folks who do not feel like themselves in their clothes… I’m here for you.
To the individuals who are tired of wishing you could be “as effortless as that girl” on the street… Let’s change that.
To the people who are simply feeling uninspired by their clothes and need a little boost in getting back on their fashion track… This article is for you.
Here are my 5 top personal tips and anecdotes surrounding this topic.
CLEAN. YOUR. CLOSET!
This is my #1 holy grail, “oh my god i’m actually excited to get dressed again” tip: simply clean out your closet. When I say this, I do not mean to organize and refold your clothing. I can’t tell you how powerful a good closet cleanse can be. Often, I finish up this task with a newfound joy, I feel lighter, and it makes picking out outfits SO much easier.
You’ve all heard the Marie Kondo adage: “If an item doesn't ‘spark joy’ when you touch it, you should thank it for being a part of your life, and then donate or trash it.”
But, where do I start? How do I clean my closet? How do I know what to donate and what to keep?
Well, here are the basic steps of an effective closet clean out:
a. Take literally everything out of your closet and make a huge, terribly messy pile on your bed or floor.
b. First, select the items that you “live in” - the basic staples of your wardrobe, like your favorite pair of jeans that fit just right, your workout clothes, plain layering t-shirts, blouses you wear to work… maybe you live in sweats and a t-shirt, that’s a-ok! take those items out and make a pile. This is your “keep” pile.
c. Filter through everything else. yes, that is a daunting task. start with pants, move onto shirts, sweaters, shoes, etc. Here are some helpful questions to ask yourself when deciding on a piece of clothing:
Does this actually fit me? Does this piece of clothing fit into my wardrobe and complement my other items? Do I feel good and “like myself” when I wear this? If I ran into my favorite celebrity on the street in this piece… Would I be proud?
(If you answer “no” to any of the following - put it in the donation pile).
If you’re still not sure about a piece of clothing, try it on. Maybe you haven’t worn it in a while, but perhaps it suits the current “you” in a way it once did not, and it is a piece worth keeping.
d. Organize all of your “keep” items. hang things up. fold things nicely. Your closet gives off a certain energy every time you open it, let’s make sure it isn’t a chaotic one!
e. Finally, take a deep breath. You’ve done the hard task that people always put off!
BODY TYPES/SHAPES
The way your clothing lays on your body is a huge factor in how you feel in it. If that old pair of jeans gapes at the waist or is too tight around the calves and hurt you to wear, those are not a pair of jeans worth keeping.
You know that feeling when you slip into a dress, pair of pants, or shirt and it just looks like it was built for your body? Or those jeans complement your curves in all the right ways? That is how you should (and can!) feel in all of your clothes. It is just a matter of investing in the right clothes, and not settling for things that don’t fit well just because you like the cut or the price tag.
In the past, as I would scroll through social media and see models with long slender legs wearing these beautiful maxi dresses, I would think “huh… I could wear that!” As I’ve grown up a bit, I’ve found that unfortunately not every piece of clothing is going to work for my petite curvy frame. And that’s OK! I’ve learned (through much trial-and-error) what looks good on my body, and what does not. The same could go for hairstyles, jewelry, and makeup.
There are many excellent articles and helpful videos about “dressing for your body shape,” and while I also believe any outfit can work for you if you have the confidence and attitude to pull it off, I do think there is method to the concept.
Try out different “looks” until one no longer feels like a costume.
Here is the fun way to do this: go shopping. Try on clothes that appeal to you, even the items you think you couldn’t “pull off.” Put together outfits and branch out of your comfort zone until you look in the mirror and can’t help but smile, because it looks like you.
This step is not limited to clothing - try out quirky haircuts, colors, styles, and makeup (if you so desire, natural is great too)! I cannot begin to describe the ways I’ve changed my hair - since my preteen years I have tried out just about every color and style in the book.
Remember, your style is going to evolve over time. It may depend on a city where you live, your job, your friends, your age. What might have suited you or been appropriate attire years ago may no longer seem quite right.
My style has evolved quite a bit over time… From my high school “goth” phase, to “preppy college girl,” to artsy clothes, red lipstick and bangs, until finally I settled into something that doesn’t really fit into a category, but rather, is a mix of all my past looks. I believe this step takes a bit of trial-and-error.
Let’s talk about COLOR!
What color palettes are you drawn to?
When considering the celebrities and people in your life whose styles you admire, what sorts of colors do they generally wear?
Maybe you like jewel tones, pastels, earthy colors, or maybe you just like the color black. All are reasonable! I believe it is important to buy within a certain color palette, as it helps all of your various clothing pieces to match one another and create cohesive outfits.
I typically find myself drawn to earthy neutrals - blues (navy, denim), grays, black, white, forest green, maroon… Every now and then, do I branch out and grab a kelly green blouse, or a pastel pink sweater? Sure.
Something I enjoy doing to get color-inspired is make a Pantone color board. Check this site out to use the free Pantone color generator: https://coolors.co/ - here’s mine!
5. Invest in your clothing.
Fast fashion vs. slow fashion
Once I stopped shopping at stores like Forever21 and H&M, I never looked back. I used to buy huge amounts of cheap clothing that would last me less than a year, and I would get a few wears out of each piece of clothing. This is the culture of “fast fashion.” These stores turn over product every single week, sometimes more frequently to appeal to new trends. These clothes are not built to last, and the means of production for most of these large corporations is wildly unethical and unsustainable. You can help to break the cycle, and benefit yourself in the process.
“Slow fashion” refers to high quality clothing and materials, clean environment, and fairness for both consumers and producers. Ultimately animals, the planet, and the workers all benefit from this process of making clothing. For you, this may also mean shopping at thrift or vintage stores rather than buying clothing new or looking for ethical and sustainable brands.
Yes, you may be spending quite a bit more money on fewer pieces of clothing, but you can feel good about the clothing you are wearing, and your clothes will last you much longer.
For more information on slow fashion and fair trade brands, check out this helpful article: https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing
“Style” is not limited to the clothes you wear.
It is the way you carry yourself. the way your face settles when you are seen walking down the street, answering a phone call, eating a piece of dark chocolate, getting bad news. Style is your posture. The way you wear your hair in a messy clip so it does not dip into your paint. The way you like all of your nails to be different colors.
Everybody has style. You just have to hold onto it, do not let your fashion sense get jaded or lost in a world of fast fashion and ever-changing trends (chokers, i’m talking to you).
I hope these tips have helped or inspired you in some way. Finding your personal style is potentially a life-long and ever-evolving journey but you can think about these tips and concepts at any point where you may feel “stunted” or uninspired.
xo Vegfordays