How it all started...

While browsing sale items at Anthropologie (as usual) I came across an insipiring book called The Curated Closet (or Das Kleiderschrank-Projekt in German). This book is filled with great thought exercises and experiments that I will be outlining in each of my blog posts. Although the results are of course personal to me, I hope the process itself inspires you as well to try it :)

This is Part 1 of my wardrobe overhaul and will consist of two sections: Things I Like and Style Goals.

Section 1: Things I Like

This is a compiled list of things I like and identified patterns to use as a preliminary recipe for my ideal style.

Overall Vibe

- Cool & relaxed; texture-rich; summery

- Lower intensity boho

Individual Items

- Cape scarf

- Minimal leather low-heels or ballerina flats (Repetto or Chloe)

- Espadrilles (with the perfect details/patterns/colors/embellishments)

- High wasited skinny jeans or cuffed boyfriend jeans

Colors

- Nature shades: barley, rose, evergreen, fall leaves

- Sky shades: sunset gradients, cloudy white, hazy grey, starry night

- Berry shades: blackberry, raspberry, cranberry, plum

- Tea shades: sencha, houjicha, black tea

- Ocean shades: teal, shades of blue, navy

Silhouettes

- Blouse & fitted jeans

- Tee & midi/maxi skirt

- Oversized shirt & fitted pants

- Basic tees (short or long sleeve)

- Long knee length coat (with minimal details)

- Loose-fit cardigans

- Cold shoulder tops

- A-line, circle, accordion, wrap, asymmetrical, hi-low, midi, maxi, sarong, or yoke waist skirts

- D'orsay, t-strap, mary jane, kitten, pumps for heels

- Fit n flare dresses

Materials

- Cotton

- Chambray

- Linen blend

- Silk

- Lace or crochet detailing

- Embroidery

- Grosgrain

- Gauze

- Suede (shoes)

- Knits

Styling

- Rectangle or triangle gems

- Mineral jewelry

- Glitter, sparkles

- A touch of prints/stripes/gingham/plaid

Section 2: Style Goals

This summary is to reflect on the current status of my style, wardrobe, and goals.

Cat, 27, Is Playing It Too Safe

I feel chronically underdressed and just bland, boring, and safe. I love fashion and browsing Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration, and although I'm a shop-a-holic I just haven't really spent much thought on how to style my own clothes.

What do you like about your style and current wardrobe?

On a happiness scale of 1-10, I'd give my current wardrobe (more like just a look at this week's outfits) an 8.5. I love all the tops I wore as I have a variety and they're all comfortable and consist of colors I like. My favorite outfit was a cool blue, loose fitted, clean cotton shirt over the perfect black sweats.

Which aspects of your style and wardrobe need work?

My least favorite outfit was my sweatshirt + black sweats as it felt sloppy and lazy. I also feel like I'm always wearing the same pants (blue jeans) as it's a safe choice for me. I collect pretty tops but I want to experiment with styling (which I never do) and add more variety to my bottoms and add in some casual dresses. If I had total confidence and unlimited funds to overhaul, I would definitely want to experiment with all kinds of shoes, accessories, and bottoms.

What new skills do you want to learn?

I'd like to create signature look with "no bounds." I want to be confidently me with no restraints; I want to discover everything I love and build it (outfits) for myself. I want every outfit to contain the best parts of my creative expression. Effortlessly me.

I want to have an exciting & lush wardrobe---when I open it to take an outfit out butterflies and confetti and sparkles come out. I want to be able to pull out any outfit and feel excited and joyful to wear it / for the day to begin as soon as I put it on.