Why is it so hard to wear what we picture in our heads? Despite my efforts to curate a wardrobe of pieces within my budget that I want to wear, I still fail to successfully bring the outfits I imagine to life. But I am getting closer, like an archer shooting nearer the bullseye each time, and I think I’ve nailed down where it all goes awry in the process of getting dressed.
I hesitate to believe it can be solved with more shopping even if that’s the most fun path to investigate. No, the answer must lie within, and so I’ll start with my sartorial intent. Maybe I’ll even go the corporate route and define my mission, vision and values. Go wild!
My mission changes situationally, but my vision and values probably remain the same. I made myself an updated visual aid (my moodboard) for winter to help me define my vision, which seems to be something along the lines of chic/avant garde/unexpected/modern/traditional/vintage. So many contradictions. Maybe my vision is to embody contradictions, because as I’ve written about before, I feel full of them these days. Then there’s the values and that’s easier for me to pinpoint: to wear mostly secondhand, to avoid flashy logos (even if I find a really good deal on The RealReal) that would convey a financial status I don’t have, to dress to my taste and not the societal body image ideal, to not draw too much attention to myself because it makes me uncomfortable and to waste as little money as possible on clothing by actually wearing what I own (the dream!).
I’m battling a vision that has become oversaturated by competing images/tastes/styles that I think are beautiful but aren’t necessarily for me. I’m one of those people who loves clothes so much that I can find something I like pretty much anywhere, so my personal taste radar picks up on too much noise. By sticking to a clear moodboard comprised of shared themes (long and oversized silhouettes, layering, dark neutral colors, natural fibers, sparing pops of color, festive silky/sparkly details, aka the same things I’ve been inspired by all year) and consulting it while getting dressed, I can hopefully stick the landing more often.
So let’s try! Here’s the assignment (many inso photos from Pinterest incoming):
And here are a few outfits I made while referencing my moodboard:
What I learned: I am, unfortunately, in possession of too many items that don’t really fit my taste or lifestyle. I put some of those items in clothing purgatory, pulled a few to consign or give to friends, and may need to comb through my closet again in another round of culling. // I know I said the problem wouldn’t be solved by shopping but I may need a t-shirt. // The moodboard is relatively effective, so far, in reminding me to pay attention to color combinations and balance and that I have the same shirt as one of the inspo photos and can literally copy that outfit (oops!). // Need to pay special attention to proportion.
I’m challenging myself to consult my moodboard, mission, vision and values every day this upcoming week when getting dressed and will update with how it went in a part two next week. I also thought it might be fun to make a holiday gift guide, since Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and all the other sales are coming up. Please let me know if there are any type of gift-giving scenarios you’d like me to address in the guide! 🦃
Thanks for reading xx
Francesca
This really, really hits home for me: "I can find something I like pretty much anywhere, so my personal taste radar picks up on too much noise." Oh, so much noise! It's hard to focus and remember that there are only 365 days in a year and I only have one body, or one self (albeit a multi-faceted self) to dress!
Omg wow does this resonate. I saw a woman a few months ago and I was like, HER STYLE, THAT! It was simple and pared down, but well tailored and practical. I am trying to keep it in my head when I shop but alas.. I am lured by links to weird ass pants at Urban Outfitters and it’s like “shiny weird thing, me want” until I remember, no I don’t! I want to be like stranger woman! Ugh.