defining style & avoiding shiny distractions

About twice a year, I pull together a collection of pictures that I use as a guideline for my own personal style. The amassing of imagery is constant – I have been saving reference images for spring/summer 2018 since last fall. The “pulling together” part comes in when I start to get the itch to shop for an upcoming season. Sometimes collecting everything in a Pinterest board is enough, but sometimes I need to do a little weeding. At that point I pull my favorite images together to paint a more cohesive picture for my own reference. For lack of a more creative name, let’s call it a style board.

It’s easy to brush off a practice like this one, saying “just buy what you like and wear it.” I can promise that I have done this a thousand times over (literally, a thousand). Sometimes it went well and I bought clothes I liked, I wore them, the end. Regularly, though, I’d buy something I never ended up wearing. I’d bring it home (shoes? a sweater? “it” could be almost anything), excited to hang it up in my closet and let it transform my wardrobe with its chicness. But. BUT. I couldn’t quite bring myself to actually wear it. Maybe I fell in love with it on the hanger (or in the pictures online), but it didn’t fit perfectly on my body. Maybe I was a seasonally eager beaver, buying a spring item in November. Or maybe it was just too chic and I’d worry about being able to “pull it off” in real life. Most often, though, when this happened it was because it didn’t mesh well with the rest of my wardrobe. So it hung there, collecting bits of dust and eventually getting lost among other clothes I wore more often.

There have been countless “its” over the years. And out of pure frustration, I realized I needed to narrow my focus. Creating style boards has been exactly what I needed to maintain cohesion (and closet-related sanity). The benefits reach beyond just identifying a style focus. A style board is a great tool to use when shopping as well as getting dressed each day, especially if you’re like me and tend to get overwhelmed by decision-making. It also helps me put limitations on myself when I shop, because without it I WILL get distracted by those 4-inch coral heels (I cannot afford Prada, by the way, but I can drool!).

A style board is also a useful tool to build a personal style if you’re not sure you have one or where to start. There are absolutely no rules, and no one’s style board is going to look the same. I’ve made boards quite a few times, so I know what works well for me and what doesn’t. Whether you’re a seasoned fashionista or just dipping a toe in, I highly recommend testing this out. One rule I always follow is that everything in the image has to not only speak to my aesthetic but be something that I would wear in real life. If I see a picture of an outfit where I like almost everything in the image, too bad. It has to be 100% me, or it doesn’t get included in the mix. Here’s an example:

I really enjoy Jacey’s outfit. The striped midi skirt and denim jacket are a classic and effortless combo, and her accessorizing is spot-on. But if it was me (and when it comes to my style board, it is me) I would pair this look with very different shoes. Stilettos are not for me, and I know that and am comfortable with it. I still saved this image on Pinterest, but to a different board that houses general outfit inspiration that isn’t for a literal application.

Alright, onward! To the style boards!

The first thing I like to do is look at my collection of imagery from a “big picture” perspective. Take a step back and look at everything all at once. What repetitive themes pop up? Could be colors, textures, shapes, moods, and more. In the instance of my big picture (above), I see the following recurring themes:

• Warm color palette, including red, coral, and pops or yellow or orange. Backup colors include blue, black, and white. Apparently feeling patriotic (?!)
• Some natural textures, including linen and cotton
• Waist is always defined, accentuates a traditionally feminine shape
• Pants are always high-waisted and either very wide or moderately slim leg, never passing the ankle
• Necklines are polar extremes (so to speak), either a deep v-neck or a crewneck

Because I’m me, I have sufficiently geeked out over this process (I’m really REALLY excited for spring) and made more style boards broken up by category. For some this might be pretty unnecessary, but for me it’s kind of fun.

Here’s a few more themes that pop out:

• Scarves and bandannas as accessories (less boy scout and more Pan Am)
• Low heels – rarely over 2″
• Tucking!!
• Button fronts on tops, bottoms, and dresses
• Natural/woven handbags
• Denim in vintage washes

Okay, I’m ready to get dressed now! What other trends do you see? Are you going to create your own style board? LMK in the comments below.