How I build my outfits when I'm not in the mood for getting dressed.
You might not believe this but I've been in a style funk....and this is how I got out of it.
Have you been in a style funk across January & February? There have been times when I have felt that way , which might surprise you but believe it or not even stylists have times when they are feeling a little uninspired by their clothes! Recent lighter mornings and slightly longer daylight hours brings more motivation and excitement that spring is on the way so it’s time to start getting excited about my wardrobe again.
Thanks to hormonal bloating I’ve been struggling to fit into some of my clothes recently which has really thrown me off. So I thought it might be an ideal time for me to share my quick and easy formula for how I build an outfit when I am am feeling a little uninspired or not quite myself, and one that is my go to for getting me out of any minor style funks that I might be experiencing.
Think about your key words and create a style manifesto.
I have always used the three worlds style mantra along with identifying their style personality (Classic, Relaxed, Creative, Romantic, Dramatic, Chic, Edgy) with my clients but a few years ago I saw the legendary stylist Anna Cascarina share her Style Manifesto and I have been hooked on the method ever since.
After identifying your three descriptive words that you want your clothes to make you feel (such as confident, happy, feminine, comfortable, stylish etc), you take it a step further and create a short paragraph by following these steps…
Your ‘Style Manifesto’
Describe your most worn items - these are you go to every day pieces that you couldn’t live without, what do they look like?
Describe the items outside of the norm - what sets these pieces apart form the rest of your wardrobe, why do they stand out?
What kind of mood does your clothing create - how do you want your wardrobe to make you make you feel?
Here is my stye manifesto…..
“My style is ….. colourful & fun
With a ….. creative and eclectic vibe
And is …. relaxed and comfortable”
An example of a different style manifesto for someone with a different aesthetic to me could be….
“My style is ….. understated and polished
With a ….. contemporary twist
And … makes me feel appropriate and put together”
2. Start your outfit building with the part of your body that you find the most challenging to style.
As someone who often struggles with bloating around my tummy, legs & bum due to life long food sensitivities and recent hormone fluctuations, my priority is making sure my bottom half is comfortable and feels lengthened. I consider the stretch, the waistband and the print. If I get this right then the only way is up with my outfit as I will feel more confident with my problematic area, which will enable everything else to work together more easily from there onwards as I will be instantly feeling more optimistic about my look so far.
For me, busy print, wide leg trousers in soft fabrics and comfy skirts with elasticated waistbands styled with loose fitting tops are always a winning combo. My leopard print wide leg flares or my new red Adidas Firebird Trackies are my go to choice when I’m feeling uncomfortable. Most of my jeans have been feeling rather snug so I just accept that at the moment any without stretch are not on my radar as I know that by lunch time I’ll be needing to unfasten the buttons and feeling desperate to take them off, which doesn’t fit with my style manifesto as I won’t be comfortable.
3. Make sure your accessories speak to you and really complete your look.
I have never regretted a metallic accessory (a gold bag, footwear, headband, belt etc), as I wear a lot of colour & print so metallics are such a fun way to add another element to the look while keeping a bit of coordination.
Once you know your best shade of metal after having your colours analysed (gold, silver, gunmetal, bronze) if you invest in the key accessories that you go for time after time you know that you’ll never be short on a quick way to complete your outfit when you’re doubting yourself.
If metallics aren’t your thing, think about your favourite neutrals - are they black, brown, grey, navy, nude, burgundy etc and make sure you have a light and dark option of footwear, belts, bags and any other key accessories that you wear often that will help to complete any look from your wardrobe.
I hope these tips help the next time you are next feeling stuck in a style rut and will inspire you to look at your wardrobe in a different way. While most of our social calendars a little quieter this time of year, why not book some time into your dairy to work through your current wardrobe and have a good old try on to see what you come up with. Have a go at creating your style manifesto to see if what you have really speaks to you and then create, photograph, print off and stick inside your wardrobe any looks that you come up with to use as inspiration going forwards.
I hope you all have a great week and stay tuned for more regular emails from me across 2025.
Thanks for sticking with me!
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Love Laura xxx