Getting out of a style rut - Episode 13
Feeling stuck in a style rut? Trust me, I’ve been there. In fact, I’m actually there right now. Between the pandemic and body changes the last few years have been a tricky time for me sartorially. Today I’m sharing the process I am using to rediscover my style and refresh my wardrobe.
Create & consume
What Austen is creating this week: a new vlog for YouTube sharing the BTS of content creation, taking you along to a brand event and writing that I edited on the plane to Portland last week
What Austen is consuming this week: I just finished Book Lovers by Emily Henry. The protagonist Nora, is the woman on the other end of the small town romance trope, where men always leave her for small town bakery owners, farmers, etc. and she’s the cold-hearted city dweller.
She and her sister take a trip to the small town that was featured in one of her client’s novels and lots of interesting things unfold.
In this episode:
Closet clear out
I knew I needed to clear out my closet which was cathartic and refreshing.
I tried on everything: I kept only what made me feel happy and confident. (Konmari baby, does this spark joy?)
I discarded damaged items: Anything with rips, stains, or that is no longer wearable.
I also found a fabric recycling bin in my local area where I was able to drop items that weren’t in good enough condition to be donated and I can drop off my clothing donations elsewhere.
Curating inspiration
To rekindle my love for fashion, I started curating inspiration from various platforms.
Pinterest: Create a private board to save styles that resonate. You can even sort pins by body type to find options on people who look like you.
Instagram: You can use the saved folder to bookmark looks you love. Here are some of my friends who I follow for different style types:
Maximalist: @cvazzana & @audreekatelopez
Chic: @opalbyopal & @krystal_bick
Thrift and vintage inspired: @nycnichole & @tarmarz
Minimalist: @cassdimicco & @kerifay
You can also look through old magazines or coffee table books for additional inspiration.
When you’re done gathering inspiration, consider taking screenshots and creating a mood board or vision board.
Also make note of recurring themes, staple items, or color palettes so you can keep things in mind as you start to shop.
Refreshing your wardrobe
Finally, I started rebuilding my wardrobe with intentional purchases.
Rent before you buy: I used services like Nuuly and FashionPass to test out new pieces.
My favorite stores: I made a list of stores I love, like Sézane, Free People, and Nordstrom.
Starting with staples: I built my wardrobe with versatile pieces like:
A go-to dress, like a black maxi dress from Amazon
A graphic tee (Sézane’s ciao tee is a favorite of mine)
An elevated pink tank top (which I first rented from Nuuly and then purchased)
Well-fitting jeans (my top favorite spots to buy denim from are from Abercrombie, Madewell, and American Eagle)
Summary
I hope you enjoyed this episode including some of the more personal anecdotes shared. Please let me know if you try out this process!
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