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amiable

Veteran

Hi, I just signed up, so I'm following the suggestions and introducing myself. I'm trying to develop a personal style.

I'm a mom of five (and I homeschool them) and a software developer for the structural steel construction industry. I'm also the director of Children's Ministry at our church, and super-small scale farmer.

When I'm in public for work or church, I need to dress with authority (especially for work, because I'm a lady, and an expert, in an extremely man-dominate field). When I'm home, I'm working hard chasing kids, canning food and such. I'm having a hard time discovering a style that's both "me" and conveys the authority that I have.

I also recently acquired a HUGE bag of clothes from a rummage sale. I want to figure out which to keep and which to toss. So I want to post outfit pictures and get feedback.

Thanks for letting me join!

General

14 replies

Latest reply was from amiable

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Welcome, Amy! You have a very busy life :).

We are here to help you out where we can.

christy

Veteran

Welcome Amy! I think you'll find this to be a very supportive and encouraging group with lots of wisdom to share. Have you read Angie's blog posts on wardrobe capsules? That might be a good place to start!

amiable

Veteran

Thanks Christy - I have read them, but haven't figured out how to apply them. I should go back and re-read them. (I just have too many clothes!)

christy

Veteran

You might want to start with breaking down work and home capsules. For example, my work wear is business professional to business casual. Not many of those clothes fit into my far more casual home/weekend life. So my two most basic capsules are work and home. Some pieces might cross over, but lots won't. Maybe pull things out of your closet that you would absolutely wear only for work and start there. Identify what you love, what makes you feel great and figure out what needs to be added to or removed from that pile. Then you can move onto the home capsule. Or vice versa - whichever one you feel needs the most immediate attention. It's less overwhelming to break it down than to look at one big closet filled with too many clothes!

amiable

Veteran

Aha - That's what I was missing! I need at least TWO capsules, and they don't have to mix. I think I've been trying to figure out how to make one capsule work for everything. Thank you!

unfrumped

Veteran

Amy, hi! Happy style hunting!

This is the area in which I am learning less is more. Did you see Angie's blog posts on too much choice and so on? Release yourself from feeling that everything has to go with everything, but use the capsules to help you be sure that you have that small group of items that work together. So you might only have 2 work-speaking outfits, or 4-5 pieces that really mix and match well, but figure out the ones that make you look and feel very polished, authoritative and fab; the smaller capsules can be updated more easily and economically than if you have a whole raft of less-good items. For home, you likely need more spares to cycle through the wash, but again, I had a tendency to have maybe 12 T's or something when half would do--then I could update them as fits changed or I wanted a happy color or something, or for jeans, if they started looking dated, it's easier to deal with if I've got just a few pairs than if 10 of the same.

Also, if things are still wearable, you can "demote" capsule items--that is similar to stuff being all in a large capsule, but different if you've decided for some reason it no longer works for the original capsule--maybe a work item dresses down (or up!) for church but is still nicer than kid-wear. Or a church item, if very comfortable but has a small flaw or fit issue, works well at home. Something like that.

Those are just ideas that have helped me get some focus.

amiable

Veteran

Thank you - I really like these ideas, and want to start working through them already!

I can't find Angie's blog posts on too much choice - can you point me to one or some of them?

rachylou

Veteran

Welcome!

I'd put you down in my book as needing the "serious but friendly" style Which would involve more color than pattern in said book... but I get ahead of myself ;>

So, what do you wear now and what are your faves?

amiable

Veteran

"Serious but friendly" sounds wonderful to me! Where do I get info on that style?

I obsess now too much about what I wear, and I'm not sure I've hit on anything that I love yet. But I started taking pictures of my clothes and what I wear. So when I have the "active" status here, I can start posting them.

I felt like I looked great yesterday, but when I saw the pictures, I looked frumpy. So if nothing else, taking pictures will help me understand what I look like.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, looking forward to your pics!

I have frumpiness problems... ack, and all the time! For me, I think that has a lot to do with my being short-waisted and having sloping shoulders. Things that ought to be sleek aren't on me, because my waist is in the wrong spot, etc. You get bunch here, tightness there... Angie stresses fit. She's bang up right.

Re. "serious but friendly": You know, if you ask me, t.v. morning shows and magazines like Real Simple and Ladies Home Journal do a good job with this look. Although, they'll do florals a lot. I think it helps to go a little easier on the florals - esp. tiny flowers - when you work in a male dominant field or are supposed to project authority. You want to be female but not little girl. Also, you want to be visible as a person of some authority. A solid color makes you easier to spot than a dispersed pattern... A visual tip I've learned from my brother the cameraman.

amiable

Veteran

Oh, look, I can post a link:

http://pinterest.com/crazydavises/my-closet/

Here's the outfit photos I've taken so far. Any and all of these clothes are up for being pruned out of my wardrobe. What should go?

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Before you throw anything out why don't you get some magazines or look online for outfits you like? Once you have an idea of the types of clothing/outfits you like then you can go through your clothes with these looks in mind. I think you look great in colour.

rachylou

Veteran

I agree, you look great in color! I like the teal sweater best because it's fitted without being so tight you look lumpy. I do think the boxy tees - even the yellow, which I loved on you btw - are going towards frumpy. Your scarf belt outfit would be super cute with a more fitted knit jersey tee.

Ok, also loved your three dollar dress that you made! That's not fitted, but it's got drape. I'd apply the same principle to the aqua sweater - nice because it has drape.

Ok. Last but not least, has to be said: you would be a natural for hipster ag style. You, I think, COULD do a button-down cowboy shirt in little flowers and retain authority.

Caro makes a great suggestion about looking online for outfits you like before weeding the closet. Maybe you'll find uses for items that seem like orphans now...

amiable

Veteran

Hipster ag style? I seriously LOVE the idea - especially for the at-home capsule!

You all are the best! I'll keep taking pictures and look forward to posting them here too. I really appreciate the color feedback - I was starting to think the only color I should really wear was brown.