Monday 21 May 2012

Surviving the "Nothing to Wear" syndrome


 
After reading the "Nothing to Wear" book that I reviewed the other day I have been thinking about my own inadequate recipe for organizing my style confused, limited wardrobe as well as getting outfits together.
  























 
When I'm lazy in the morning - this is what I'll wear. It turned out to be too warm since summer arrived all of a sudden - on a Monday!


Creating a capsule wardrobe is one of the common pieces of advice from professional stylists. I love colour and cannot restrict myself to just one capsule of a couple of colours, so I have four of them: A blue/purple, a green/teal, a pink/red and a neutral one of black, brown, beige, white and metallics. I find that it helps me put outfits together - and identify any any gaps as well as things I buy too many of.




































This outfit is from the neutral capsule - in my world denim is a neutral. Notice the feet!

As for style these are my thoughts: Being nearly 50 years old means I have to be careful with retro looks (See Patti's post on the Not Dead Yet Style blog on this very subject), however my full hourglass shape doesn't take the currently trendy silhouette made of skinny  jeans with a tent like top, very well.

The best piece of clothing for my shape is a pencil skirt combined with a fitted cardigan.I just feel that the pencil skirt/fitted cardigan look is too classic for me. It's also inappropriate for 7 or 8 months of the year due to the climate in Denmark! So, how do I then accentuate the good parts of my body in a style that isn't aging?

Wearing dresses that first of all fit my bust and waist is my favorite choice at the moment. Again because of the weather I wear jeggings instead of tights. When it get's warmer (and drier!) I'll put on my tights, all in colours that go with my capsules, or in a contrasting colour.

When it comes to putting an outfit together I use an analytical method of breaking it down into style types so that an outfit may be 100 % classic or 50% bohemian 50% chic or 75% whimsical 25% something else.
 





















 


I don't know how to classify these shoes other than NEW!
 
The "guideline" I've created for myself is that my outfits should be at least 25% (colourful) minimalistic, the rest whatever I feel like on the day. This, I feel, will prevent my outfits from being too aging. Most minimalist clothes don't suit my shape which look best in fitted clothes with lots of ruching or draping so I have to bring in the minimalist element in accessories: Bags, shoes, scarves, jewellery and tights.

These are my homemade "rules" that I don't always stick to. Most stylists advice you to find keywords that describe your personality - like Dramatic, Sporty, Romantic, Creative... Categorizing myself this way is really hard, I always end up thinking that I'm slightly mad, and that's never an option - talking style!

Why don't I know how to describe myself then? I've spent more than a year investigating it on my blog and I still buy things that are wrong for me, in the way they fit or how they make me feel. Will I ever learn? Is there a book out there that can help me? I'll keep on  searching and investigating. In the meantime I'm looking at a lot of blogs to get inspiration, find advice, and comfort in knowing that I'm not alone with this problem!


Now as always on Mondays I,m participating in Patti's Visible Monday on her Not Dead Yet Style blog. There's always some new blogs participating, and lots of inspiration to be found and I enjoy it very much, Thank you Patti!

18 comments:

  1. Like the pops of color. I am a neutral fan as well! great look, new follower!
    (found you via Patty)
    xXx
    reva

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    1. Thank you so much Reva - and welcome! I already follow your blog and I may have found you via Patti as well!

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  2. You are most certainly not alone in this problem! The blog "You Look Fab" has lots of great articles that have helped me with the issue of "defining my style".
    I do love the "25%" minimalistic starting point, that's a good guideline, imho.
    Thanks for the link-love, and for participating in Visible Monday!

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    1. Thank you Patti! I had a look at You Look Fab some time ago, and I'll certainly visit them again!

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  3. Like I said before, you have the BEST taste in shoes in my opinion. They're not too high and look so versatile. Plus cute! Your bracelets look really "hip" too. I'm looking for some but can't find any just yet. I love wood bangles.

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    1. Thank you very much Joni! It's taken me years to get my bracelet collection together as I have enormous hands (I need 3 inches in the diameter!) but I wear them all the time so it's well worth the wait. About shoes - I just got a new pair that I hope to wear tomorrow so stay tuned!

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  4. I think of denim as a neutral too. And in spite of blogging for almost two years now, I can't think of the word that describes my style either! I like the new sandals.

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    1. Thank you Terri! My new sandals are super comfortable, I count myself very lucky to have found them at a reasonable!

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  5. Happy to have found your blog and love the red necklace with your neutral outfit! You have great hair! I don't know how to describe my style - I just grab a hat and away I go. Whatever pops out at me and not systematic.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words on my hair! I have had issues with my hair for decades so I really appreciate your comment! The red necklace is homemade, of Italian coral, that was banned for some years. I love the colour and the irregular shape, and I wish I could afford some larger pieces!

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  6. I really love that outfit. So flattering, and the bangles add such "pop." And while I think naming your personal style can be a worthwhile goal, that doesn't mean you have to actually achieve it. You can learn from the quest. (I can't name mine, either, but I know it when I see it!) Love your emphasis on neutrals and versatile capsules.

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    1. Thank you very much Anne! I do wear these bangles a lot. And you're right: It's not all about finding the right style but also the way you get there!

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  7. You say "lazy" outfit, I think you look polished but fun. I can't remember -- did you try the Style Statement book? No limits as to what words you can use to define yourself...if "mad(cap)" fits, it's all yours.

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    1. Thank you so much Vix! I don't know the Style Statement book, but I'll look it up immediately! Polished? Really? I can't thank you enough, it's been a goal for so long, I always think I look a bit of a mess.

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  8. Ah that sounds like me, all the time. I love this, it's casual yet polished, great top!

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    1. Thank you so much Megan! So I finally found my way to a polished look, I'm happy!

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  9. Hi Tine, Great post as usual! Thanks for the kind words about my tv appearance. Sorry for my absence, but you know my reasons. Could you send me an e-mail at anna.dahl@ki.se and we could make plans for the 9th of June and exchange cellphone numbers. I have made my ticket arrangements and now know when I will arrive to byn (Copenhagen). I can't wait!!!! Anna

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    1. Thank you so much again Anna! I've already replied!

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