develop my own style

I didn’t realize when I even “completed” this. It just sort of happened. I like my clothes relaxed I think it’s just taking the time to get to know yourself and figure out what you feel most comfortable in, and not what’s “hot” at the moment. Besides, by being comfortable in your clothes (and they don’t have to be expensive) does wonders for your self confidence.

I have never had so much fun making a list of things I like and screen capping cute outfits online. Anthropologie is one favorite perusing spot. And I am more happy to go thrifting now – found some pretty incredible deals – I get complimented all the time on pieces I found at goodwill and my secret thrift haunts. ;p I don’t get all my pieces there, but it is a thrill to find something with a similar look for a fraction of the price!

What also helps is a list I’ve kept for the past 5 years (I know, it sounds extreme but is really easy, actually). It documents every clothing item that’s been purchased by me (or gifted to me). I mark through the items I gave away (to friends or goodwill, b/c I don’t wear them) and I also highlight favorites that I wear ALL THE TIME. That was the best guide. Kinda weird, because you get to discover another side of yourself.

It’s not like I really feel comfy in them when I’m out & about, though they are my go-to when I’m not feeling the best. I’ve been lacking motivation on this one, gotta get on the ball, since I’m at that weird age where the boundary between “old” and “young” starts to blur.

Tough now that we just changed coasts! I’m sure I will figureit out – pretty exciting!!!

Since I have been employed by my new employer for a while now, I can probably concentrate more on looking nice… My style, my comfort in my own skin…

It’s probably easiest to start out with things that I don’t like. :)

~ Too much pink anything – I’m too old to be playing with Barbies
~ Anything too flowery – I risk looking like I was 20 years old in the 60s
~ Any longer A-line skirt – it cuts my height
~ Anything too voluminous – I lived through the 80s once already
~ Thick, chunky heels, unless n a cowboy boot – for some reason I hate these.

Some things I always feel comfy in:
~ Black
~ Jeans that actually fit
~ A good pair of classic boots
~ A roomy casual leather bag
~ Anything skullish, as long as it isn’t overkill/cheesy
~ White fitted t’s from The Gap – my fav t-shirt fit!!!

Considering I work in a semi-conservative office with cool people, I still need to look professional, meaning skulls and crossbones don’t quite cut it in the workplace. :)

So, this means I need a new alternative. CLASSIC. Too bad I have a weak spot for black. Sometimes even white. I like to wear colors, too, but I like them to be deep. Like greens, blues, rusts, warm darker grays. I can do red occasionally, and for some reason I always stay away from yellow. :( Brown is ok, but it seems even more boring than black to me. :( Maybe I need better combinations. In the summer, I had a good rotation going beween everyting I have. Winter is tough, because all I ever want to wear are sweaters and pants. Otherwise I freeze all the time. Eh, I’ll figure it out. Just a couple of steps at a time. :)

My mom will be coming over to help weed out my closet of things I don’t wear. I need help! Over the past two years, I’ve gotten into a fashion rut by working as a peon, who eventually gave up caring what she looked like. I don’t like stuffy, and I don’t like trendy. I still want to look my age (which is young) but I don’t want to look immature. Ahh! So, she said she would help, as my new job requires me to look professional, but casual and I don’t want to look like those models from the Sears catalouge. ugh. I know, but my mom dresses pretty cool for her age, but my style is different. Let’s see if her visit will help me or be a disaster!! lol. (I’m sure we’ll have a lot of fun…)

Anyways, I’m getting a new hair cut, since my hair is 12 ft long, gets tangled and cought in everything all the time. I think I’m gonna lop off 3 inches. :) So, a good haircut does wonders anyway. A good start.

the library for some sewing books, etc. :)

Let’s say that I have been neglecting actually dressing up in nice clothing at my place of employment for over a year (a., I’m a peon and they don’t treat anyone well and (b., everyone smokes, so I want to save my good clothes for better occasions…
Well, since I have been searching like crazy for a new job, I wanted to break my caveman habit and have started dressing much nicer and I feel better. I could probably use a haircut, but money is tight and I will just have to spend extra time styling it for the next few weeks.
As for my clothing style, I think I feel most comfortable in an eccentric/laid back look (wow, that says a lot… lol) Not boho, or trendy but travely, a tad feminine, but not overly so. I need to learn to layer better. Basically I like dressing up, but I don’t want to look stuffy and older than I am, and I don’t want to look like I’m in a trendy high school either (which is quite simple for me to do, since I am 5’1 with a face of a 12 year old…) So, I have been obsessed with a couple fashion magazines I brought from Japan and I have had great success (looks and comments, too!!) pulling my good clothes out of the back of my closet (I forgot the love affair I had with my heels – it’s like Christmas again, but for free!!!) and mixing and matching. Also, I have brought back makeup on my eyes, making them a tad more dramatic from the boring browns I have been using just to get by.
I still need a little work, since developing one’s style should be an ongoing thing anyway (after all, who wants to stay the same forever?) but I still need to push myself in the right direction. I need to make my closet work for me and it is… umm, 65% there. I don’t want to buy a million clothes, I just have to weed some things out, buy a few basics, and make whatever else I may want that I can’t afford. (But I have at lest 5 more pounds to lose before I will buy fitted pants!)
A list of things to do or acquire (either by sewing or buying)
1. Weed out closet some more (summer clothes especially) and list good enough items on ebay
2. Tan (or burgundy) suede knee-high boots with a small scrunch at the ankle; medium heel – not clunky or stiletto
3. 2 crisp white button-up blouses with a larger collar (but not too 70’s) that I can never find ANYWHERE, and if I do, it’s in a magazine and, like $400, so I am probably going to sew these.
4. Blue button-up blouse that is not boring in shape
5. A pleated skirt, perhaps with a graphic lightweight flowy fabric, but French style (not too early 80s), with little pleats all the way down that hits just below the knee. (I may have to make this one)
6. Fix my red heels (they were stained, so I bleached the stain out and now I have to have them re-dyed)
7. Perhaps a balloon skirt, but we are getting trendy here…
8. Summer dress from green 1950’s fabric (will get to sew this eventually)
9. Dark Grey and black pairs of fitted dress pants. (when I lose a tad of weight)
10. Pencil skirt (perhaps 2 – 1 black and one a darker gray)
11. Chunky slightly over-sized cardigan with belt (Grey, burgundy or perhaps even white)
12. Deep V-neck sweater (Blue, Black or Red?)
13. Cowboy boots… kinda always wanted a pair, since I live where people always wear these. We’ll see –
14. Tan suit – nothing too fancy, just a simple tan classic suit. (But, will I even need this when I move West?)
15. One more pair of heels that will go with an extremely dark navy skirt-suit that can somewhat survive the rain (my only other pair has leather soles, meaning a no-no when it rains, which is, like, all the time here during this season.
16. Sailor pants (I can sew these) with big buttons.
17. Stripped nautical shirt/blouse (no, I won’t wear it with the sailor pants, but I am tempted….)

I’ve been bad recently, because I bought a blue pair of heels (a STEAL for $20!!) that are the “cage” like style at a discount place and they pretty much have the same effect as a pair of colorful wedges I own, but a little more French ladylike, which I wanted to assimilate (only a tad) into my wardrobe… they were irresistable – the picture does not do them justice. I was about to put them back on a shelf when two women (at different times as I was on my path back) told me how amazing they were… so, there you have it. Now I HAVE to make that pleated skirt… (these shoes will go with anything from jeans to white fitted pants, to lady-like skirts… ::sigh::

Wow, that seems like a lot, but it shouldn’t be too bad, since I can probably sew most of those (‘cept the shoes)... and I still have a gift card left over from my graduation to Express, so they have really good pants!

I have a good idea of the clothes that look good on me/ what I would LOVE to wear on a daily basis, but honestly – I am a little lazy, not quite where I want to be weight-wise (just 10 lbs), and also short on cash. But I have decent sewing skills, so I will be working on this. :)