Find Your STYLE (without spending money)

Have you ever found yourself standing in front of a closet full of clothes, yet feeling like you have nothing to wear? Trust me; you're not alone.

For years I have struggled to define and refine my personal style. I never put much thought into my style; rather, I let my daily activities and the weather dictate what I wore. 

It wasn’t until my very stylish twenty-year-old daughter offered to help me put together my style, that I realized I didn’t have a style.

Since then, I've been fascinated by the idea of curating a minimalist capsule wardrobe that speaks volumes about who I am without spending a fortune. I now see how wearing clothes that express my style makes me feel beautiful and gives me confidence.

If you feel frustrated when getting dressed, maybe your clothes don’t reflect your personality, or you feel the urge to buy new pieces to only feel unsatisfied with the purchase. 

Maybe, some of my experiences and tips on how you can find your style without spending a dime will resonate with you.

Discovering your style through a minimalist capsule wardrobe approach is not just about what you wear but also about understanding yourself better. Your style is a reflection of your unique personality. Wear the clothes that make you feel confident and beautiful.

“Real style is never right or wrong. It’s a matter of being yourself on purpose.”    - G. Bruce Boyer

Clear Out the Clutter:

 The first step to finding my style was to declutter my closet. I had a closet filled with clothes but only wore about 20% so clearly some items needed to go.

I put everything on the bed so that I have a birds-eye view of what I own.

I went through all of my clothes and got rid of anything that didn’t fit, that I didn’t love or hadn’t worn in the past year. If I hadn’t worn something in a year it is most likely because I don’t gravitate to that style.

By doing this, I created space to see what I truly love, what fits me well and makes me feel confident, and what resonates with my personality.

If you are unsure about some items you can always keep them for a while. The last thing we want to do is to donate an item we later regret.

Identify Your Style : 

One thing that helped me identify my style was looking up outfit ideas and looks on Pinterest.  Saving the outfits, looks, and accessories I liked in a folder. Noticing what it is about outfits & looks I liked, what appealed to me. Was it the color palette, the fabrics, or the overall look? Over time, I began to see patterns emerge, and I got a clearer picture of my style.

Lifestyle & Climate :

 My lifestyle plays a significant role in shaping your personal style.

Creating a wardrobe that works with my lifestyle I take into consideration my daily activities and the climate I live in. 

I work from home. I’m an active person so I need clothes I can move in for yoga, outdoor clothes, and a good pair of walking shoes. I enjoy the city when visiting my daughter and require dressier clothes for the theater and nice dinners out. Traveling full-time to visit my grown children who live on different continents means I will experience ALL 4 seasons. 

Color Palette : 

I select a color palette that resonates with me, neutrals and earth tones. Keeping my wardrobe within a specific color scheme and solid colors will make it easier to mix and match pieces effortlessly. Giving me endless outfit options with a few articles of clothing.

Capsule Wardrobe :

Now comes the fun part - creating the capsule wardrobe. A minimalist capsule wardrobe typically consists of versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create numerous outfits. I start with my essential basics in categories, t’s and tanks, blouses, pants, and skirts.

It gets the creativity flowing by playing dress-up with multiple options. Mix and match outfits making sure I can use each article of clothing with various outfits. Experiment with layering, and accessories. 

Make sure that I had outfits for every occasion, clothes to run errands in, and active clothes for adventures, and special occasions.

Each of our lifestyles vary and our wardrobes should reflect that and yours might include business outfits for meetings, friend outings, and hobbies.

Quality Over Quantity :

 The whole point of shopping your closet is to make use of what you already own. Giving your wardrobe a “new look” without spending money. But, sometimes a couple of new pieces would round out the new look. 

As I discovered my personal style, I found I’m less inclined to buy fast fashion or trendy pieces. Instead, when I do buy a new item I choose to invest in high-quality, timeless items that will stand the test of time.