How To Begin

I’ve been talking with men & women lately about their experiences with personal style & what it means to them; how do they define it, where do they find inspiration & how do they select items that relate to them. But my overall finding is this: they don’t. They either don’t know how, don’t know why, or just simply don’t even know where to begin. & it’s incredibly sad & frustrating to me that we’ve created a society that throws clothes over their body, without regard, because the tools haven’t been [either] taught or made available.

Thus. Today, I’m helping these deserving humans out.

In five simple steps, I’ve broken down the easiest ways to just get started; help find what pieces work for you & your body, how to find inspiration without simply mimicking others, & generate a wardrobe that speaks volumes for who you are.

Here goes…

Step 1: get inspired. Think about what genre you tend to feel most comfortable in; rocker, prep, beach, etc. What are your best outfits? What shapes & colors make you feel sexiest? What are you drawn to while shopping? List them & store this list somewhere safe, for those tantrums moments where you just can’t find anything to wear.

Step 2: quit posing. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Frankly, I just think it’s annoying. However, no one said finding inspiration by another’s wardrobe & style is the same thing. Take notes on what outfits stand out to you on the street & why you’re drawn towards particular men//women’s style. Record each piece you like [whether mentally or physically] & re-create these looks with your own personal pieces & color palette.

Step 3: know your staples. These are the items in your wardrobe that you simply can’t live without & wear to death. & keep at it. Not all the time & not all at once, but once you identify why you love these wardrobe workhorses, find similar cuts, colors, patterns [whatever it is that draws you to them over & over again] on your next shopping spree.

Step #4: get uncomfortable. I know I habitually preach comfort over everything, but this is the one space in which discomfort will actually grow you. Try new patterns & shapes & cuts & genres. Throw those leather pants on, try the high-waisted denim, purchase the crop top…whatever you typically steer away from. You’re bound to strike out from time to time, but keep trying. The only way to truly identify what your wardrobe says about you is to specifically know what you love & hate. You think Olivia Palermo just stumbled into her perfect style? Me thinks not.

Step #5: take the acclaim. As someone who gets incredibly awkward & weird everytime I get a compliment, I know first hand that it can feel strange, but take them & mentally note each one. This validation is the entire reason you spend money on these items in the first place, & will help you know which pieces are working flawlessly on your body & not.

Style is earned; it’s something that is constantly evolving & changing. Sometimes you’ll feel inclined to work at it & other times you’ll just want to sustain, & each of these feelings is fine. So long as there is an underlying goal & understanding that all of this work is helping to create a better you. That’s always worth working for.

Here’s to new beginnings, babes.

Xx.