Use lists to guide your style choices
What do you redefine your style? I know when my life changes, or my body changes, I have a period of feeling ugggghh, and wondering how to dress so I feel like ‘me’. The issue is, when things change, ‘me’ also changes.
This is an exercise I find incredibly useful when I’m struggling to find things to wear that make me feel good and I’m trying to find who this new Suzy is and how she wants to show up in the world.
I’ve previously suggested:
de-schlumping your style by focussing on just one garment you wear
stopping looking at aliens (aka fashion illustrations) and finding a way to see and dress your body, as it is right now
doing a style reset and finding images of cool, real people to inspire your style instead
choosing three style words you can use as a filter when looking at outfits – e.g. asking yourself, ”would a ‘joyful, introverted, world-explorer’ <or whatever your three words are> wear this …?”
This is another exercise that suits people who are more into words than images.
List what you value and need and get real about your life as it is right now
That heading said it all.
Here’s how I do it. It’s super simple. Make three lists.
What do you value in your outfits and clothing?
First, write down your values about your outfits and clothing.
You can see from the list above, made by a fictional person, they value supporting local makers, buying second hand, buying things that last and they also value delightful or clever design.
Another way you could think of this is: ‘What’s important to you about your clothes?’
What do your clothes need to do for you and your life?
What do your clothes have to do (or should NEVER do) for you to be happy and comfortable?
This might overlap with the next list, which is about what your real life looks like.
Doesn’t matter. Just make some lists.
The list above indicates that this person isn’t an ironer, they want to wear their everyday clothes to ride their bike and they don’t want things that can’t withstand cat claws or fur.
What are your needs? No itchy labels? Nothing too tight around your neck? No stripes? No white clothes?
What activities do you need to dress for in your life at the moment?
What kinds of activities in your “real life” do you need to dress for?
I say “real life” because often we can get stuck buying clothes for a fantasy life we’ve seen in catalogues or online, or we keep clothes from our previous lives.
You might have had a high-powered office job and own some very nice, expensive suits. But if you’re now living in rural Queensland running a station and it’s time to decide what QLD-You wants and needs to wear to feel terrific, while getting things done.
For this exercise: make a list of things you do in the life you’re having right now.
You’re allowed to do a little crystal-ball gazing and think ahead to events you’re likely to attend, e.g. weddings or funerals, however do be honest about how many of those things are likely to occur. Do you need three cocktail dresses? Can you just get one from a consignment shop or op shop when you need one?
Use your three lists to guide your choices about what’s in your wardrobe and what you might need to find
Your lists are your criteria about what to keep in your wardrobe and what you allow into your wardrobe.
If you don’t have a clear picture in mind of how your style needs to look, e.g. some people might have a clear personal aesthetic - ‘I want to look like a mid-century sailor who also makes pottery,’ using your lists will help you make decisions about what’s in and out.
Here’s how our fictional person might find their style using their lists
The fictional person who made the list above, might end up deciding on:
straight-leg pants made from a sturdy denim or twill fabric work. These won’t flap around and get bike chain grease on them and their cat can’t wreck them. The pants need to be classy looking, rather than extremely casual or fashionably ripped, so they can wear them when they cycle to client meetings.
they want their clothes to last, so they might invest in a well-constructed pair with some beautiful details, from a local maker – this ticks three items off their list
shoes that are comfortable and can be easily cleaned (to get off any road dirt from cycling). Stiffer soles make bike riding easier, however you can really wear any kind of shoe on a bike, so long as it doesn’t slip off or flip around when you put your feet down.
stretchy tops that are wash-and-wear will fit the bill for being easy-care and non-irritating, while also giving them room to move on their bike.
tops with really beautiful colours and flattering necklines, so they’re good for video calls while working from home, as well as client meetings and friend dates.
You can see how this simplifies a lot of their decisions.
If they done the exercise to work out their three style words, this would help them make decisions about colours and fabrics and accessories.
If their three style words were minimal, sporty and monochrome, they’d choose entirely different pants, shoes and tops from someone whose words were opulent, colourful, bohemian.
Have a go! Good luck.