Style Buzz: Where to Find Style Inspiration
- Eugene Stylist
- Jul 17
- 4 min read
Ideas to Inspire Your Style This Week!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"I have no idea what my personal style is!"
And that's ok! There are very few people who enter adulthood with that instinct, who just know how to put outfits together in a way that's interesting, unique, and so completely them. So if you aren't one of them who is effortlessly stylish, don't worry about it! The nice thing is that it's a skill you can learn. While it might take a little bit of practice and some effort of paying attention, style is something that anyone can have. And isn't it worth investing time and energy into becoming the person you want to be?
xxx rachel
WHERE TO FIND INSPIRATION
I have been watching Stacy & Clinton's new series, Why'd They Wear That? and really enjoying seeing them together - so unfiltered! - and getting more of their style perspective. They talk about costumes in movies, breaking down about 10 key looks from a cultural, historical, and fashion perspective. It's very entertaining and, like most unlikely sources, inspiring.
When they took a look at Pretty in Pink, I loved that they pointed out that you can get style inspiration even from a 40 year old movie that was bang in the middle of one of the weirdest fashion phases ever. The inspiration comes not necessarily in the looks themselves, but in the principles behind them. What I mean is that they break down the why behind the looks that the primary characters - Andie, Duckie, and Iona - wear: what drives them, how they've expressed themselves through their clothes, why the look works even though they're on the fringe socially. That sort of thing. (but OMG that last dress? Horrible. Just awful. And I'm glad they agree.)
It reminds us that inspiration is everywhere. I recently chatted with a former dancer who has just entered the corporate world and didn't know what her style is, so I gave her some ideas about how to find her own style now that she's not wearing a leotard to work. |
1. Watch Films and TV Shows You Love Costume designers tell a story through clothing, and that can reveal a lot about the styles you're naturally drawn to. Pay attention to characters whose outfits make you think, "I'd wear that," rather than simply admiring the fashion. Notice recurring details like color palettes, fabrics, shoe styles, or whether they favor tailored or relaxed clothing. You don't need to copy an entire look. Just borrow the elements that genuinely appeal to you.
2. Look at Your Favorite Celebrities Off the Red Carpet Red carpet outfits are designed as art, but everyday street style is often far more useful. Search for photos of celebrities running errands, traveling, or attending casual events to see how they dress when comfort matters. You may notice that your favorite actor wears mostly jeans and blazers, or that another always reaches for linen shirts and sneakers. Those everyday choices are much easier to adopt in your own wardrobe.
3. Visit a Boutique With No Intention of Buying Anything Take an hour or two to wander around a shop and pick out pieces you think you'd never normally wear. Try them on. Have a giggle about how they look - far too fancy, so different from what you'd usually wear - but note how they fit, how they make you feel. Do you suddenly find that maybe that cut suits you? Or that a particular style shows off your assets and makes you feel confident, stylish, more you? When you're not intending to buy anything, you open yourself up to playing and testing with no pressure to find the right thing.
4. Notice What Real People Are Wearing Some of the best inspiration comes from people you see every day rather than models or influencers. While you're at a café, event, farmers' market, or walking around town, pay attention to outfits that make you look twice. Ask yourself what specifically you like: is it the color combination, the fit, the shoes, or simply how effortless it looks? Real people often provide the most practical ideas because they're dressing for real life, just like you.
5. Save Images Without Overthinking Them Start a folder on your phone or computer where you save any outfit that catches your eye, whether it's from a website, a film still, or a clothing catalog. Don't analyze your choices at first - just save what you genuinely like. After collecting twenty or thirty images, look through them all together and look for common themes. The recurring colors, silhouettes, and fabrics are often a much better guide to your personal style than whatever happens to be trending this season.
The nice thing about these methods is that they encourage you to notice what you're naturally drawn to, rather than what some influencer or magazine editor says you should wear. And that, my darling, is where personal style begins. |
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.
This is such a simple outfit but a significant one! Networking is an important part of my business, and while I really enjoy the events I go to, I've been looking for a group that wasn't all about just sharing contact info; I wanted to expand my connection with the community and incorporate some volunteering each month. I recently learned about a new Rotary group and it turns out I'm now a founding member! We had our charter launch party this week and while I didn't realize I'd have my picture taken, I'm glad I'm in the habit of dressing for the occasion. A simple silk floral dress, belt, and complementary burgundy suede slingbacks made for a polished and situation-appropriate outfit that will go into the archives!
Dress: Jessica Simpson
Belt: Michael Kors
Shoes: Jessica Simpson
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