Okay. To be honest with all of you, I’ve gone from my old wardrobe of mixed things with mixed success to wearing a workout top and sweats every day. EVERY DAY.

I feel so blah and boring. I’d love to go out more (this has to do with my socializing goal), but if I don’t look and feel my best, then how can I succeed? That’s the big influence behind this goal. So, this morning, I cranked out a little bit of a plan (with a WIP shopping list).

Based off of CF’s College Wardrobe Essentials :

• 4-5 jeans that fit well
• A classic dress [does not have to be LBD; may buy two or three depending on what I like]
• 4-6 basic tank tops
• 1-3 chic cardigans
• Great bras and panties [I’ve already decided on 14 pairs from VS and 3-4 bras from VS; choosing this brand because the panties last forever and I always get coupons for them :)]
• a bag that holds everything [Planning on making my own bag OR just looking for an eco friendly bag]
• 1-2 dressy tops (satin, lace, bright colors and cute prints)
• 1 pair nice dress pants
• 1 white button down shirt
• 1 well-cut spring/fall jacket (water resistant) [Going to look for a cute trench, most likely in some kind of green color]
• 1 or 2 winter coats [I love peacoats and am determined to buy the perfect coat this year!] -> Mittens to go along with these so my hands aren’t chapped to hell and back again this year
• 1-2 pairs casual flats – 1 in black/brown and 1 in a bright color like green, red or yellow
• 1 pair good winter shoes/boots
• 1 pair black pumps [Kitten heels?]
• 1-3 summer skirts [Knee length; considering A-line and pencil skirts for a retro look]
• 2 pairs black opaque tights, 2 pairs sheers
• Slippers and a cozy bathrobe
• a cute umbrella

Who are my fashion inspirations? I can’t really put names to them yet, but I’ll eventually put pieces that I like and people I find fashionable in step 2 or 3 of this goal. I already know I love retro, 1930’s-early 60’s style, sweetheart cut and dream cut dresses and blouses, and knee length skirts. I hate high high heels, but I’d like to find a good compromise! I also hate denim skirts, especially long denim skirts. My aim is to look feminine, fun, and not afraid to be different. I like preppy looks, but I don’t want to walk around as an Aberzombie.

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Even More Style-Changing Tips from College Fashion, one of my “go to” sites:

Shop some new stores! Whether they’re vintage boutiques, thrift stores, or mall shops, try to branch out and shop at some new stores! Online shopping is a great way to do this because you can preview the merchandise of a certain store and see what you like before you go in and try things on. Try browsing online stores you’ve never been to, or discounted stores you usually pass by. You may be surprised with what you find!

Start small! Try adding one or two new pieces in with the things you already wear. For example, if you’ve been a pretty conservative or traditional dresser and you’re going for a rocker vibe, try swapping your flared jeans for black skinnies, or topping your outfit with a leather jacket for some edge. This way, you’ll get a dose of edgy style, but still look and feel like yourself.

Proceed with caution. There’s nothing wrong with slowly creating a new look! In fact, easing into a style change is one of the best ways to make your transformation genuine. The best style changes don’t happen overnight! Incorporate new pieces little by little, until they become second nature is a key part of developing your new personal style.

Never stop expanding your collection! If you buy clothes that fit into a bunch of different categories, you’re always going to have something cool to wear on the days you feel sporty or the days you feel like a trend-setter. Go ahead and mix and match! Who says you have to have a fashion uniform 24/7? Try anything and everything out!

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Dunno about always expanding my collection, as I like to keep things relatively simple and classic across the board (kind of messes with the “dare to be different” vibe, doesn’t it?). In any case, with this entry I’ve completed Step 1, laying the groundwork for a true style discovery.

In Step 2 I will outline some favorite outfits, what I like about them, and also citing some fashion muses that I find (also via a CF article – love love love that place!). This should take a while (maybe a month or more, giving me time to save up money for this overhaul).

Then, in Step 3, I will be revising my shopping list perhaps, outlining the stores I am going to visit, and planning my day(s) of shopping, as well as my budget. I should consider storage options as well as auxiliary accessories, taking care not to buy more than five at the very most.

Since I will most certainly have a camera by the time I get to Step 4, I will post a link on here to the things I bought and practice taking good photos with them!