Gosh, I have so many tips for personal style… be intentional about what you put in your closet, only purchase what you love, only purchase if it fits and flatters, define your signature style, etc.
All of these are true. All of these tips work. They remain among my top advice but if I was forced to pick just one great thing about style, it is this…
clothes should make you happy.
And that’s it. My #1 tip. We all want comfort in our clothes. We all seek confidence, we all seek contentment. So really what we’re saying is that we just want to feel HAPPY. This applies to the preppy gal, the edgy chick, and the classic woman. Every shape, every budget, every style. We just want to feel happy in our clothes.
I’m not afraid at all to share this picture of me...
…simply because the outfit makes me happy.
Dissect what you’re wearing when you feel happy.
What are the style elements that make you feel that way?
If I had to explain why this dress works well for me (and makes me feel happy) here are the points I come up with.
it’s figure-flattering
it’s super comfortable
it’s easy… just toss it on and go
it’s fun, it has personality
So there are my main points. It’s form-fitting yet still flattering thanks to the all-over pattern disguising any bumps or whatever. It’s a stretchy knit so it’s really comfy, no tugging, pulling, or annoyances to adjust. The print and color make it really fun and full of personality which is what I needed on that particular day. Now that I’ve dissected why it makes me happy, I can look to replicate those elements in other areas of my style.
“Recall an outfit that makes you feel great. An outfit that really made you feel HAPPY. Dissect the shit out of it. Wear that on repeat. ”
If you’re someone who can’t stand to feel restricted, a white button-down blouse is probably not going to make you happy. If you are happiest when things are neat and orderly, well you probably do love a good white button-down.
Style doesn’t have to be more complicated than that. I wonder why we make it so difficult? We absolutely know what kind of food we like to eat when we go out. And we know what we don’t like to eat. Why do we make clothing more complicated than it has to be?
Can you remember the last time an outfit really made you happy? You know what I mean, don’t make it difficult. Our brains can go too easily to what we don’t like. I’m sure you can recall what makes you feel really uncomfortable and not happy. Maybe you hate wearing dresses or just really dislike leggings.
But what clothing makes you feel happy when you’re wearing it? You know the feeling. You know when you feel awesome. So I have a go-to pair of skinnies from a few years back. They just feel so buttery soft, the dark wash is slimming, and they slip right on with ease, no tugging, pulling, or discomfort. They just make me happy. Add a cute top and heels and I’m good to go. I love those jeans for the same exact reasons I love that dress. They both share the same elements that make me happy.
You might feel really stylish this very second and you might be lookin’ like a hot mess. Either way: dissect what outfit makes you feel really happy.
And then wear those elements all throughout your wardrobe!
If you don’t have clothes that make you feel happy, that’s not OK! Listen, I swear by my signature Baby Steps To Better Style approach and you have a limited-time chance to jump in on some group style coaching. Don’t miss out on this chance to dig deeper! The cart closes 2/29/20.
If HAPPY doesn’t sound like you… you’ve gotta click over here.
Xo, Jaime
And P.S. I highly recommend a transitional jacket this time of year. It helps convert your semi-Winter clothes into the Spring season. Transitional jackets are also great for the Spring clothes you’re eager to wear but the weather isn’t yet cooperating. Here is an excellent jacket for jeans and a light sweater, skirts, or dresses.