Style Ingredients + Season
This is going to be Part 1.
So, this story really starts over a month ago. I had done a few events that required me to use my clothes racks as props, so they were already empty (a blank canvas if you will), and the weather was starting to turn warmer. It felt like the perfect opportunity to use myself as a case study to give y’all an example of how the style ingredients work out in the wild.
It’s important to be mindful of what season of life and what season of the year you’re in when you begin. You can begin to refine and curate your closet at any time, but if you have been waiting for the right moment to start, when you’re transitioning between two seasons can be helpful. (Assuming you live in a climate that doesn’t stay the same year round.)
In addition to naming your season, it’s also incredibly helpful to know your style ingredients before you start trying to curate your wardrobe! (If you don’t know yours yet, I would love to work with you to help you discover them!)
If you found this space via an event that I was a part of, then you’re likely already familiar with my style ingredients formula, but if you’re new, here’s a quick recap: Colors + Patterns + Shapes + Aesthetic/Vibe = Your personal style ingredients.
I often make notes to help me keep track of how many of different kinds of items I will have in any particular rotation, but this is the first time that I actually put my color palette on paper. Definitely recommend!
photo of the notes I made in my bullet journal
Take a moment before you start to sort through the actual clothes to name what your style ingredients will be for this season. It doesn’t need to be complicated or super detailed. All I included this time was a quick color key, pattern references, and a few key words. But if you want to make an entire mood board before you get started, be my guest!
My Style Ingredients This Season
photo of me in a mirror wearing floral leggings, a navy tunic, and a white “corset” top.
Colors:
Soft warm colors blending from peach through to lavender. A deeper fuchsia pink. and a blue-green color. For my “neutrals” I have light blue through to navy, white, and black.
Patterns:
Stripes, Polka Dot, Floral, Plaid, Misc.
Shapes:
“Corset” Tops, Loose “off the shoulder” Dresses, “Fit & Flare” Dresses, Shorts to wear under things (chafe protection), “Dressy” Shorts.
Aesthetic:
Soft Casual Cottage Core
photo of my selection of clothing items in the blush and black color family
How it played out
I loved the outfits that I had put together, but I realized there were a few gaps, and that I had forgotten to include some key shapes in my style ingredients, so I added some items to a birthday wish list* and shared it with my husband. :-)
Post birthday, I had a better assortment of pieces to work with, but I realized that I needed to shuffle and re-deal what I had in my current hand, and that’s where part 2 will come into play!
Ready to get started? Want a combination of cheerleader and coach in your corner? Book a consult today!
Bonus Style Tip: Scarves aren’t just for cold weather! A light weight scarf, especially in a breathable material like rayon or cotton or viscose, is a great way to add versatility to your wardrobe and keep warm if you’re in a chilly restaurant or theater. For spring and summer I have one solid option in a neutral color, and two in patterns that contain multiple colors.
photo of my selection of clothing items in the jewel tone family with deeper greens and pinks and navy blue
“*Okay, so my wish list was a google spreadsheet broken down by categories and color coded and I had included links to each item. :-D Most of the items were from Thred Up, which is my all time favorite place to shop for clothes online. If you want to save 45% off of your entire first order plus free shipping, feel free to use my friend code! (And I also get a store credit as a win win! https://www.thredup.com/r/MIBIKV”
