How My Wardrobe Became More Sustainable

May 15, 2020

How My Wardrobe Became More Sustainable

 

HOW MY WARDROBE BECAME MORE SUSTAINABLE

There has been much positive change in my wardrobe in the last 8+ years. These changes include:-

  • what goes in it,
  • what is taken out,
  • different approach to shopping
  • creating an organised wardrobe space,
  • wearing more of my clothes on a regular basis,
  • having clothing that coordinates and easily mix and matches to create many different outfits for my lifestyle,
  • thinking about my clothing choices.

My wardrobe hasn’t always been a place I liked to visit. It contained many clothing items that were purchased for the wrong reasons. Much of my clothing purchases remained unworn taking up valuable wardrobe real estate space. I use to wear 20% of my clothing 80% of the time.  My consumption definitely outweighed my wearability and wasted a large amount of money, time and energy.  It contained far more quantity than quality and very little thought about sustainability.

Now I am wearing 80% or more of my clothing most of the time. Without me realising it my wardrobe has become more supportive and sustainable than at any other time in my life. My wardrobe has done a double flip and is now more quality than quantity. It is no longer a storage place for my misguided shopping choices. As a consumer I had very little conscious thought of the impact my choices had emotionally, financially, ethically or environmentally.

Let me tell you how this change has happened over a period of time without me realising what was happening. I have spent some time reflecting on how this change has evolved.

  • Discovering the clothing elements that I love to wear to express who I am – my Personality Style. This has guided me in my shopping choices and provided with directions to buy clothing that I loved and would wear.
  • Gaining knowledge, understanding and acceptance of my body by applying style principles that enhanced my  style look.
  • Discovering the colour palette that harmonised and complimented my complexion. When I started wearing colours from my colour swatch I felt and looked completely alive, healthy and energised.  It also gave me the pathway to create a mix and match colour coordinated wardrobe.  My wardrobe was no longer a mismatch of clothing but each piece added value, versatility and variety.  I was making more informed and considered shopping choices. I stopped feeling like I had nothing to wear.
  • Playing, exploring and experimenting with the clothes in my wardrobe meant I was shopping in my wardrobe instead of going to the shops to buy more.
  • Having an organised wardrobe meant that I could easily see, find and wear the clothes I had. This resulted in me wearing more of my clothes in different combinations.
  • Shopping with a different mindset. I was no longer shopping as an emotional outlet. I now shop with purpose and know what I am looking for. Prior to these changes I would shop with the intention to just buy something. My wardrobe is no longer overcrowded with clothes I do not wear.
  • Buying much more from local and Australian small clothing businesses.
  • Adopted a RE strategy into my wardrobe – replace, restyle, repurpose, repair, remake, recycle, reuse and rewear. I have less in my wardrobe but more possible outfit combinations than I have had ever had before.
  • Rethinking what I am buying by considering these questions:-* What fibres am I wearing and the impact the manufacturing process has on the environment.* Where am I buying my clothes?
    * Why am I buying this?
    * Where and how were these clothes made?
    * How long will this item last?
  1. Recognising that I have much more to learn about sustainability and clothing.

    Presently reading these books:-

  • “Slow Clothing – Finding Meaning in What We Wear” by Jane Milburn
  • “Wardrobe Crisis – How We Went from Sunday Best to Fast Fashion” by Clare Press
  • “Fashionopolis -The Price of Fast Fashion & the Future of Clothes” by Dana Thomas

 

I look forward to embracing these thoughts from Jane Milburn:-

“Slow clothing is about thoughtful, ethical, creative and sustainable ways to enjoy clothes while minimising our material footprint.”

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Tips for Shopping Online

April 18, 2020

Tips for Shopping Online

 

 

TIPS FOR SHOPPING ONLINE

I much prefer to retail shop than online because I am a tactile shopper and do not like to buy without trying on. This post was inspired by my recent adventure looking at some clothing outlets on facebook. I felt inclined to investigate what they had on offer because the outfits were representative of my own style / clothing preferences – creative, unusual designs and construction. While looking at these sites and enjoying the clothing range a voice inside my head was saying – “Buyer beware – what you see may not be what you get.” The alarm bells were ringing because the clothing quality and style did not correspond to the low cost. After reading quite a few reviews my initial thoughts were realised. I have to say I was very disappointed because I had already visualised myself wearing many of these outfits.

Here are some helpful tips for making considered purchases online that can add value to what you already have in your wardrobe. No matter whether you shop retail or online a purchase you don’t wear is not adding any value to your life.

BEFORE SHOPPING – BE PREPARED

Your reasons for shopping can have a positive or negative impact on the outcome of your shopping journey. When you shop do you have an expectation that you will purchase something and feel disappointed and let down if you haven’t made a purchase.

ASK yourself these questions to lessen the chances of purchasing items that you will not wear:-

  • WHY am I going shopping online? (The following also applies to real life shopping.)

There are many reasons why we shop:-

  • Just stumbled across an interesting post on my feed.
  • I am filling in time.
  • Feel like I have nothing to wear.
  • Bored with my wardrobe.
  • Nothing fits me.
  • Want to see what is available.
  • To fill a gap in my wardrobe.

Knowing why you are shopping can set the direction and expectations of the outcome of this experience.  Not every shopping experience has to end in disappointment if you have not purchased something. I call this going on a shopping safari.

  • WHAT are you looking for?

Self knowledge and awareness is very important when shopping as it can lessen the impulse to buy for the sake of that shopping rush. You can gain more self knowledge by looking at the clothes that you already have and enjoy wearing. Take a look at the clothes you enjoy wearing and make you feel comfortable and confident.

Important information to know includes identifying:-

  • Clothing types that you prefer to wear- skirts, tops, pants, shorts, jeans, suits, dresses etc
  • Styles and silhouettes you find most flattering and comfortable.
  • Types of fabrics which feel right for you. Take a look at the fabric composition of clothing that feels just right for you.
  • Colours & patterns you like to wear and how you combine them.
  • Level of detail in your clothing – do you prefer simple, classic and uncluttered clothing or frills and more details.
  • Identify the brands that you most like wearing.

The above elements outline your style preferences and relate to your Personality Style. Identifying your preferred Personality Style gives you power when shopping as it becomes a road map to choosing clothes that work for you.

QUESTIONS TO ASK

Ask these questions when you find something that appeals to you to help you make informed decisions.

  1. What attracted me to this item?
  2. Where can I wear this? / Does it fit with my lifestyle needs?
  3. How does this item fit with my personal clothing preferences?
  4. Do I have anything like this already?
  5. What detail does it have that will enhance or be less flattering on me?
  6. Why am I buying this?
  7. Will I return it if it isn’t right?

DO SOME RESEARCH

If you are buying a brand that you haven’t worn before or from a new outlet it is important to check the reviews.

Also remember to check the returns policy. Ask yourself whether you are likely to return it if it isn’t right.

Ask friends about their experiences.

HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON

Before you hit the BUY NOW button take some time out to consider why you are buying this and how it will add value to your wardrobe.

PITFALLS OF ONLINE SHOPPING

  • Shopping online is very one dimensional as we are just looking at an image on a body that more than likely bears no resemblance in body shape, body proportions and body variations to ourselves. Everything online looks appealing on the model.
  • Wearing clothing involves how we feel as well as how it fits. There is only one way to know if something is right for you and that is trying it on.
  • If you are not the type of person to return items then online shopping may not work for you unless you have already tried the item on in the shops. I am that type of person.
  • Online shopping does not allow us to touch, feel and examine for quality.
  • There are no standard guidelines for sizing across the clothing and fashion industry. This can make it very difficult to choose the correct size. Some sites will have body measurements for bust, waist, hips etc. This is not always helpful because we can have similar body measurements but our body shapes can be very different. Some body shapes are curvier whereas others are straighter. Clothes will fit and look very different even if body measurements are similar.

Being an empowered shopper involves having  the knowledge of how your clothing needs relate to your:-

  • Personality Style
  • Body Shape
  • Body Proportions
  • Body Variations
  • Lifestyle Needs.

MAKE EVERY PURCHASE COUNT

Contact me  to discover how we can work together to take the frustrations out of shopping, creating outfits and a wardrobe that supports you every day.

 

 

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Shopping

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What is STYLE?

April 5, 2020

What is Style?

 

WHAT IS STYLE?

Style is unique and personal. When referring to style in terms of dressing it is about how you combine your clothing so that it balances and harmonises with your personal and physical characteristics. Sometimes style and fashion are seen as the same thing. Here are some thoughts about fashion and style.

  • Style is not found in the shops. You find individual fashion items in the shops. If chosen wisely these can become tools for creating your own unique style and look.
  • You can only have style if you are young and have a great body. This is definitely a false statement. Every woman no matter their size, shape and age can be stylish.
  • Style isn’t something you are born with. Some woman may be more interested in clothing and have an innate ability to create stylish outfits just like some can create great meals without a recipe. Discovering your style can be learnt just like any other skill. There are ways to develop your knowledge and understanding of yourself to discover your Style Recipe or the Stepping Stones to Create Your Style.
  • Style is very individual and always evolving whereas fashion is forever changing and easily discarded and outdated. Following fashion usually results in having clothes in your wardrobe that were purchased on impulse and not worn.
  • Style is not about following a predetermined set of rules. It’s discovering the style guidelines that align with your personal and physical characteristics to create enhancing outfits for your lifestyle requirements.
  • Style does not come from having a wardrobe full of clothes, wearing the most expensive clothes or the latest fashion. It is about having the clothes that balance, harmonise and coordinate with you to create outfits that look and feel great.

Great style comes in many different forms and looks. Have you looked at someone and thought – “She looks great but I wouldn’t wear that.” The next time you notice a stylish look take notice of how the individual pieces have been put together to create a balanced and harmonious look that relates to the wearer. When I work in my clients’ wardrobes I have noticed a missing link. This missing link for my clients is  how to create outfits that truly represent who they are. It is not just about what you are wearing but how you are combining all your clothing items.

YOU are the most important element in discovering your style. The women that I work with discover their style & colour guidelines that create their unique style look. They then have the knowledge and confidence to dress and shop to ensure their wardrobe adds joy to their life by supporting their personal, social and professional story. They gain confidence and can step out each day with confidence and a smile.

“Never confuse fashion and style.

Fashion relies on attainable looks on women with unrealistic bodies.

STYLE is about utilizing the best aspects of YOU.”

Stacy London

 

 

 

 

 

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Style

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8 Lessons from My Wardrobe Part 3

March 28, 2020

 

8 Lessons from My Wardrobe Part 3

 

8 LESSONS FROM MY WARDROBE – Part 3

This is the last post from the series  – 8 Lessons From my Wardrobe. If you missed Part 1 or Part 2 you can read them here and here.

LESSON 6 – ROLE OF COLOUR

My wardrobe didn’t always have a cohesive colour palette. It was a mismatch of whatever took my fancy. The turning point for this was when I had my colours done. My colour swatch became my best friend. It provided me with:-

  • the direction to create a colour palette that made me look and feel great.
  • guidance when shopping. It was and still is my colour road map for shopping.
  • a coordinated wardrobe of clothes that easily mix and match. This gives me more choices in outfits to wear. I now have less clothing (not minimal clothing) and more outfits to wear.

LESSON 7 – PLAYING & SHOPPING IN MY WARDROBE

The clothes in my wardrobe are now an asset because I wear them. Lessons 1 – 6 gave me the direction to create a wardrobe of clothes that supported me. I use too see the clothes in my wardrobe as individual items until I realised they were a collection of outfits.

Taking some time to explore how my clothing could mix and match opened my eyes to many more outfit possibilities than I thought were possible. I call this playing dress ups and shopping in my wardrobe. This is the approach I take when working with my clients – Find Your Style in Your Wardrobe & Make a Style Statement

My shop in your wardrobe approach involves selecting one item and then finding other pieces to work with it to create a new combination. I am looking at creating a total outfit. This includes tops, pants, dresses, shorts, jackets, scarves, accessories and shoes. I ensure I create at least one new outfit combination a week. Quite often i will say to myself – “Why haven’t I worn this with that before.” It never ceases to amaze me the endless outfit possibilities that I find.

Playing and shopping in my wardrobe has definitely taken the frustration out of getting dressed.

LESSON 8 – ONGOING MAINTENANCE

Wardrobe organisation plays an important part in having a wardrobe that allows you to see and reach what you have. I discovered that I needed to create a habit of ongoing maintenance. My ongoing maintenance involves steps that allow me to easily track and monitor what I am wearing. It helps me identify the clothes that I may be neglecting. These steps stop me from reaching for the same outfits and give me variety:-

  • I have a rubber band tied on the coat hanger hook that is first in each of the clothing categories- skirts, shirts, dresses, cardigans, tops etc. When I have worn and washed my clothing I replace it in front of the rubber band hanger. This clearly shows the clothes that I am wearing and those that I am not. It stops me from taking the easy approach and reaching the same clothes all the time.
  • When I buy a new item of clothing I plan what I can wear it with and try to wear it within a week. This ensures that it does not sit in my wardrobe and is not forgotten.

 

It is great to have a wardrobe that has become my daily shopping boutique and works for me.

 

 

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8 LESSONS FROM MY WARDROBE Part 2

February 25, 2020

8 Lessons from My wardrobe Part 2

 

8 LESSONS FROM MY WARDROBE – Part 2

This post follows on from my previous post which looked at Lesson 1 – Importance of Colour and Lesson 2 Who Am I? If you missed this post you can read it here.

 

LESSON 3 – ORGANISATION

Over the last six years my wardrobe has gone from absolute chaos to a much more organised system. I have less clothes in my wardrobe but do not feel like I have nothing to wear. I can clearly see, find and easily reach my clothing items because I have instilled order and organisation into my wardrobe. I do not have a large wardrobe. Setting up an organised space did not come naturally until I realised the positive impact it could have on my daily life.

When I was taking my wardrobe from chaos to calm I questioned why it had taken me so long to do this. (Confession – I do have to work at being organised). I had spent many years at war with my wardrobe. Now I realise the important role an organised wardrobe plays in starting my day in a positive way. I do not have to tread the minefield of utter chaos. It saves me time at the beginning of the day and also the end of the day. I use to come home and have to rehang the clothes that had been discarded onto the bed or floor because they were not right. The other positive impact is that I can easily locate what I am looking for. It is so easy to see and find what is in the wardrobe.

How to Have an Organised Wardrobe outlines the steps I took to create a wardrobe that makes it easy to shop in my wardrobe.

 

LESSON 4 – RELATIONSHIP TO MY CLOTHES

In the past there was a very important element missing from my wardrobe.  I had many items of clothing but many of them didn’t relate to me and I wasn’t wearing them. I came to realise that my clothes needed to relate to my:-

  •  personality – who I was and how I wanted to express myself to the world,
  •  physical shape and all it’s changes,
  •  lifestyle – what kind of clothes (Level of Refinement) do I need for work and play activities in my life.

My wardrobe now supports me because I know I am the essential ingredient in the wardrobe. The clothes that deserve a place in my wardrobe have to support my YOUNIQUENESS. My choices of what clothing items I purchase are considered carefully and not driven by what is in fashion. All the clothes in my wardrobe have a place because they fit and feel right and support my lifestyle.

 

LESSON 5 – The ROLE OF SHOPPING 

My approach to shopping has changed dramatically. I had not really considered how my approach to shopping was not conducive to a positive outcome for my wardrobe. If I went shopping it was with the purpose of buying something and this resulted in many bad purchases. It was an external approach which was influenced by what was in ‘fashion’. My reason for shopping was usually related to rewarding myself or needing a pick me up. I expected to make a purchase every time I went to the shops otherwise it was a waste of time.

I discovered that successful shopping:-

  • doesn’t have to result in a purchase. I take myself on a Shop Safari where I go to explore what is out there.
  • is guided by my knowledge of myself.
  • involves buying something that will coordinate and complement what I already have in my wardrobe.
  • means buying clothes that are going to support me for longer than a season.

My wardrobe is unique to me and is bringing me much joy.

 

 Lessons from My Wardrobe – Part 3 coming soon.

 

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8 LESSONS FROM MY WARDROBE Part 1

February 8, 2020

8 Lessons From My Wardrobe Part 1

 

8 LESSONS FROM MY WARDROBE – Part 1

The inspiration for this post has come from realising how my wardrobe is now supporting and enhancing my life.  This has not always been the case.  My wardrobe use to be overcrowded, frustrating and challenging. Every morning I dreaded opening the wardrobe doors to find something to wear. Getting dressed each morning usually ended up with many clothes scattered on the floor and me running late. The reality was that I didn’t really know what was in my wardrobe and found it difficult to find anything. If you can relate to this keep reading.

My wardrobe was not supporting me or working for me. Finding clothes to create an outfit felt like fighting my way through vines in a jungle. It was a painful and frustrating process every day. Something was missing.

What was missing had nothing to do with not having enough clothes. I realised it was my lack of self knowledge, self acceptance and self confidence that needed to be addressed. What followed on from this has been life changing. I decided to take the big step and study Personal Styling and Colour. Little did I realise the positive impact this would have on my personal and professional life.

Over the last five years my wardrobe has evolved and changed into a place I enjoy visiting each day. These are the lessons that have changed my wardrobe into my daily shopping boutique.

 

LESSON 1 – IMPORTANCE of COLOUR COHESIVENESS

When I look into my wardrobe I see a cohesive collection of colours not a mismatch of colours. These colours relate to me in terms of my personal colouring and my Colour Personality preferences. They make me look and feel alive, vibrant and healthier even on a bad day.

My wardrobe is no longer a sea of black and mismatch of colour. My colour swatch has been like a magic wand.  It has enabled me to now have a range of neutrals and colours that cohesively work together. These colours easily mix and match which means I can create more outfits from what I have. I now have value, versatility and variety in my wardrobe.

My colour swatch has become my best friend.

Colour Swatch Absolute Colour System

 

LESSON 2 – WHO AM I?

Discovering my Personality Style and how this related to my preferred clothing elements was very empowering. It gave me greater self confidence and understanding of how I wanted my clothes to express who I am.  It made me realise what clothing styles, colours, patterns, fabrics, textures, shapes, accessories felt  ‘just right’ for me. The clothes in my wardrobe needed to not just fit but also feel right.

This strongly impacted on my approach to shopping, increased confidence and self acceptance. My eyes were more open to my preferences and this saved much time and money when shopping – (more on this in Lesson 7). I now enjoy wearing all that I buy. I have no more unworn clothing in my wardrobe.

I now know what I want my clothes to do for me. This is my Style Personality statement – what I want my clothes to say about me:-

“Relaxed look with an artinistic edge, dash of colour and uniqueness.”

Personality Style

 

I now accept and relish these elements that make me individual and unique. You need to understand yourself to create a wardrobe that works and supports you.

These first two Lessons From My Wardrobe are both strongly related to my personal characteristics. They are not about fashion, following trends or shopping aimlessly. Knowing, understanding and accepting myself has been a major factor in creating a wardrobe that supports and works for me.

 

Look out for 8 Lessons From My Wardrobe Part 2.

 

 

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A – Z of Styling C is for Column of Colour

February 1, 2020

A-Z of Styling C is for Colourr

 

C is FOR COLUMN OF COLOUR

What is a Column of Colour?

There are many ways to combine colour in an outfit for different effects. This post looks at the what, why and how of creating an outfit using tones of the same colour (neutrals & colours) which is called a monochromatic colour scheme. The colour wheel is great tool for exploring colour combinations. Each pie section of the colour wheel is an example of a monochromatic colour scheme. A column of colour is created when your outfit combines tones of the same colour top to toe.

Colour Wheel

 

What effect does a column of colour have for the wearer?

A column of colour is created when your outfit combines tones of the same colour top to toe. When you have an unbroken colour combination in your outfit there is no disruption or distraction. This creates a lengthening and slimming illusion for the wearer.

There a number of ways to create and wear a column of colour. Let’s look at some examples.

 

Column of Colour

In the above examples a column of colour has been created by using only one garment – long dress, jumpsuit and a short dress.   A column of colour has been created by colour matching the shoes with the outfit colour.  Wearing low vamp shoes that harmonise with your leg tone will create a column of colour. Low vamp shoes show the top of your feet. Wearing a nude toned shoe will create a continuous colour line up to the hem of the dress, skirt or shorts. Another way of creating a column of colour with a short dress is to tone hosiery / tights and shoes in a colour similar to the dress.

 

The examples above have created a column of colour on the outside of the body. An outside column of colour works well for those bodies with a defined waist. Attention is drawn away from hips, thighs and bottom area. Colour can be used to draw attention to the top half of the body. If you have a defined waist wearing a belt in a different colour can work. If you have an undefined waist toning belt colour with the internal colour will create less emphasis to the waist / tummy area. Note that shoe colour is toned to the outfit colour to create a continuous line of colour. If your legs are showing remember to tone low vamp shoes with leg colour to look taller.

 

Column of Colour Inner

The outfits above have been created with an inside column of colour. Wearing a column of colour works well if you have an undefined waist as it draws attention away from this area. If you have shorter legs wearing nude low vamp shoes will give the illusion of longer legs.

 

A column of colour works well for all body shapes, sizes and ages. This way of combining colours can be used with prints & patterns and plain colours. It can be used with light, medium and dark colours as well as muted and bright colours. The key to achieving this look is to make sure that there is little difference in lightness to darkness and colours are blended. The lengthening and slimming illusion of the column of colour is disrupted when there is a greater difference in colours and value.

 

 

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Colour, Style

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The Way Ahead 2020 Create

January 18, 2020

The Way Ahead 2020 Create

 

THE WAY AHEAD 2020 CREATE

Welcome to 2020 and all that it brings to you. The beginning of a new year is often a time for reflection and setting directions for the coming year. Many years ago I moved from making New Year Resolutions to choosing a Lighthouse Word which set the direction for my thinking, actions, behaviours and relationships in my family, social, personal and business life.

My Lighthouse Word changes the focus from what I haven’t achieved in the previous year to a focus on what I want my life to look like for the new year. It gives me the thoughts and directions to move forward and look at all aspects of my life.

These are the focus words that have provided me with a road map over a number of years:-

Each year is not a new beginning but an opportunity to be, experience, learn and grow from all that happens. Moving forward in a positive way is important. At the end of each year I reflect on the thinking, actions, happenings, behaviours throughout the year that have brought me joy and happiness or derailed me. This gives me directions for the  new year.  It is important to take the time to think of how I want the new year to be and how it would look and feel. As I work through this process I record the words that come to me and choose the one that resonates the most.

2020 is a year of 366 daily opportunities and I have chosen the word CREATE to inspire me to be and live the life I desire. Expressing my direction and a way forward in a collage helps me define what it is that I am wanting to be and do.

 

The Way Ahead 2020 Create

 

This is a small snapshot of how I see my year. In 2020 I want to CREATE:-

  • time for all that is important to me.
  • a plan each month that involves social interactions with friends and family.
  • wellness in how I feel physically, emotionally and mentally.
  • play time in my garden.
  • holiday and getaway times with my husband.
  • fibre art brooches.
  • a memory with my sister in law when we take that parachute jump we have been talking about.
  • a metal sculpture but first I need to learn how.
  • more opportunities to make a difference in women’s lives by writing new workshops, an online workshop and videos .
  • a more sustainable approach to my wardrobe.
  • more opportunities for music and art in my life.
  • times for playing, laughing, loving sharing, stepping out of my comfort zone and making memories.
  • greater awareness and acknowledgement to identify when I need help and support.
  • the desire and energy for all that comes may way.

At the end of this year I will share my reflections of what has been for me in 2020.

The Way Ahead 2020 Create

 

 

 

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Life

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8 Prompts For Creating New Outfit Combinations

December 7, 2019

8 Prompts for Creating New Outfit Combinations

 

8 PROMPTS  FOR CREATING NEW OUTFIT COMBINATIONS

There are many  unworn outfit combinations in most people’s wardrobes. Let’s discover how to create more outfits with what you already have. Take some time to think about how you approach putting an outfit together. Your habits and routines when getting dressed can sometimes result in outfits being on repeat and many clothing items not being worn. When this happens you are missing out on many outfit possibilities that are hiding in your wardrobe.

The secret to creating more outfit possibilities is to explore and experiment. Wardrobes are much more than a storage space for clothing items and to wear more of your clothes most of the time you need to think outfits and not individual clothing items. Just by changing your getting dressed habits and routines you can put some spark and interest into what you wear.

Let’s look at some ways to explore and experiment to create more outfit possibilities by shopping in your wardrobe.

Try these starting prompts to assist in exploring and creating new outfit combinations and note the term clothing item refers to clothes, shoes, jewellery, scarves, bag, hats etc.

  • Choose an old favourite top / pants / shorts / skirt / dress to create an outfit. If you follow this prompt over a week you can potentially create 5 new combinations.
  • Take a favourite item of clothing and team it with something very rarely or not worn.
  • Select a coloured item of clothing first.
  • Find something that you haven’t worn since last season and create a different outfit.
  • Make your starting point a pair of shoes.
  • Choose a necklace, brooch, earrings, bangle as your starting piece.
  • Select a pattern piece of clothing and see what you can create.
  • Choose a favourite outfit and change one item to make it look and feel different.

 

When you are changing any habit or routine it takes time so it may be best to set aside time the night before or on the weekend to create some new outfits for the next week.

It is important to take notice of how you feel in different combinations and take photos of those outfits that worked for you. This is important because we can very easily forget what worked.

 

MY OUTFIT COMBINATIONS FROM THESE PROMPTS

Examples of outfits that I created using the above outfit creating prompts.

Please note:- no photo of the last prompt because I forgot to take the photo. The outfit was the first one and I changed the shoes to a wedge black pair to wear out for dinner.

 

Outfit Combinations

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WHAT WENT WRONG WITH MY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

November 2, 2019

What Went Wrong with My Shopping Experience

 

WHAT WENT WRONG WITH MY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

It has been quite some time since I have made a wrong purchase. However this is exactly what happened to me at the last Handmade Canberra Markets.

That shopping experiences did not go as planned. I reflected on the when, how and why of what happened during that shopping experience. These are the factors that contributed to my shopping misdemeanour:-

  • SHOPPING WITH LIMITED TIME

That particular day I was assisting my friend Josephene at her stall. On my way to start working my ‘that looks like me’ radar spotted a tunic style top at a stall.  With  five minutes to spare I quickly tried it on.  It felt good even before I looked in the mirror. After a quick glance in the mirror and a happy twirl I purchased this tunic.

  • SHOPPING WHEN EMOTIONAL

At that particular time life had turned upside down with the recent passing of my dad. I had been wanting to buy something new to wear to his Life Celebration Service. My dad and I have had a long time love – hate relationship over my choice of clothing. He was very conservative and didn’t appreciate my less than conservative dressing style.

I really wanted to find something that was my style, appropriate for the occasion and something that was not over the top. The tunic I tried on ticked all these boxes.

  • SHOPPING WITHOUT LISTENING TO AND CONSIDERING THE DOUBT FROM MY INNER VOICE

There was a voice inside my head questioning whether the berry colour I had chosen was right for me. I wanted this outfit to work for me and I convinced myself that it was the light in the pavillion.

WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THIS PURCHASE

When I got home I tried the tunic on with the pants I planned to wear them with. I looked in the mirror and realised the:-

  •   top of this tunic was TOO big for me and
  •   colour was not going to work for me.

This story does have a happy ending. The next day I returned to see Alison Dominy.  I tried on a smaller size in a different colour and this tunic had the Goldilock’s Principle and was just right. My  dad would have approved of this outfit. When I wear this tunic I feel he is giving me a style hug. That makes me smile.

What went wrong with my shopping experience

REMEMBER – When you are shopping the WHEN, HOW and WHY can make a difference to the outcome of a shopping experience.

WHAT CAN YOU LEARN FROM YOUR SHOPPING MISTAKES?

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Colour, Shopping, Style

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