The best way to fall into a big ole style rut is to keep on keepin’ on with the bad style habits above.

Let’s start with a biggie, negative self-talk.  Those nasty little things you’d NEVER tell someone else but you have no problem repeating to yourself like, “ugh my stomach is so fat, I hate my thighs, I could never pull that off, I look like an idiot, I wish I was taller, shorter, thinner, I’m not cool enough, I’m not good enough…”  you get the picture.

It’s natural to have that inner critic to a degree but you’ve got to have a limit. 

Stop yourself before it becomes a constant inner negative dialogue. Go do your Google research.  There’s plenty of brain research with evidence to show the negative effects on the words you HABITUALLY say to yourself. Negative self-talk is toxic and there are damaging effects. I’m no expert in the field but I don’t want to just run off to the next paragraph and leave you hanging.  You can find lots of cool exercises via internet search to first identify YOUR negative self-talk, write it down, and exercise replacement language. Pretty cool stuff.  Promise me you’ll take a look?

Moving along, want to stay stuck in old boring style habits?  Then wear the same outfit combinations day in and day out. K? Here’s my advice: Don’t try anything new.  Stay safely inside that style comfort zone! Ok, sarcasm voice next…. I mean yuck, try something new and you might risk a few compliments, you might experience a confidence boost, you might feel new and refreshed…  see where I’m goin’ here?

I style a lot of Moms in the late 30s and early 40s.  They come to me craving something new, refreshed, chic, and they want to stop the boredom.  Do you know what I see a lot of? This age range is (typically) finished with having kids and the current kiddos are a little grown now. Mom finally got a chance to reflect on herself, take a look at her style.  The years consumed in diapers, bottles, walking and Kindergarten are over and Mom is no longer on the back burner.

In my experience, they’re all stuck in the same patterns they developed before kids. They’re still buying (or using) the same sizes, cuts, shapes, stores, and outfit combinations that worked well for them over a decade ago! The #1 safe outfit combination is the skinnies and oversized blouse routine. Sidenote: If that skinnies/big blouse uniform rocks your style world and you’re confident and happy, feel free to give me the finger, lol. But I’m talking to those who use that same ONE outfit combination over and over again, mindlessly…. and now you feel the dreaded rut.

In my experience and the larger point, take a look every now and then at what you’re creating style-wise.  Try a new silhouette, try a new denim cut or a new color, change up the shoes or accessories…

just wear something outside of your comfort zone! 

What’s the worst thing that can happen? Worst case: you hate the outfit for one dang day and you learned something new about your likes/dislikes.  The world will not crumble.  

Ok, next.  Stop grabbing a piece just because the price was great. 

“But it was on clearance”.

But do you actually NEED it? Do you have a similar piece already?  Do you really love it? Does it fit right? Does it flatter your shape? And I mean actually fit, not “it’s cheap so I’ll make it work.”  Please look past the immediate gratification of a sale...

You won’t keep reaching for that “make it work” piece for very long and eventually it becomes a discouraging item you’ll have to look past each morning…  hello, closet full of nothing. Ask yourself if you’d still want (and need) the item if it was full price. Another question to consider is, “how can I style this in a few ways with what I already have in my closet?”   Which leads me to…  

Oh gosh, you’ve gotta shop with a plan!  Or at least just HAVE a style plan. A closet full of NOTHING to wear ends up that way because of the things you mindlessly buy and toss in there.  What kind of plan you ask? A style roadmap! A style plan. One that includes your clear vision for what you want your style to say about you, list of foundation pieces for you and then sprinkle in lifestyle, budget, and body type as the remaining factors.  

If you know your style type and take an inventory of your closet, a style plan will guide you to buy only what you need, buy only that which aligns with the plan.   Follow these quick tips and you’re well on your way to better style in 2020! Cheers! j