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STYLE BULLETIN
Back to (Style) School
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I
t is that time of year - back to school. When I was little I always looked forward to September (which seems like the month that school should start, not the middle of August like it is for some, if not most, kids now.) Getting new notebooks, pencils and pencil-holders.(Do kids even get those things these days?) Plus let's not forget making the back-to-school run to the local department store for some new skirts and shoes. It was so exciting!
So I decided - why let the kids have all the back-to-school fun? Let's have some reinvigoration ourselves! I've adapted the "three R's" with a style spin to hopefully spark some new ideas for you. We're never to old to learn some new tricks, right?
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The first R of course is Reading. That may not seem like a style word, but I've learned that it is. I personally have learned so much from reading books on style, some from my image consultant colleagues and some from other recognized experts in the field. Of course, I can't leave out all the fashion magazines I read to stay abreast of the latest buzz. (This being September, the mother-lode of fashion magazines has begun to arrive so I'll be busy with those for a while!)
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I recently shared some of my favorite reads in a
blog post
you might want to check out, (the four most recent are shown in the picture below.)
I highly recommend you pick some of them up and dive in. I always learn something new and I know you will too.
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This also may not seem like it applies to style, but it does. I've found one of the most effective ways to keep track of what you learn and what you want to accomplish is to write it down. Such as...
*Writing down your wardrobe needs as you discover what those are, so when you go shopping you can stay focused and avoid getting distracted by the sale racks.
*Writing down your personal "style words" to keep in your closet and use as a barometer against which you measure whether or not the clothes in your closet are still true to your style. If you aren't sure what your style words are, here's a quick little assessment from a previous newsletter you can take. If you'd like to go deeper, that's part of what I do in my work with clients if they want to explore their style personality in more depth.
*Writing down your outfits by day and activity when you travel. You'll reduce any stress about getting dressed every day because you won't have to remember what you had planned when you were back in your closet. It'll be right there in front of you!
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Here's where the bulk of the work takes place. Let's start with...
+Addition - Adding Some Edge to Your Wardrobe
When you look around, do you spot people who have that something-something that makes you take notice? You may think to yourself, there’s someone I’d really like to meet! Someone is wearing something that represents a quality that appeals to you: surprise, humor, drama, and charm. If you could study that person’s outfit you might spot a detail or two or three that pulls you in and makes you curious.
I"m calling this "adding edge" to her outfit. It's not edge as in rock star attire - it's more about definition. Their appearance is not bland or thoughtless - it's rich and interesting.
Here are a few examples to get you thinking.
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A woman is wearing jeans and a patterned, untucked blouse. She has ballet flats on her feet. The edgy part of her outfit comes from the thick, oversized sunglasses she’s wearing. People think:
“Gee, she looks interesting!”
"I wonder what her story is.”
"I bet she’s really smart.”
That exaggeration in her eyewear had the power to create all kinds of thought.
*A woman is wearing a man-tailored trouser with a crisp white shirt, open at the neck. Her shirt requires cuff links and she’s wearing silver ones. She has an edgy bobbed hairstyle with bright highlights. She has on a pair of suede slip-on loafers with images of cats on the front.
People think:
“Who is she?”
“She must have a sense of humor to be wearing a pair of shoes with cats on them.”
“I could go over and ask her about her shoes and find out more about her. I think I will!”
A haircut with definition gives the impression that this woman knows who she is. She’s sharp and intelligent. It takes a certain personality to wear shoes with cats on them. It’s unusual and interesting.
Edge is shorthand for having presence, being a little unpredictable,
creating surprise, mystery, or drama.
Having an edge is taking a stand and going for it.
Here are five ways to add some edge to your outfits.
1. Wear a novelty jacket (the opposite of a double breasted suit jacket.). The pattern of the jacket could be striking with images of birds or words or exaggerated flora. The colors could be bright or could mix a neutral color with a non-neutral color like camel and bright orange or brown and turquoise. Or it could be a jacket with embellishments, shine or texture - you get the idea. What it is not is ordinary!
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2. Wear a larger, more distinctive handbag. If you wear totes, make your next one an exaggerated shape. Going for a new color can help you etch out your edge.
3. Wear a hat. Hats are great conversation starters as not many people wear them these days. You’ll stand out and be interesting without opening your mouth. Every time I wear a hat I always get comments from total strangers. It's so much fun!
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4. If you wear casual separates a lot, find a way to add bling to your outfit. Add a bold sparkly necklace or sparkly chandelier earrings. Wear a flat that has metallic finish to it plus extra details like bows or buckles.
5. Wear more than one of something. If you usually wear one bangle, wear three. If you wear one pendant, layer an extra chain or two to make it have more design weight.
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- Subtraction
This is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, because this is the area that most of us have the most trouble with. Removing items that no longer belong in your wardrobe, whether because of fit, stains or pulls, or just because you no longer feel like 'you' in them. I recommend you do a wardrobe assessment at least twice a year, spring and fall being the ideal times since those are the typical transition periods. Some people do better with the 'one in - one out' system (whenever something new is added, something else has to go.) When you can let go of these type of items on a regular basis, you'll be well on your way to 'graduate school' (to stick with the metaphor.)
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X Multiplication and Division (sorry, I don't have a symbol for that!)
Just like learning multiplication and division in school is more difficult than simple addition and subtraction, so they are in style terms. For division, I'm asking you to think of breaking up 'sets' in your closet: suits, sweater sets, pantsuits, etc. Break them apart and then use your multiplication skills
to make new outfits out of the items you already own (and love).
It's very easy to get into a style rut - wearing the same pairings over and over again and not breaking them up to try them with other things in your closet. For example, o
nly wearing your heels with dress pants and not trying them with your jeans.
Wearing the same accessories in the same way, instead of trying them with something new, such as popping on your jean jacket over a more classically styled dress.
Are you ready to do the homework and
improve your style skills? If you need a
fresh set of eyes to help you get started on this path,
give me a call or an email and I can help you start to see the possibilities.
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...about what it is I actually
do
as an image consultant, please click on the image to the right for a short video that describes my services.
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I'd love it if you would connect with me on social media! I'm posting all sorts of additional style and fashion resources that you might like.
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A Few Closing Thoughts...
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Some people are glad when summer's over (maybe I'm thinking of parents here - lol!) and others are sorry to see it go. Which are you?
One thing I know for sure is that almost everyone I talk to is amazed that the year has gone by so quickly, myself included. I don't feel like I've come close to wearing all my summer things yet, and now I've got to start transitioning to fall. Granted, we'll have plenty of warm days still ahead of us, but our mind-sets are quietly shifting towards heavier, more substantial clothes.
As we head towards the last quarter of the year, let's truly embrace our own personal style, but then take a bit of risk in adding a little edge in how we express it. This photo from my style calendar for the month of September says it best, don't you think?
P.S. I'm taking pre-orders for the 2017 Style Calendar - you'll save 15% if you pre-order. Drop me a note if you're interested!
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Thanks for reading. All my best to all of you!
Adena
415-729-1008
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VP Social Media & Marketing, 2014-2017
President 2012-2013
AICI SFBA
Association of Image Consultants International -
San Francisco Bay Area
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