20 ways to kickstart your personal style in 2020
Image courtesy of Pinterest
Unfollow Instagram accounts that make you feel sh#t
I was recently feeling so overwhelmed by everything and I realised that I follow 800 Instagram accounts, most of which are trying to sell me something I don’t need. So I went on a culling rampage and unfollowed anyone that didn’t have a positive effect on my mindset. I also looked in to people who I follow and feel inspired by to see if they follow anyone who I wasn’t following that made me feel just as good. Since then, I’ve felt less overwhelmed when using social media. I also unsubscribed from a bunch of email newsletters which was just as liberating.
Get yourself a signature scent and nail polish colour
This doesn’t have to be an expensive mission either. For perfume, perhaps its an essential oil you’ve picked up at a market store. When choosing a scent, make sure it’s unique, subtle and a scent that makes you feel like you. I really like having a signature colour for my nails too. Last year it was pale pink and the two brands I used most for this was Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel in ‘Little Peony’ and also a cheap and cheerful version of this (that I picked up while travelling in western Queensland), was the Ulta3 brand in ‘Cotton Candy’. I’m yet to decide on my 2020 shade but then I do, I’ll be sure to let you know ;-)
Clean your shoes and give away shoes that hurt your feet
It’s 2020 and nobody has time for uncomfortable shoes. Nor do we have time for cluttered spaces weighing our mojo down. Clear all those stilettos you haven’t worn in 5+ years and also use this as a good opportunity to get broken shoes mended. There’s no point having them if they’re in such terrible condition they can’t be worn.
Take good care of your belongings
For example, always carry your sunglasses case, rather than throwing them in your bag or on top of your head. Which leads me to my next point…
Stop wearing your sunnies on your head
Unless you’re Alex Perry and have a partnership with SpecSavers. It looks ridiculous and it stretches them out of shape which means you then have to buy a new pair sooner than if you had taken good care of them.
Wear a hat
How is this not a thing considering the climate we live in?! It’s protection! Invest in 3 hats. I recommend one for exercise, one that goes with everything in summer (a black and white straw panama) and a felt hat for the cooler months. Hats allow you to feel finished; like you’re wearing a complete outfit. If you have a particularly small head, don’t wear hats with large brims and get creative with where you look for hats. The kids sections of stores like Seed, Country Road and Zara can often house gems. If you have a small forehead try a hat that sits higher or has a high crown. This will open your face up. If you have a big forehead, generally you can wear almost any hat. Even beanies will look good on you.
Purge your scarf collection
Only keep the ones you love and wear, and that flatter your skin tone.
Start taking notice of the fabric you’re wearing: read the care label
This can be a wonderful way (and less overwhelming might I add) to gradually become more aware of the fabrics you’re wearing and how good they are for the environment, what crushes, what doesn’t, what feels good on the skin, what doesn’t etc. The price tag doesn’t automatically mean it’s a decent, beautiful fabric. You’ll be surprised what some brands charge for synthetic fabrics, the same kind you’d find in a cheap and cheerful store. Your standards only increase when you pay more attention and before you know it, you’ll have a wardrobe filled with pieces you’ve bought consciously and that will stand the test of time.
Create more with what you already own
Make it a rule to shop your own wardrobe before you hit the shops to add new pieces. ‘Shop your own wardrobe’ means approach your wardrobe like it’s a rail in a shop, that you’ve never seen before. Ask yourself how you can create a different look with something you already own. Have a play. Get creative. See if you can turn a dress into a top and wear it over a skirt. Or, hate the neckline of a particular top? Try turning it backwards and wearing it under a jacket/blazer.
Keep it simple: Buy less, buy better
Buy less of what you don’t need and invest more in items you love and will wear for years.
Adopt the one-in, one-out rule
The rule goes: you’re only allowed to bring a new piece into your wardrobe if you’re prepared to take one out (and give to charity). This is such a handy rule for those who buy often and find they’re overwhelmed by the content of their wardrobe. It helps if you ask yourself when you’re considering buying something new, what you’d be willing to get rid of in your existing wardrobe to make room for the new piece.
Stop caring what other people think
Would you buy that item you’re considering if you didn’t care about what other people thought of it? Or would you wear the jumpsuit in your wardrobe you’ve worn a handful of times that people have definitely already seen you in? Hint**wear the jumpsuit. No-one actually cares if you wear something twice. It’s enviable in my eyes in fact because it shows you’re not insecure and you don’t care what people think.
Don’t panic buy
If you’ve left shopping for an occasion to the last minute, you’re more likely to settle for something less than perfect when it comes to fit or style. Call yourself out when you find yourself buying something that you don’t love just because you’re in panic mode. Ask yourself if you can make do with what you already have until you find something you love, that fits you really well and is timeless. And to avoid panic buying in future, sometimes it’s beneficial to go to the shops just to have a look around, rather than only going when you desperately need an outfit NOW.
Consider renting
Rent for the occasions that encourage you to buy outfits that you’ll only wear once. Eg. if you’re a stay-at-home Mum who has a wedding to attend, needs a new outfit but knows you’re not going to need this outfit for a while AND your body shape is changing, this is the perfect scenario for renting an outfit. Hot tip**If ever I’m renting a dress, to ensure a good fit, I always choose a brand that I’ve worn before or a brand where I can go to a shop and try on something similar to what I want to rent.
Sell something in order to fund a new purchase
If you can’t afford to buy new clothes but aren’t feeling good in what you’re wearing day-to-day, check if there’s anything in your wardrobe that you can sell, and use the money to buy something that makes you feel good. Facebook Marketplace is my preferred platform when it comes to selling clothes.
Cleanse your make-up case and invest in advice from a beauty professional
I recently spent time with a make-up artist to go through my existing make-up case and get feedback on what I should keep using and what I need to toss. My make-up case was filled with products I’d accumulated as gifts or bought on the fly because I needed a quick fix to feel like I was current and refreshed when I wasn’t exactly feeling like that. The whole experience was amazing. I learnt what to put money behind and what not to (eg. why pay $30 for a lip liner when you could pay $9 at Sephora?!) I also found a cheaper and more suitable daily foundation. It wasn’t a cost cutting experience, but finding cheaper alternatives was one of the outcomes. For me, it was about learning what I needed to invest in that I would get use out of and make me feel more confident in my own skin.
Say nice things to yourself in the mirror
Easier said than done, am I right? But talking to yourself in the mirror isn’t just normal, it can be good for your mental health and increase your confidence.
My fave sayings are:
With the body I have, I can experience joy and happiness.
I am who I am and there is no-one else quite like me.
You can do this.
This too shall pass (This one is for the bad days)
What beautiful eyes you have
Accept your body as it is
And find people who accept theirs so you can remind yourself to be more like them when you’re needing a reminder.
Take pride in how you look, but be able to have a good time regardless
This is something I’m learning to master while juggling a city and coastal lifestyle. As styling is my profession, I definitely feel a pressure to always look the part. But I grew up in the country, playing outdoors, riding bikes, driving cars around dirt tracks we’d made with our older brothers etc. So we just needed clothes that functioned and protected from the elements. Maybe this is where I got my love of hats from? Anyway, there’s something liberating about caring what you look like, but also knowing when it doesn’t matter and being completely okay with that.
Refresh your work wardrobe
Stop telling yourself, ‘it’s just work, I don’t care what I wear’. A killer work wardrobe can have a major return on investment when it comes to being taken seriously, and your overall confidence in the workplace. It can also save you time in the morning, having items in your wardrobe that you know you can rely on to help you look the part when perhaps you’re not feeling it some days #fakeittilyoumakeit. It takes less than 3 seconds to make a first impression. What’s your first impression saying?Also, if your profession requires you to have corporate headshots, it’s a good time to get them done when you’ve just spruced up your work wardrobe.
Wishing you a stylish 2020 from Anna Mabin Styling xx