5 Reasons Your Style Isn’t Coming Together — And How To Fix It
Over the last five years of styling women of all ages, shapes and sizes, I’ve noticed something. Most women’s wardrobes are actually closer to their ideal style than they think. The pieces are there. The desire is there. But still, something isn’t coming together and they can’t pinpoint why.
In my experience, I’ve found that it usually boils down to one or more of the five reasons I’m about to share (and the good news is — they’re easy to fix!).
You’re not clear on what your style is — yet.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in social media and trends and lose sight of who you actually are. We scroll, we impulse buy, and if we’re not careful, our closet slowly becomes full of clothes that reflect someone else’s style. So, instead of focusing on what you think you should wear, flip the script and start focusing on what you want to wear instead. How do you want to feel in your clothes? What message to you want to send to others? Are you bold and creative? Polished and professional? Sporty and laid back?
So much of personal style is about choosing the pieces that make you feel your best. So, what are they? If you’re not sure where to start, check out my other post: It’s Time To Find Your Signature Look — Here’s How. I’ll walk you through the entire process from start to finish (you’re welcome!).
The pieces in your closet don’t reflect your current lifestyle.
People often forget that style is not a one-and-done thing. As we enter new seasons of life, our style needs to evolve with us. Last year, I transitioned from spending five days a week in an office with frequent travel to becoming a work-from-home dog mom who (almost) never travels. All the sudden, I no longer needed a large collection of blazers and a curated rotation of heels to wear to in person meetings. And while I’m very clear on what my personal style is, this change forced me to re-evaluate the pieces in my wardrobe and reinvent my signature outfit formulas. While I ultimately decided to hold onto to a few of my favorites, I knew I simply wasn’t going to wear a blazer with heels in my home office.
So, I began slowly letting go of the pieces that no longer serve my current lifestyle and began replacing them with pieces that make more sense, like jeans with a little bit of stretch and stylish shoes that are comfortable enough to walk my dog in between Zoom meetings. I also began investing more heavily in my jewelry and scarf collections, because I love the way these details dress up my look on camera.
Letting go of pieces that don’t support your lifestyle makes room for pieces that match the person you are becoming.
You own too many basics OR too many statement pieces.
Whether you love versatile pieces you can wear on repeat or fun, statement pieces that highlight your personality, it’s important to have a balance of both. If you own too many basics, it can feel difficult to create interesting outfits, especially when you’re headed out to a social event. If you own too many statement pieces, you may find it difficult to get dressed with ease on a day-to-day basis because you’re likely missing those workhorse pieces that you can wear with everything else.
Take a look in your closet and consider which category describes you. Do you need a few fun, interesting pieces? Or do you need a thoughtfully curated selection of wardrobe staples that will help you tie it all together? Write down what you need in an iPhone note and save it for your next shopping trip!
You don’t own the right shoes.
Shoes create the mood of an outfit. If your shoes or worn out or you simply don’t own the right shoes for your lifestyle, you will always struggle to get dressed. Perhaps that means you need a stylish pair of sneakers to wear to the park with your kids or a comfortable pair of flats you can wear for both work and weekends. What are the activities you need to dress for each week? What shoes would help you get dressed easily, while still feeling good about your outfit? What shoes do you need to replace? Add them to your iPhone note!
You’re forgetting the details.
Believe it or not, I’ve come across many clients with beautiful wardrobes who still feel like their outfits aren’t coming together. If this describes you, you’re likely overlooking the small details that make an outfit feel styled. Everyday jewelry, a bag that can be dressed up or down, or even a polished blowout or signature hairstyle has a way of elevating even the simplest outfits. For example, jeans and a white tee shirt with flip flops is very different than jeans and a white tee shirt (half-tucked) with a bubblegum necklace and an accent shoe. Even though the base is the same, the first combination feels bland, and the second feels chic and modern.
As always, if you’re looking for personalized style advice designed to help you get dressed with confidence, check out my services page!
xoxo
Alexa