Define Your Style |

Why LESS in your closet does MORE for your personal style

just-dressed16-1

just-dressed16-4 just-dressed16-5[romper one, romper two / on me: chambray shirt, J.Crew , (similar) / vintage Levi’s shorts, thrifted + DIY’d (similar) / huaraches, Nisolo / vintage Dooney & Bourke purse, thrifted (similar), (fawning over this bucket bag!) / Seiko watch / bracelet, Madewell]

After spying some super denim rompers this spring, I found myself pining for my own. However, since I am in the middle of my capsule, and not yet ready to make my summer purchases, I decided to rock my own ‘romper.’ It was kind of a no-brainer! I love wearing this, and it makes me feel totally chic.

I love dressing out of a capsule wardrobe because it drives me to be creative. Before all my combinations were ‘safe’ because I had so much to choose from. Now, I take ‘risks’ to keep things interesting, and, like this one, they usually end up being my favorite outfits!

When I first came across the capsule/minimalist wardrobe concept last summer the single biggest hook for me was the idea of defining my personal style. It is something I have longed for since high school, but have always struggled to put my finger on. Part of the reason: I was trying to be too many different styles so I never executed one particular style well. Before a capsule, my efforts were spread too thin, which is ironic considering I had a much bigger wardrobe. I have found when there is no limit on the number of clothing items in my closet, I am a lot more nonchalant about what I allow in there. But If my number is finite, it forces me to get serious. All my items speak to me in some way. If they don’t, then they get edited out. (I do keep ‘maybes’ stored under the bed, but if they don’t get worn within a year, it’s bye-bye-bye.)

Do you feel your closet is a good representation of your style?

Cheers,
andrea

8 thoughts on “Why LESS in your closet does MORE for your personal style

  1. Just found your blog :-) I have drastically reduced what’s in my closet over the course of the last couple of years and I really find that it helps me “get serious” also about what goes in there…

  2. This is a good question, but I’m not sure I can answer it!

    I feel like my personal style is always changing, so I do have pieces in my closet that represent me today, but they may not be my style tomorrow. I guess that just means I’m still finding my own style? I can’t really define my style, even when I look back at my blog over the years and have seen it change.

    Jackie
    Something About That

    1. I totally know what you mean, it’s hard to put our finger on what our personal style is and put it into words. I am sure it will be ever-evolving, right? :)

  3. Yes yes yes!! Before I started simplifying my wardrobe, I had pieces from all over the spectrum– I spent years trying to figure out my style and many dollars went down the drain. Now that I mostly work with kids, I try to keep my style laid back and casually elegant. I’m still working on what that means exactly, but I’m figuring it out!

    1. I had pieces from all over the spectrum too. It made it so hard to get dressed each day! I hear you on laid back, my aim is effortless and chic, still working on figuring it out too! :)

  4. That’s so true! The lesser items you have the more real you have to be with your choices and it really helps you to see what you love and what you just kind of don’t mind wearing :)
    I can totally relate to you trying to find your style since high school, I too just wanted to know what I should wear every day to feel ME, you know? But then I realised that I use fashion to reflect my mood or my position in life and I accepted that my style will change and that perhaps I won’t ever find my one style that’s me. And I’m okay with it, because THIS is me. (Not sure if I’m making any sense right now :) ) But somebody recently said to me that even though I have different styles, they could still see my core me style, which just made me so happy. If only I could put my finger on what that core style is, though…

    I’ve just found your blog and your style rocks, I must say.
    Kat

    1. Thanks Kat!

      Yes, that totally makes sense! I love expressing how I feel through my clothes, it feels so good to do that. I feel like my style even varies a bit from season to season – more carefree/casual in the summer, and more structured and even serious in the winter.

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