I’m not sure about anyone else, but with such short trend cycles, and new aesthetics every week, it can feel difficult to figure out what feels authentic to wear. It’s normal to try something new or to buy the popular shoe that it seems everyone is wearing, but what happens when you feel stuck and like nothing is inspiring you? Here are some ways to get out of a fashion flunk:
Pick out the favorite pieces in your closet. What do you like about them? Is it the color or the sleeves? Do you really like leather or athleticwear? What you tend to wear in your daily life is the best indicator of what you actually like. And on the flip side, you can also look at what is collecting dust in your closet.
Find a person (real or fictional) to act as your style inspiration. It can be helpful to find one or more people whose outfits you consistently like and who have distinct parts of their style. This could be a movie character, a celebrity, or someone you follow on social media. Some of my examples are the model Sandra Shehab and the rapper Saweetie.
Create a mood board. I love creating a mood board for anything and everything, mainly because I’m a visual person. You can find pictures from social media, screenshots from TV, and pieces directly from shopping websites. Looking for standard silhouettes, textures, prints, or colors is a great way to see what you naturally gravitate towards and your ideal personal style.
No impulse buying! Let’s be honest, impulse shopping can be fun. But it’s not worth it if you will only wear a piece once or twice. Before you add a new item to your closet, THINK: Will you see yourself wearing this next year? How would you style it with pieces you already have? What do you love about it?
Know what you hate. Sometimes the best way to figure out what you like is to know what you hate. What have you tried before in the past that you now avoid either because you don’t like it, or because they’re simply not your style?