I often hear women lamenting that they find it hard to figure out their style recipe. It's such a useful tool, it's definitely worth taking some time and putting a little thought into this.
It's important to remember that a Style Recipe isn't for life - you can change it as your lifestyle and style changes over time. So don't feel like you have to find a recipe that is set in stone forever!
It's a working recipe that allows you to add new ingredients and remove old ones that no longer are to your taste.
One way to help yourself find a recipe is to look at what you love in other parts of your life. And one of these may be your pet. Here is how I could use my wonderful whippets Bo and Arrow as inspiration for my Style Recipe and how I turn that into my sartorial dish:
I was thinking about my dogs and how I love the whippet breed (which they are) and what it is about them that I find so aesthetically attractive, but also their personality is attractive to me as well.
- I love their sleek lines - there is not a lot of excess to them. This translates to me as not having too much "frou frou" in garments.
- I love their very soft fur (they are surprisingly soft .... something a lot of people don't realise). This translates to my recipe as loving soft, comfortable and touchable fabrics.
- I love that they are aerodynamic - they are built for speed and look beautiful when running. This translates as functional form - that I like my clothes to be both comfortable and functional whilst also being elegant and attractive.
- I love their cat-dog personality (yes every whippet owner will tell you that their dog is a cat-dog as they have a little of the aloofness and independence of a cat, and are total couch potatoes when inside, but then when outside and running they are all dog). I like and value independence and individuality - in my clothes that may translate to wearing something that has a creative twist, or putting clothes together in a creative way.
- They are loving and sweet, very caring towards each other and our family. I like my clothing to be approachable and not intimidating or too perfect - so that you feel that you can approach me and ask for help.
- I love that they are a quiet dog - not big barkers. This translates to me as not having to be the centre of attention, as an introvert I have no need to be the life of the party and so may translate to my style recipe that even though I like some quirk and uniqueness, I'm not one to dress in the truly creative and Avante-Garde way - that is just too much - too costume for me and I know where my limits around these things are.
- I love that they are a little bit cheeky. This translates to some irreverence for me - not being stuck to style rules.
What have I learned and what needs to be included in my style recipe?
I could distil what I've written above into the following Style Recipe:
- Soft and Comfortable
- Functionally Beautiful
- Quietly Individual Quirk
This I can then run past my clothing selections and outfits to ensure that what I choose meets my Style Recipe!
Even in a casual outfit like this one - there is some elegance but not a lot of excess or frou-frou. Everything is comfortable and feels good to the touch. The kimono is silk and moves elegantly when I walk, the shoes are a mix of suede and patent leathers and are quietly individual with a touch of quirk. The necklace though large scale blends with my outfit so is not overtly loud.
How about you? How would your pet/s inspire your style recipe?
More Tips to Help You Figure Out Your Style Recipe
Developing Your Style Recipe - Tips and Tricks from the Professional
How Often Should You Re-Evaluate Your Style Recipe and Colour Palette
The Inspiration You Need to Create Your Style Recipe