Evolution. This has come up as a recurring theme for me personally recently. Between launching my business and my self-growth journey to a changing body and a changing dynamic inside of my family, the one commonality is EVOLUTION.
We all go through it at different times and my journey of evolution will be different than yours with 100% certainty. The one thing that is certainly assured for all of us is that where we are today will be different in many ways from where we are a year from now. That is LIFE. It changes, it evolves and we can't stop the fact that change will happen, even if we want to.
This week, I want to embrace taking the reigns in the evolution we are experiencing when it comes to style, specifically. If you have been with me for awhile, you know that I wholeheartedly believe that your style (or lack thereof) says a LOT about you and who you are. I don't mean it in an icky way, but truly, it is how we are first seen and one of the top 2 things people build a first impression about us based upon. And don't even get me STARTED on what your style is telling YOU about how you value yourself!
Today, I'm diving deep into what I am calling Style Bad Habits: the things many women do that keep them stuck in their style, which cascades into their everyday lives. This is not an all-encompassing list, but highlights some of the key Style Bad Habits I encourage you to release. Let's get to it!
STYLE BAD HABIT #1: Not investing in your style until you lose weight
This is a pervasive and wide-spread bad habit. Many women struggle to spend money on their style (and themselves) regardless of a weight loss struggle because of guilt of spending. Here's the thing: when you are actively losing weight, you are doing hard work! While I do not suggest during active weight loss that you invest in an entire wardrobe yet, you still deserve to have a couple of pieces that make you feel fabulous and that are NOT falling off of your body. Once you lose the weight, you will want to plan to make an investment in your wardrobe because you will not want to wear what is already in your closet. You will be a new person, your energy will be different, and you will want to wear current styles that fit your body now, not the outdated ones.
Note: If you are not ACTIVELY losing weight and just would LIKE to lose weight or are thinking about it, this does not apply to you. You need to make the investment in a wardrobe that makes you feel amazing right now OR make a plan to begin losing weight. There is no in-between.
STYLE BAD HABIT #2: Always wearing the same outfits
Do you constantly wear the same 5 outfits? Well, you are not alone. The majority of women wear 20% of their closet 80% of the time which is just taking up space literally inside of your closet and a waste of money. Set aside some time to play in your closet and create some new outfits. Make a plan to not wear the same ol' same ol' for a minimum of 2 weeks. Get out of your comfort zone and wear what you own.
STYLE BAD HABIT #3: Not going through your wardrobe on a consistent basis
If you are not going through what you own in your closet at a MINIMUM of once per year, you are doing yourself a major disservice. Do you KNOW every item that you own? Can you see it? Is it organized? Our closets are truly a place where many, many emotions live. If you are not going through it, getting rid of items, and seeing what is in there on a relatively consistent basis, you are missing out on having your closet being a place of joy, not stress.
STYLE BAD HABIT #4: Buying cheaply made clothes
The clothes you buy should not be cheap. I cringe every time that I see someone post in a group about shopping at Shein or TEMU. The quality is garbage and it will make your style look like garbage. Full Stop. The clothes will not last, they will not wash and wear well and not only will they end up in a landfill, but the manufacturing plants that make such poor quality garments are harmful for the environment with all of their chemicals, and they mistreat their factory workers and exploit child labor. I would rather you invest in a few quality pieces than have a bunch of stuff that looks awful and is bad for so many reasons. Just DON'T.
STYLE BAD HABIT #5: Buying something because it looks good on someone else
We live in an influencer world. Influencers get paid to sell items for the companies they are affiliates for. It's okay that they make an income in this way, absolutely. However, just because an influencer looks fanta-bulous in something, does not mean you will. This applies to seeing something on of of your friends that looks amazeballs as well. We all have different body types, different heights, different proportions, not to mention varying styles. I am okay with you purchasing an item to try it, but if it does not look good, feel good, or light you up, you MUST be prepared, willing, and able to return it (so check for those policies before making a purchase)!
STYLE BAD HABIT #6: Shopping for clothes where you buy your groceries
If you have ever gone to grocery shop at Target or Walmart and decided to just walk over and browse the clothing section, do not do it! See Style Bad Habit #4. I could have lumped this bad habit and that one together, but I think this is common enough that it needed its very own bullet point!
STYLE BAD HABIT #7: Expecting to be the same size in all brands
Ah, sizing. It is one of the most frustrating dynamics of shopping. There is no one monitoring sizing in the clothing industry. Even within a brand, sizing can be different because of design intent. In addition to these things, every clothing brand has their own target market and some will also engage in vanity sizing. They design the cuts and shapes and then size their clothes based upon this. I personally can range from a small to an x-large depending on the brand. You cannot order or buy a size 8 in every brand. Utilize the size charts. Detach your emotions from sizing because IT DOESN'T MATTER! The way it looks on YOUR body and the way it feels on your body are your only two measurements to decide if something works for you or not. If you don't like the size on the tag cut it out!
STYLE BAD HABIT #8: Not considering your Body Type
If you have not yet taken the time to learn what your body type is, I highly recommend that you do so. Knowing what your body type is may seem like it will keep you chained to a degree, but I have to let you in on a little secret: it's REALLY freeing. Knowing your body type allows you the freedom to dress in a way that is flattering and, in turn, will give you a confidence when you get dressed in the morning. It allows you to flatter and accentuate the areas you want to and to camouflage the areas you want seen less.
STYLE BAD HABIT #9: Keeping items that remind you of something, another time, or someone
If you have clothes in your closet that were from a time in your life that was really lighthearted and fun, but that you no longer wear; if you have clothes or items in your closet that remind you of a specific person that you do not wear, they should NOT live in your closet. I am not saying you have to get rid of them, you just need to have a special "memory box" for these pieces. You may have a blouse of your Mom's who passed and you will NOT get rid of it (even if her perfume no longer lingers on the fabric). That is completely okay, just put it in a place that is safe and not taking up space in your closet.
A completely separate problem is when we keep items in our closet that are a smaller size because we are planning to get back to that size. These pieces only serve to make you to feel badly about yourself every time you see them hanging there in your closet. The honest truth is that even if you lose weight, bodies evolve and change over-time, styles and cuts change over time, so they will NOT serve you when you reach your goal. They are taking up valuable real estate. Get rid of them!
STYLE BAD HABIT #10: Not taking care of your clothing
This goes beyond treating the stains. When you purchase quality garments (which is a non-negotiable in my book), you want to make them last! Read the care labels. Avoid the dryer whenever possible because it's notorious for breaking down fibers (I highly recommend this drying rack). Get some mesh bags to wash your more delicate pieces in. Either wash like colors with like colors OR get these Color Catchers (they are a LIFESAVER). Turn your clothes inside-out and zip and button items before you wash them to protect the other clothes in the wash with them. These small steps will allow your well-invested clothing to be worn for years to come!
STYLE BAD HABIT #11: Not investing in basics
We, as women, are attracted to the shiny, pretty things. Think about how many times you have been in a boutique or a store and saw something pretty and had to have it, only to realize that it's not something you would wear for work or for lounging around the house and you rarely go out?! It happens to the best of us. 🤣Make sure that you are paying attention to, and investing in, the high-quality basic items (think basic t-shirts, tanks, jeans, etc.). You can build really fantastic outfits around these pieces and they will make your closet much more expansive.
STYLE BAD HABIT #12: Believing Ready to Wear is, in fact, Ready To Wear
Fit. Tailoring. These are two absolute key things to be aware of when you are purchasing clothes. As I have mentioned previously, our bodies are not one-size-fits-all. The way a size 8 jacket fits on me will fit completely different on my friend who also wears a size 8 because we are built differently. You must, MUST be willing to tailor anything you purchase so it fits well. As a bonus, it will look custom for a fraction of the cost. Depending on what about the garment is being tailored will determine the cost, but it does not have to be a large investment. You will wear it more and feel better in your clothes, I promise! I have written an entire blog post about this already. The link to THAT post is here.
STYLE BAD HABIT #13: Not dressing to the appropriate level of dress for the occasion
Know where you are going and what is expected. Have you ever shown up to a job interview in a full suit, only to find that the interviewer is wearing jeans? I will say that it is always better to be overdressed than underdressed. However, understanding how people in the room will be dressed will allow for you to feel much more comfortable when you walk in. Does it mean you should never stand out? Absolutely not! If you are comfortable drawing attention, you go for it, but understanding the "room" allows you to appear knowledgeable and shows that you care enough to do your research.
STYLE BAD HABIT #14: Not playing with color
Do you have a TON of black in your closet? Do you have one go-to color in your closet? I highly encourage you to step into the crayon box when it comes to dressing. Color is impactful not only to messaging about who you are, but also to how you want to feel. When you stick to one or two colors, it does not allow for a freedom of expression. If black is your go-to, while it sends powerful messaging, it can also appear that you are trying to hide and not be noticed. What colors light you up? What colors make you happy? What colors make you feel powerful? Step into trying some new colors, dip your toe in, and it will make getting dressed so much more fun!
Did any of these Style Bad Habits give you pause? Do you happen to live into any of them?
I have good news! I'm not going to just serve 'em up and then not tell you what your next steps should be. Come back next week where I will share tips about how to break free from any and all of these Style Bad Habits that have a hold on you!
Stylishly Yours,
PS - Do you need some assistance and guidance around shopping, completing a lifestyle audit, determining your body type, creating looks, or finding quality pieces? Check out my services on my website and schedule a Style Possibilities call!
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