Chiamaka Oji
Jan 4, 2023
It's time for your wardrobe to change, but first you must pause...
Happy New Year Friends!
We made it to 2023! Can you believe it? Christmas came a lot quicker than I expected and the New Year was even quicker than that.
If you've been able to mentally catch up, you're probably thinking and praying about your plans, goals and direction for the year. Don't rush it. Take your time to prepare and really lock into where you're trying to be at the end of the year.
But, if changing and updating your style is one of the to-do items on your list, then you've come to the right place.
Last year, I realized that I didn't know what my style was anymore.Turning 30 really shook the table! I could no longer dress like I'm in my 20s and at the same time I'm not that old to be dressing like I'm in my 40s. I kept shopping with no direction, disliked all the items in my closet and would be stressed EVERYTIME I had to get dressed for an occasion. I had to take a pause. So I did. No shopping for 3 whole months! Eek! I didn't buy any accessories, shoes or clothing item. During this break, I was very intentional and adamant about figuring my style out...
Here are the steps I took:
Don't give anything away. Yes I said it. Do not de-clutter...yet
Gather and Organize! Make all your clothing, accessories, bags, shoes etc. visible. It doesn't have to look perfect, but you have to be able to see it. If it's in the garage, or in random corners of the house, you won't know you have it especially when you need it.
Keep track! During the 90 days, anytime you feel confident, love how you look or receive compliments, make sure to keep track. How do you keep track? Take pictures, make a mental note, journal it etc. Also keep track of pieces you find yourself gravitating towards
Observe others! When you see a look you like on someone in person or on social media, take a mental note of what exactly you like about their look. Ask yourself these questions...do I like the style of their pieces, the color combination, the fit of the outfit, etc. Create a folder in your photos to store images, create a Pinterest board or note in your journal.
Create a missing items list. During steps 1-4, you'll start to observe the pieces you're missing for your ideal look. If you observe these missing items frequently, you'll know you need it. Remember, no shopping :-), so take notes.
At the end of the 90 days, you can now de-clutter. It'll feel soooo right because you'll be able to make a better informed decision on items you don't need
Shop! Shop! Shop! Yes, you can finally shop but before you go crazy, pull out that missing items list from Step #5....now go crazy!
This process was a game changer for me and I know I'll find myself doing this again because bad shopping habits don't die easily. Here's to taking the first step!
With love,
Chiamaka