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Style Buzz: Shop Your Closet Challenge + Anatomy of a Networking Outfit


A Year of Style Inspiration!


Just a moment of celebration: this week marks the one year anniversary of Style Buzz! I'm so grateful to all of you who write to tell me what you think, how it's inspired you, or how it really hit home and made you try something new. HUGE shout out to everyone who gave me really great quotes and who have let me document their style journey. I've enjoyed every single minute and can't wait to see what we create next!

xxx rachel


QUOTE OF THE WEEK


"What's more powerful than wearing what's prescription is wearing what you want to wear. That person really stand for themselves because they're wearing what they feel comfortable, most like themselves, in."

- Jordan Gogos, Designer

It's likely the clothes in your closet represents various "you"s - the professional, the social butterfly, the gardener, the mum, the boss! And just because you don't channel all of them at the same time doesn't mean that each version isn't really "you". They just do it in their own way. The most important thing, though, is reflect the true you, your personality and essence. If you're ever in a situation where you feel you "ought" to wear something - like an LBD (little black dress) to a formal event - ask yourself if that's what you actually want to wear? Would you prefer a silver dress and cape? A gossamer gown? A hot pink pantsuit? Go for it! Just make sure it's appropriate for the occasion and that you feel like a star in it. People will love you for it.

 

 xxx rachel

A friend has never been one for convention and wasn't keen on wearing a traditional white gown for her wedding. Once she realized she could wear whatever she wanted - it was their day, after all - she went hunting! She chose a blue floral embroidered maxi dress from Needle & Thread and metallic snakeskin slingbacks, and her husband matched with a blue windowpane blazer and floral tie with grey trousers and white shoes. I think they nailed it perfectly - their attire shows their personality, they're comfortable, and they were absolutely feeling most like themselves, not what the TheKnot.com expected of them.
A friend has never been one for convention and wasn't keen on wearing a traditional white gown for her wedding. Once she realized she could wear whatever she wanted - it was their day, after all - she went hunting! She chose a blue floral embroidered maxi dress from Needle & Thread and metallic snakeskin slingbacks, and her husband matched with a blue windowpane blazer and floral tie with grey trousers and white shoes. I think they nailed it perfectly - their attire shows their personality, they're comfortable, and they were absolutely feeling most like themselves, not what the TheKnot.com expected of them.

NO-SPEND FEBRUARY CHALLENGE


I'm a huge fan of Gretchen Rubin - she's a happiness expert and I get her weekly email. This week she talked about doing a no-spend challenge for the month of February (the shortest one, thank goodness!). The challenge: you commit to purchasing only essential items for the month. Instead of buying discretionary items like new clothes, books, restaurant takeout, or impulse purchases, you spend money only on necessities like groceries and bills.

Why? As she says, "A brief period of deprivation can help us learn about ourselves and our patterns. It can re-set our tolerances, so that going forward, we indulge less."

 

So, my challenge to you:

Don't buy any new clothes in February and use what you already have.

 

I'm guessing you have more clothes than you need already, right? So it's time to shop your closet! The easiest way to do this is to see things differently. Start with a pair of pants and hold it up to all of your tops. What else do they go with apart from what you usually wear them with? Look at each piece with an eye to cut, fit, textures, colors, etc. Try different color combinations, like pink and olive, pattern with pattern, or a monochrome ensemble to stretch your creativity.

 

Some other ideas for you to try:

 

  • pick items you rarely wear and bring them into your daily rotation

  • pick one item you wear with only one other thing and try it with four other pieces

  • dress for a mood or intention (check out Dopamine Dressing!)

  • practice wearing your "fancy" clothes on a regular day

  • mix high/low - pair a velvet blazer or sequined top with jeans and tennies

  • layer pieces to achieve warmth instead of buying a new outer layer

  • layer a long sleeve shirt underneath a blouse instead of wearing a cardigan

  • pull things out of storage and see them with new eyes

  • get inspiration from your favorite celebrity/magazine/social media and try your own interpretation with your own pieces

  • add accessories you don't normally wear to bring some sparkle - a hat, scarf, layered necklaces, fill your fingers with rings

  • a big challenge would be to limit yourself to a capsule wardrobe and see what combos you can come up with 

 

So what about exceptions to this challenge? If something breaks or rips, will you spend money on repair or just try some other substitutions? What if you find something you've always wanted and don't want to miss out on it? It's up to you and what aligns with your values about using what you already have.

 

If you want some flexibility for the month, maybe make a list of gaps and if you can't resist shopping, only buy what's on the list. Or commit to no online shopping and only buy from local stores. There's no right or wrong, just whatever feels right for you.

 

What could you achieve at the end of the month: A better use of the clothes you have? More creativity muscles in putting outfits together? A better idea of what pieces you actually need? A new direction in your style? Some money saved for an adventure?

I'm excited to hear how it goes!

 

(If you don't want to do this alone, book a Wardrobe Revamp session!)


 



ANATOMY OF AN OUTFIT


This is a peek into my favorite outfit of the week where I break it down for you: why I've put it together and why it works, what elements could be swapped out, things to consider, etc.


From winter to late spring in less than 5 hours! I swear, 36 to 60 degrees in one day is a bit difficult to dress for, so when I had a 7am BNI meeting and an noon networking lunch at Tacovore and an appointment in between, I had to plan my outfit carefully. I wanted to be comfy and polished, with a top layer I could remove by lunchtime. The metallic booties were actually the catalyst for the whole look, so an all black blouse, skirt, and tights were the base to let them shine. The blazer has a lovely mix of colors in the tweed, including a bronzy thread so I've brought that out by adding a wide black belt with a bronze buckle to give me some waist definition. I'm a rectangle shape, so this is a quick hack for creating a proportional hourglass illusion.

 

(If you'd like to know what shape you are and how best to dress to suit it, I can do that for you!)


Blazer: Ann Taylor Loft

Blouse: Ann Taylor Loft

Skirt: Alfani from Macy's

Shoes: Eric Michael from Miss Meers

Earrings: Stella & Dot



 
 
 

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