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"I wear my sort of clothes to save me the trouble of deciding which clothes to wear.”
Katharine Hepburn
Although not everything she wore was my particular style (I just can't pull off many menswear inspired pieces), Katherine Hepburn is one of those great broads who wore clothes like she meant it. Granted, we generally only see publicity and production stills of her and I have to believe she looked disheveled every once and awhile, but I'd rather believe she always looked impeccable. I love that in this quote she makes light of her 'sort of clothes' when they are in fact a style still reproduced today: YSL and Annie Hall should have both written her a 'thank you' note on nice stationary for making trousers and masculine details so chic and feminine.
The point is, her style, for the most part, was organic to her. She wore what she loved and what she was comfortable in. Isn't that what we all want? I mean, sure we'll suffer for fashion, but do we really want to? I don't. And honestly, if something is uncomfortable, in the long run I'm just not going to wear it as much.
So how to pinpoint what you love? My random little rebuild program has no real scientific background; I'm just doing things that seem logical to me. And figuring out what I love, really love, is a four part process.
Part One: Wear what you love for one week.
What it entails: For one week, wear what I call an 'ex-factor outfit' outfit everyday. In non-Amber speak, that means wear something that you wouldn't mind wearing when you run into an ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, the most bitchy/popular girl from high school, or that snotty lady from work. That doesn't mean busting out the strapless dress for grocery shopping. It means assessing what you love to wear that is also appropriate for the various aspects of your daily life. Write it down in a journal, and I mean everything: what you were doing that day, what the weather was like, what you wore. Then go back and note why you loved the outfit. Here's a sample of my entry:
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Activities: Grocery shopping, movie with Mom, playtime with daughter, dinner out with husband, light household chores
Weather: 100+
Clothes: Denim capris with gold trim, black tank top, gladiator sandals, light brown sweater (for movie), gold Libra symbol necklace
Notes: The capris have stretch so I can still play with the baby, but the gold trim makes them seem a bit more special. The black tank has a v-neck that is flattering on me. I didn't need a fancy top because it was a casual day and the jeans had trim. I love the sandals because they are so comfy, yet intricate. The sweater is light enough for summer and has a flirty cut. The necklace is a piece I like to wear because it seems more personal to me. I was super comfy all day and felt like I looked put together without being overdone. Good day!
Look at the key words I used: special, flattering, comfy, intricate, flirty, personal, put together. I didn't chose them on purpose, they were just the words that came to mind when I wondered why I liked the outfit. Notice I didn't use brand names or pricing. I went on feelings.
You will be amazed what a week of dressing with the ex-factor will reveal. Not only will you get a feel for your lifestyle, you can start to understand what really appeals to you in the real world.
Next Up: Window shopping without limits!
Thanks for reading!
- Part One: Wear what you love for one week.
- Part Two: Window shop without limits.
- Part Three: Look to literature.
- Part Four: Shop your own closet.
Part One: Wear what you love for one week.
What it entails: For one week, wear what I call an 'ex-factor outfit' outfit everyday. In non-Amber speak, that means wear something that you wouldn't mind wearing when you run into an ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, the most bitchy/popular girl from high school, or that snotty lady from work. That doesn't mean busting out the strapless dress for grocery shopping. It means assessing what you love to wear that is also appropriate for the various aspects of your daily life. Write it down in a journal, and I mean everything: what you were doing that day, what the weather was like, what you wore. Then go back and note why you loved the outfit. Here's a sample of my entry:
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Activities: Grocery shopping, movie with Mom, playtime with daughter, dinner out with husband, light household chores
Weather: 100+
Clothes: Denim capris with gold trim, black tank top, gladiator sandals, light brown sweater (for movie), gold Libra symbol necklace
Notes: The capris have stretch so I can still play with the baby, but the gold trim makes them seem a bit more special. The black tank has a v-neck that is flattering on me. I didn't need a fancy top because it was a casual day and the jeans had trim. I love the sandals because they are so comfy, yet intricate. The sweater is light enough for summer and has a flirty cut. The necklace is a piece I like to wear because it seems more personal to me. I was super comfy all day and felt like I looked put together without being overdone. Good day!
Look at the key words I used: special, flattering, comfy, intricate, flirty, personal, put together. I didn't chose them on purpose, they were just the words that came to mind when I wondered why I liked the outfit. Notice I didn't use brand names or pricing. I went on feelings.
You will be amazed what a week of dressing with the ex-factor will reveal. Not only will you get a feel for your lifestyle, you can start to understand what really appeals to you in the real world.
Next Up: Window shopping without limits!
Thanks for reading!
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