Hello. My name is Kristin. And I once was a style schizophrenic. One day I would dress like a preppy private school attendee, the next I was 70s peace child. Modern and edgy in all black? Had it covered. Bright and bold? Did that too. Loose? Check. Tight? Check. Dress like a tomboy? Check. Wear the biggest, craziest earrings I could find? Check and check. I had NO idea who I was.
At first I thought it was actually quite fun to reinvent myself everyday. A whole new look for every mood. But then I just started feeling like I was a vapor floating in the fashion wind. No direction. No happy place. No true identity.
Enter: the current fads. The joke goes that I will loudly buck every trend initially (as in declare my hatred), and then be wearing it in three weeks. I was such a pushover! If I saw enough people wearing something in a cute way, I’d give it a try. But still…it wasn’t me.
My closet was full of a hodgepodge of clothes that didn’t go together. Some trends long past their day-in-the-spotlight prime, and others were just long past my loving them. Perhaps I really never did. I bought what was on sale. I bought what I drawn to. But often I’d buy things that needed a little effort to make them look and feel good. “Special needs” clothes I would call them. You know the type: constant adjustments, required unusual undergarments, only went with ONE other thing that I owned, had to suck in my tummy the whole time I had it on… I began to go into my closet to get dressed, daily, and feel like I truly didn’t have anything to wear.
That’s when I started reading fashion blogs that taught me about how to build a remixable wardrobe. What pieces everyone should have. How to make your clothes work for you in a myriad of different ways. And I started being ruthless. If I didn’t LOVE something…it was gone. If I couldn’t wear it at least three different ways for three different looks…it was gone. If it didn’t fit my body comfortably as it stands today…it was gone. If it was old and showing signs of wear (stains, picking, holes, pill balls, fading, shrinking, stretching, etc.)…it was gone. If I had no need for the style in my life right now (for example: business wear-I mean, going to work currently = yoga pants for me)…it was gone.
My closet was shrinking, but my confidence was growing. But still…something was missing. Although my clothes were working together better, I still didn’t feel like I had found my true clothing identity. The soul of my style. I would see something on someone else and love it, but on me it was only “meh” at best. For months and months (maybe even years) I was in search of the perfect chambray shirt – it seemed like such a practical closet staple – but when I finally found the perfect wash, in the perfect size, at the perfect price, and tried it on? I suddenly realized that I was not a chambray shirt kind of person. I looked like someone playing dress up. A wanna be. Who knew?
That was when I had the awakening. I desperately needed to find my style soul. To know the type of clothes that speak about who I am. That I feel completely comfortable in. That present the face that I desire to show to the world. And here is what I’ve found:
+ I love classics: solids, stripes, florals, plaids, polkadots…
+ I love “preppy” – think Ralph Lauren
+ I love fitted/tailored/polished cuts – nothing oversized has ever looked good on my body type
+ I looooooooove cardigans (just call me Mr(s). Rogers)
+ I love jeans
+ I love button ups
+ I love small accents of trend (scarves, shoes, belts)
+ I love tasteful, classic, sophisticated jewelry – specifically in metals
+ I love soft colors – mostly neutral, pastel, and earthy. And when I want a pop of color, I’ll usually go for rich jewel tones
+ I love nautical
+ I love fair isle
+ I love to feel feminine and “pulled together” in my clothes
+ I love a slightly vintage feel – often in the form of shoes or jewelry
+ I love cozy
And well, that pretty much sums me up! Just taking the time to really go through and edit, edit, and re-edit my closet – then thinking about how each and every outfit I wear makes me feel, has helped me to finally find the soul of my style. And now? I can’t wait to get dressed everyday! And when I go shopping, it’s a much more focused and successful experience.
No more fashion identity crisis for me! I have found my look. The clothes I feel utterly and completely at home in. *cue the song “At Last”*
What about you? Do you feel like your closet is a cohesive medley of who you are? Can you mix and match your pieces endlessly? Or do you feel like what is staring back at you is just a hodgepodge of different stages of your life, lots of great sale finds, and things that don’t make you smile when you put them on and look in the mirror?
Well, keep an eye out for these “Soul of Your Style” posts where I’ll share more about finding MY style soul, and hopefully, help you find yours along the way!
Hehe, I recognize that deadly electric fence! ;P
I have been struggling with personal style for the last several years, myself. I LOVE clothes, but honestly, until I started reading blogs, I had NO idea how to dress myself or what my style really was. I’m still figuring it out, really. But just like in the style of decor in my home, it’s definitely helped to narrow down my style of clothing, too. I’m still figuring out what’s “ME,” but as I get closer to really grasping it, I find it’s so much easier to shop and I feel so much more confident in what I wear.
You always look nicely put together and comfortable and feminine. I enjoyed seeing what you’d have on every day while I stayed with you!
Haha! Oh yes. That deadly electric fence…glad you lived to tell the tale
. Somehow I don’t think we’re unusual…loving clothes, but lacking focus (there’s that word again!). It’s a fun journey – one that will probably never end – but I sure enjoy having a better grasp on who I am in this department, that’s for sure. Thanks for your sweet words ♥
I feel as you did. I have a mess of clothes that make no sense together and, for the most part, I have no idea what I’m doing and always look in my closet with a sigh. I had no idea there were fashion blogs to help me! I will look out for your posts and hope you can recommend some others that will help!
Yes, yes, yes! I totally relate! I will definitely be sharing some of the style blogs that I love in the future, and look forward to writing more about my journey. We’ll all get to that point of loving our closets together
Stay tuned!
Yes! I’ve definitely been there and I’m still working on my current style, but am closer than I was before. I often go a lot on how the clothing makes me feel, which usually helps steer me back on track. I love the point you make in buying high maintenance clothing. Anything that requires a strapless bra is out for me, so naturally I stick to conservative tops and have more fun with the bottoms, such as colored pants and fun printed ballet flats.
I just signed up for Stitch Fix to hopefully help me out even more, so I’m excited to see what they have in mind for me.
Ooooooh! Stitch Fix? I’ve never heard of it! Have to go check that out ASAP! I am sooooo with ya on the strapless bras. Been there done that, and finally got tired of pulling my bra up every three minutes! Just not worth it to me. Thanks for leaving your thoughts! I love hearing about all of us in the same boat
I would have never guessed you had a wardrobe crisis going on. I really like how you narrowed down “what you love”, it seems like all the things you picked really “flow” together. I love things that are trendy, but will only buy 1 trendy thing a season (because I “know” I won’t wear it often).
My everyday style is pretty simple:
cold weather – jeans, sweater or cardigan and boots
warm weather: a dress (any style, any colr)
I might try to make a list like you to see if I can really pin point a style.
Sounds like our “everyday wear” is pretty similar! Love it! It certainly IS a great exercise to list what you love – if you’re like me, it helps me say “no” to things when I’m shopping, and to better identify things that I know I will wear the heck out of! Good luck!
Totally relating to this!
I’ve had a hard time feeling comfortable NOT falling into trends. Or the opposite- falling in love with things that aren’t cool. Like, for example, long johns. But, hey…. I like my long johns. So it’s okay.
I’m pretty conservative with my wardrobe and have been since college ended. I hate to buy things that are unwearable a year later. That’s why I also tend to buy expensive, too. I’ve owned the same jeans for four years. And it would be longer but I just couldn’t fit in my size 0′s anymore and so, well, four years ago I had to buy new clothes. Sigh. But who’s complaining?!?!?! Shopping is the best!!!!!
And that stone wall is rather awesome.
I think it’s so great to not fall into trends – to love things that other people aren’t all crazy over at the moment (although you KNOW they will eventually be “in” again!) seems like you’re confident in what kind of clothing speaks to you – and that may just be the biggest key to knowing your own style’s soul
– And oh yes…the shopping…I WILL get you down to Lynchburg for a JCrew Sample Sale one of these days for sure!
I have no sense of fashion, but love to see others model the latest! And I have no problem dressing my kids in the latest trends.
Ha! I love it! Live the trends vicariously through your kids
Why not?!
I’ve always been very much of a–dress one style one day, dress a completely different style the next. But I think for me there’s some connecting factors. I’m attracted to the same types of colors again and again. I don’t like wearing oranges and yellows, and I never will. I like retro dresses and punk-style leather bracelets (???? Don’t know why, I just do…) and I like mixing things up that other people probably wouldn’t mix up. I’m not sure if I have my own style, then…but I sure have fun getting dressed!
And what you said about loudly protesting trends–I’ve been known to do that. I rejected skinny jeans completely for the first 3 YEARS that they were really popular, then I tried on a pair and thought, man, I look good in these!
Hahahaha! Your comment about skinny jeans made me laugh! I was JUST the same way
The dreaded S word. Style. I’ve been trying to figure out my style for a while now. The biggest challenge is trying to build a stylish closet on a tiny budget. I am queen of tossing old clothes, so that’s not the problem. Now I need to re-build.
I’ll be keeping an eye out for these posts. I love seeing people’s style develop, and it often tells you a little about that person’s personality too.
I really enjoy watching other people’s style develop too…encourages me on my own journey. I hope my story can do that for you! We’re all in the same boat — and it sounds like you’re in a great place – ready to rebuild from the ground up.-