Finding My Personal Style: 3 Essential Tips to Build My Dream Wardrobe
I'm on a mission to find my personal style, but a big problem I've had is figuring out where to actually find cute clothes. Let’s face it, the malls just aren’t hitting like they used to. You can find a lot of great staple items if you know where to look, but when it comes to adding unique pieces, you have to go outside of the box. From ASOS and Pretty Little Thing to SSENSE and Revolve, there are many amazing boutiques and marketplaces that you can use to find your next head-turning, conversation-starting look.
I admit, I was never a big fan of online shopping because with my size and height, I find it best to be able to try on clothes before making an investment (and I dread going to the post office to drop off returns.) But I’m going to have to get over a lot of these hurdles to build the closet of my dreams. My desire to look and feel my best is greater than how annoying feels to stand in line at UPS.
A lot of this process is about having the right attitude, and I strongly believe a happy mind = amazing fashion finds! Here are some tricks I've learned to change my perspective as I build my wardrobe with intention:
1. Do Inventory of Your Closet
Kind of like when you go grocery shopping, you need to know what you already have to know what you need. From there, you can build a checklist of items that you feel like would complete your looks. Replace anything with a lot of wear and tear, donate a few gently worn items, and make room for a new special piece.
2. Have a Hunter-Gatherer Mindset
You're going to need a lot of patience for this journey. Remember, you're building up your closet one item at a time. This isn't about having a huge haul, it's curation. Just like a lion on the prowl, your version of a stakeout looks like adding something to your cart and letting it sit for a few weeks or learning when your favorite stores restock so you can get there while the shipment is fresh. The goal is to make sure every new piece is worth the effort.
3. See the Vision Through a Different Lens
You have to train yourself to be able to find similar pieces in shape, color, texture, and all those elements that make clothing fun. A little inspiration goes a long way and it isn't a crime to repeat a look that you've seen from somewhere else. But don't get caught up on being so copy-paste. You have to trust yourself and trust that putting your own spice on it is just as fierce.
With Love,
