“If you reach for that pair of jeans one more time this week, I’m going to kill you.”
This is the hostile split personality conversation I have been having with myself for the past week. Each morning I’ve been comfortably reaching for the same ensemble over and over; skinny jeans, over sized sweater and suede OTK boots. The hamster wheel is spinning out of control and I’m officially in a style rut. I’m in sartorial Groundhog’s day. My 2011 style mission is to shake things up and dress outside of the box, but first I have to shake this style funk.
When I find myself in this type of purgatory, there are a few things I do to bust the seams on my style.
1. Take inventory
How can you amp up your style quotient if you don’t know what ingredients you have? Do a thorough evaluation of what you own. No you don’t have to do the 3 piles (keep, toss, mend) but really go through and try things on. See #2 for how.
2. Play Dress-up
I swear by this! Playing dress-up is not only hella fun but lets you do #1 without the typical “if you haven’t worn it in a year” rhetoric. Crank up the dress up playlist and get to having a personal runway show. Take stock of what you love, how things fit and make you feel.Try wacky combinations.
3. Plan the night before
I used to hate this, because it reminded me of grade school. But laying out your ensemble the night before gives you more time to experiment. Rushing at 6am to pull together is not conducive to being your most stylish self.
4. Change one item at a time
Instead of going from daily denim to a frock overnight, why not take your time and change one item at a time. Replace your jeans with a skirt or your flats with a pair of wedges. The transition will be less jarring and easier to take.
5. Give yourself a reason to dress up
Plan a night out with girls, romantic dinner with the beau or maybe just a retro movie marathon where you don a vintage frock. Give yourself an excuse to dress up!
6. Experiment with color
For those who’s style rut consist of black, black and more black; add some color into the mix and see if you don’t feel cheerier
7. A little Shine can go a long way
I love sequins and shine as much as the next Paris Hilton wannabe and adding a bit of glitz to an otherwise monotonous outfit can make all the difference.
8. Make up with Makeup
When I’m rushing out the house, makeup is the last thing on my mind. But adding a bit of blush and a light lipstick can brighten your disposition
9. Buy what you Love
Instead of listening to the fashion rags on what’s on trend, how about you buy items that you love and craft your style around them. Who says you have to own 10 basic cotton tees, if that’s not what you’re passionate about wearing, don’t buy it.
10. Wear what makes you Happy
Sometimes a style rut hints to other things. Maybe you’re dissatisfied with what you look like or feel like your wardrobe doesn’t reflect you. Get busy changing that, wear only things that make you happy and eventually your style rut will dissolve.
Style ruts come and go and it’s important to not obsess over what you’re wearing (or not wearing). Fashion and style should be fun. Dress from your heart and the rut will be gone before you know it.
Excellent suggestions! I’m definitely working towards adding more color in my wardrobe to offset the depressing weather here.
Yeah the cold and snow is all the way in the way!
When I feel like I’m in a style rut, I usually add a pair of heels and a few accessories to my look. I’ll also add a little drama to my usual make up routine. On most days unless I’m doing some sort of manual labor or exercise, I prefer to be over dressed rather than under-dressed for occasions anyway!
I couldn’t agree more. Being overdressed always trumps being under-dressed! If only everyone thought ball gowns were appropriate work attire!
Hey, I like my rut
Your rut is full of amazing Zang Toi gowns, faux ponytails and ruby red lips! Sounds like my kind of rut!
I love this. Thanks so much for sharing. I’m in like the worst rut ever! Mostly because it’s cold and I don’t care. lol
I’m going to read and re-read these tips as inspiration to step my game up!
Thanks Amanda! I think the cold as gotten most of us!
Our blogs really do need to go on a date. This post has been my life for the past week. Yesterday, I decided I had enough and started to go through my closet. I have so many clothes that I don’t wear, it’s obnoxious, and totally keeping me down, in a sartorial sense, of course. Usually a good day of shopping gets me out of my fashion rut, but then it puts me back where I am now, neck deep in clothes. So, I’m re-evaluating my wardrobe (meaning 4 categories: trash, donate, sell, keep) to keep myself out of a fashion rut.
Yes, shopping does help, but I’m in the same boat: tons of clothes, nothing to wear!
Oh, my blog will treat your fine blog to lobster, cause I’m classsssy like that!
I’m SO in the all black rut! I’ve always been most comfortable wearing black (or other dark neutrals) and I had a job last year working in retail and I had to wear black everyday and that didn’t help! So even though I know it’s gonna be tough, I trying so hard to not buy as much black as I can my next shopping trip!
The good thing about an all black wardrobe is its a great foundation! You can add color pieces, because everything works with black! Thanks for the comment Amber!
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Fantastic tips, my friend. It is easy to fall in a rut.
I love planning ahead. Creating in my mind is alway very exciting.
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