PERSONAL STYLING
No matter what consumeristic society might tell you, you are wonderful exactly as you are. AND not everything is going to feel like YOU, nor should it. Learning how to say NO to what’s out of alignment clears space for the YES.
Translate what’s inside, unlock confidence, and build trend resilience.
My hot take? Trends are destructive.
This is in large part due to the rate of online sharing, which has accelerated turnover of trends in fashion. Back in the olden days, we had to wait for the next issue of Vogue or Glamor magazine to see what’s “hip” but today it’s a constant push of opinion.
Now, I’m not speaking to the true artists who experiment with mixed textures and patterns, who are committed to their self-expression. LOVE THAT. I’m also not talking about the natural cycle of fashion taste that rotates every 20 years or so. It’s only natural to steal from the past. I’m talking about the practice of buying a thing you know is unflattering or wasteful because someone else said it was “cool” or because it looked good on someone else. Unconscious purchasing is not cool.
Remember when this BUTTER YELLOW color was “trending”?
This is NOT a universal color. It’s LIGHT, SOFT, and COOL. For people do not share these characteristics, this color can have a sickly effect. But one post online showing someone who looks good in it, and the color starts a purchase frenzy. This is because people are misinformed about WHY it looks good on THAT person, and wrongly think they it’ll look the same on them. Eventually people will realize it’s not flattering and discard their yellow items. Hip one day, the next in the landfill.
Biggest styling myth? Oh, that BLACK is THE universal color.
The French have famously pioneered some of the most iconic fashion looks of all time. I won’t dare take swings at Chanel. However, one the biggest crimes against creativity has been the idea that black looks good on everyone. Black is a very DARK, COOL, and BRIGHT color. And a larger majority of people do not have this color make up. Black has the power to magically overwhelm any soft and warm palettes. In painting, black is often not used since it flattens the look and creates an unnatural feel. Even shadows aren’t black.
So, what happens? Someone who doesn’t look good in black then has to make up for the loss of warmth and subtly in their coloring and increase the contrast levels of their face. Common ways of doing this are make-up, hair, and accessories. Great, more shopping. And soon enough everything will be adjusted, and the overall look will be…off.
ok doomsday, what do we do about it?
Step One
CHOOSING YOUR COLORS
Color, inclusive of tone, warmth, and value is one of the most impactful elements of appearance and presence. It communicates so much and can magically transform your perceived essence. Start here, get up close.
Value: Light vs Deep
Chroma: Bright vs Faded
Tone: Warm vs Cool
Step Two
CHOOSING YOUR SHAPES
The body, the environment, all artifacts, are just a collection of shapes. The better we can get at identifying those shapes, the more informed we’ll be in how to complement. The goal isn’t to fix, it’s to embrace.
Vertical Line: How tall you appear
Horizontal Line: How wide you appear
Structure & Flesh: Soft vs Sharp
Step Three
CHOOSING YOUR PRODUCTS
This last step is perhaps the most important. It’s not enough to be informed, you need to act in alignment with your values. How will you make an informed purchase? Imagine that everything you buy, you will own forever.
Buying New: Avoid new and un-natural fibers
Buying Used: Check quality, smell, and fibers.
Existing: Love it? Take care. Don’t? Let it go.
This isn’t easy, and it’s hard to see yourself objectively. That’s why I’m here.