What's The Big Idea? Why Personal Style Matters.

Whether we like it or not, the way we present ourselves to the world can have a profound and lasting effect on others-- and trust me, sometimes I really wish it didn't! I have often spent too long in my closet parsing through every pair of black pants I own (which after years in corporate retail is...way too many) weighing each option heavily because I wanted to look *just right* when I went to preschool orientation/met a boyfriend's parents/just plain really cared about the opinion of the general public that particular day.

The one opinion that I spent years gliding past is the one that truly matters: my own! During some really crucial years of my life, I dressed the way I thought I "should" dress for the role I was taking on: from my early 20's when I stuck to pencil skirts and slim blazers for work because I thought that was how professionals "should" dress, to several years ago when I gave into the ripped jeans trend (despite truly not wanting to at the time) because all the "cool" moms at the playground wore those with their hip sneakers. While I do appreciate the time and place for a great business skirt, I have to admit that I felt like I was playing dress up more often than not. I look back on pictures from those times and wish I had played more with color (which I love), accessorized more freely (I'm obsessed with a big bracelet stack), and had more freedom with pants (a wide leg culotte is my favorite thing in the whole wide world). Which isn't to say that there wasn't some anxiety-reducing value in dressing to the "norms" I was chasing- I did feel a cool confidence thinking that I "looked the part" that I was playing.

Style is so much LESS about what items you are putting on, and so much more about how you FEEL in the clothing you wear each day. Your style journey, then, starts not with which celebrity fashion icon you most admire, but with how you want to FEEL when you show up to your life: are you wanting to feel powerful in your office space, breezy in your SAHM life, cool and collected as a student? How would you describe the way in which you want to move through the world? From there, we examine what currently is holding you back

When you are comfortable and confident in a style that is truly you, you should NEVER feel like you're playing dress up in someone else's clothes when you're getting dressed for your day. Getting started on the journey towards your best style, then, starts with examining how you feel getting ready to walk through the various arenas of your life. The LGD Style Questionnaire is designed to get to the root of your EMOTION towards your self-presentation, and use those findings to build a wardrobe that unleashes your confidence and inspires creativity.

In my style journey, to stop playing dress up and unlock my own personal swagger, I first identified how I wanted to show up to my world: I wanted to be spirited, confident, and polished. From there, I was able to assess my wardrobe based on whether my on-hand pieces supported that mission. If those pieces helped me towards that: keep. If they didn't: find another home or use for. If I was unsure: can they pair back with something from my YES pile to get me there? This process was honestly painful- I found that I was tossing out some lovely, rather expensive items because they didn't support my emotional style goal. While this was kind of a bummer- all that wasted money and time!- I was left with a closet that truly WORKED for me. I remembered all the times I put on an outfit that I was sure "should" work, but for some reason just didn't quite feel "right" to me- and what do you know, every one of those situations involved pieces from my No Pile...huh! Despite the grief over the pieces I was saying goodbye to, now when I walked into my closet, I was confident that what I put on really did work.

Defining my personal style goals and refining my current wardrobe to support them make me more confident in how I LOOKED. But more importantly, I was able to walk through my days clearer, more focused, and more confident because I was no longer feeling as though I was dressed to play a part- I was showing up authentically. When eliminating the "should" out of how I was dressing, I also eliminated the sneaky, invisible disconnect that pops up when you're 'playing a part'- the idea that the role you are 'playing' isn't actually for you. Dressing for yourself first, and your "roles" after that, is the first step in unlocking a functional, versatile wardrobe that makes getting dressed fun again!

The confidence and control that comes from owning and rocking an authentic style is something that EVERYONE should be able to enjoy. If you or someone you know needs a boost, I am here for you! Heads over to my "Services" page to schedule a free 15-minute consultation, where we can collaborate on your successful style journey!