This will be my last post of 2015. After today, I will be taking a few weeks off to enjoy the holiday season and will be back the first week in January, just in time for my birthday. I'm also using this time to polish off something new on this website that will be launching in the New Year that I am really excited about. I'll keep you in suspense for now.
Before I leave you, I want to talk about kicking off 2016 in a great way. Invariably, you have goals for your self in the New Year and are likely spending remaining days of 2015 being reflective. I know I always get this way. There is a book I have to recommend to make these last weeks of 2015 a productive time of reflection so that you can also get started with 2016 on the right foot.
You Best Year Yet: Ten Questions for Making the Next Twelve Months Your Most Successful Ever
Now, you may be wondering what this has to do with personal style. Well, I think that personal style and goals often go hand-in-hand. Most of my clients who reach out are either in the middle of a life transition or have a personal or professional goal in mind. I can't tell you how many times a ravamp of personal style has been the thing that turned a wish into a reality. So this is a great time to also think about your goals and the changes you can make to your personal style in order to achieve them. In addition to using the book I recommended to you, if you want to do some personal style inventory in 2015, here are some additional questions you can ask yourself and goals you can set in place to ensure that your style and your goals are aligned.
Question #1- What did you like and dislike about your style this year?Take time to evaluate your wardrobe and what you enjoyed and didn't enjoy about getting dressed. Did you feel that you were lacking the right pieces? Did you feel bland? Did you rush around in the morning because you were disorganized. In terms of things you liked, did you like the colors in your wardrobe? Did you find accessorizing made a difference? Was it easier to find the right things to wear since you added XX to your wardrobe?
Question #2- What are three realistic things you can change about the way you managed your wardrobe?Things on this list could include setting a date in your calendar to go to the dry cleaner once a week, to stop buying black shoes, to accessorize every day or to buy less of a particular item that you have too much of.
Question #3- Choose three words that describe how you want to feel when you get dressed.This is pretty self explanatory. When you get dressed everyday, what do you want to feel about what you are wearing? Some examples could be- effortless, confident, approachable, structured, in-control.
Question #4- What were some of the obstacles in 2015 that kept you from feeling the way you wanted to feel when you got dressed? What changes can you make to your wardrobe to eliminate these obstacles?Perhaps you put yourself last this year and didn't put enough time towards self care and your goal in 2016 is to give yourself more time. Maybe you fell into a style rut in 2015 and want to put some practices in place in 2016 that eliminates this. Just make sure that these practices are realistic and things you can stick to.
Question #5- When it comes to style, what am I attracted to?This seems like such a simple question, but so many women just don't know what they are really attracted to when it comes to style. Instead, they get overly concerned about buying the right things, copying what someone else wears or following archaic rules. Consider creating a vision or Pinterest board styles you are drawn to.
Question #6- What realistic items can you add to yur wardrobe based on what you have found myself attracted to? What items can you eliminate from your closet?As you begin to identify what styles you are drawn to, look for realistic additions or changes you can make to your wardrobe that can set you in the right direction. Additionally, take a look at your current wardrobe to see what has to go.
Question #7- In regards to style, what did I do exceptionally well that I want to continue doing in the New Year?Maybe you got yourself on an excellent budget for buying clothing or began to track your purchases and, as a result, became more mindful. This would be something you would definitely want to consider continuing. Perhaps you accessorized more or added more color. Take note of these successes, congratulate yourself, and keep going!
Question #8- What did you wear this year that really made you feel great? What was it about these outfits that made you feel this way?Take note of the times you really loved your outfits and the looks you put together and take time to identify what it was about them that made you feel that way.
Question #9- If you had to eliminate 90% of your wardrobe, which clothing and accessories would you not part with?Not surprisingly, many woman wouldn't care if more than half of their wardrobes went away. After all, most women wear 25% of their wardrobes 75% of the time. That said, take some time to look for the passion in your closet. You don't have to get rid of 90% of your closet, just simply identify what someone would have to pry out of your cold dead hands.
Question #10- This time next year, what style goals would I like to see myself accomplishing?Imagine you had a time machine and could go to this time in 2016. What would you really love to see different about your style? Put yourself in that position in your mind and experience the feelings of having overcome the many obstacles you are facing now. Write these down on paper or store them away on your phone and take them out this time next year. Let's see how well you do.
As I take a bit of a break, I want to thank all of you, new readers and old, for your ongoing support, your wonderful emails, comments and encouraging words. I wish you nothing but an amazing holiday season and happy New Year!
xoxo
Bridgette
