I've been keeping a fashion notebook and thought I would share what I do with this notebook in case it helps anyone else.

I use just a regular college-ruled notebook, and I've divided it up into sections. The sections are Outfit Log (yes, I keep mine on paper because I'm too lazy to create an Excel spreadsheet), Styling, Makeup Tips, Hairstyle Tips, Color Combos, Journal, Shopping, and To Buy. I just guesstimate how many pages I will need for each section, and I mark the first page of each section with a self-adhesive flag that sticks outside of the margin, and I write the name of the section on the flag. So it's kind of like the tabs to a large dictionary, where you can see the letters on the thumb tabs—except these stick out.

On my Outfit Log, I divide it up into five columns: Date, Top(s), Bottom, Shoes, and Other. These are self-explanatory. I usually put tights and scarves in the Other column. If I have a day when I really loved my outfit, I put a big smiley face in the margin so that I can see my favorite outfits at a glance. And if I find that my outfit would greatly benefit from something I do not yet have, I write "Wardrobe Hole" in the "Other" column, write what I am missing ("solid scarf to go with BR skirt"), and circle it. That way I can see all my wardrobe holes at a glance and see what is most pressing.

In my Styling section, I also have the same columns: Top, Bottom, Shoes, and Other. When I play in my closet, I write the item I am styling in the appropriate column and then add everything that I've found goes with it in the other columns. This has proven to be invaluable when I decide I want to wear skirt X and can't remember what tops I found go best with it.

Makeup Tips and Hairstyle Tips are just random lists of things that I read that I want to keep track of so as to try in the future.

Color Combos is just a list of color combos that I love or that I see in someone else's outfit and want to try.

My Journal section is where I keep track of practical things that I discover about my dressing needs for my body. For instance, I have problems tucking shirts because I am very short-waisted, which makes the proportions look off. But I discovered that I can tuck if I have low-rise pants and a form-fitting shirt that will show my waistline through the shirt. I keep that info here. To organize it for easy retrieval, I keep the info in two columns. The first column is very small (an inch wide, maybe) and contains the topic ("Tucking," "Proportions," "Shoes," etc.). I sometimes write more than one topic in this column if more than one main topic seems to apply. And then I write the info in the space to the right, which is the second column.

My Shopping section is just a list of my favorite stores. Sometimes I will be looking for a particular item of clothing and stumble upon a little-known store on the Internet. So I write those stores down in this section. Stores that are near me that I frequently call to have an item put on hold or to see if they have something in the store get their phone number written here too. It's much easier than always jumping online and having to locate the store I want. I also put notes next to the stores if necessary ("petites," "tops too big but bottoms OK," etc.).

To Buy is my list of wants. I keep it divided up in various groupings, according to style (boho, relaxed, eclectic, classic, fun, etc.). Whenever I come across a item of clothing that I think I might like to have (e.g., Victorian booties!), I write it down. Then, if I have a little money to spend, I can peruse this "want" list and get something fun.

Does anyone else keep a fashion journal? What do you keep in yours?