Who am I today?
A new year is a time many reflect on their lives. What you want out of the coming year? The start of a year is a good time to reflect on your personal style. Time to consider if the clothes that you’ve been wearing the past few years are still representative of who you are today and the person you want to be tomorrow.
Ask yourself:
- How do I want to be perceived as a person both at work and in your personal life (these may be different)?
- What do I want the world to know about who I am?
- Are my clothes still in great condition?
- Does my current wardrobe say what I want it to say?
- Are my clothes of a quality that says I’m ‘worth’ my wage/promotion/fee, or ‘I’m worth treating really well’?
The style of clothes you have worn before may still be completely relevant and reflective of your life and personality now, but they may not. Many people get stuck in a ‘style rut’ and continue wearing garments that don’t make them feel great or give them the confidence they desire.
If you’ve had a life change in some way, such as going in or coming out of the workforce, having kids, retiring, graduating, turning a significant number it’s a good time to ask yourself the above questions as very often who we used to be is not who we have become or are becoming.
I’ve found over the years that the clothes I once wore, are just no longer me. My style has almost completely changed and it is me now, not me yesterday. Over these summer holidays I will go through my wardrobe again and run the criteria above over my clothes and will find that it’s time to let some pieces go. They may have been favourites at one time, but are no longer ones that you love or reach for – it’s OK to let them go.
You may want to run all your clothes via a criteria that works for your life – in mine it’s “would I wear this in front of another image consultant?” This works for me as it weeds out the not quite right and not good enough quality clothes easily.
How do you want to be perceived and what is your criteria for keeping or letting go?
photo credit: pasukaru76 via photopin cc
Excellent blog. It really made me think about my personal style and what I want to project about myself, particularly at work. I Am going to write those questions down and add them to my colour strips so when I go shopping I consider not just colour when it comes to my clothes purchases.
Something to reflect on… I like your approach of wearing what is “me” now rather than yesterday. It is so easy to get stuck!
Another great post. Your blog has been incredibly helpful to me this last year, and I am SO glad I found you.
Also, that photo is fantastic!
Thanks Nicole!
So true. Items that use to be my go-to- pieces are a bit forgotten right now. I guess that points out your style has evolved in some ways.
When in doubt of a garment or wearing an outfit I ask myself if i would like to run into an ex wearing it… haha.
Imogene,
Wonderful info – thank you for sharing so much of your wisdom with us! I’m wondering if you can advise a 55 year-old woman who works in a business casual environment. I’m 5’10” tall and 145 lbs. I follow (and love!) your style tips but also want to be comfortable. Any ideas?
Check out my blog posts on wardrobe capsules for some ideas.
Hmm, I must have missed your posts addressing tall women. I saw lots of wonderful ideas for elongating my look, but that’s the reverse of what I need. I’ll look again and do some searching online for other ideas. Thanks for taking the time to respond to my question.
Laura – if you want to make yourself look shorter – just do the opposite of what the petite does, so break yourself up more with changes of colours, wear high vamp shoes, don’t tone shoes to legs or trousers – you have much more space to play!
“would I wear this in front of another image consultant?” love that. Maybe time for a wardrobe audit for me too. Think I need an image consultant for that job!
your post made me think about some changes in my life. Why not start with my wardrobe?
What are you going to change first Luisa?
I began to get rid of all the clothes that I do not wear now. And already feel refreshed I must say!
Very helpful post. I always run into this problem every year and my husband never understands why I say I have nothing to wear.