How to Create a Fresh Personal Style for a New Life Phase

If major life changes are looming and the old ‘you’ in the mirror doesn’t seem right for the person you’re about to become, how do you get a new look? You need to plan. You also need to suspend your fear of looking foolish but only in the dressing room. Change can be hard, but you’ll love looking comfortable from the start in that new school, new job, new city or new phase of life. Read on to learn how to create a fresh personal style for a new life phase.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Notebook
• Fashion magazines
• Big trash bags
• Clothing and accessory budget
• A tailor

1. Research what people are wearing who are already where you’re going. Visit campus, stroll down the streets of your new city, stroll down the hall to where the bosses work, check out the parents at the playground or the politicians on television. Get an overall impression. Then find people whose personal style you like and take notes.
2. Think about your personality and what you’ll take with you into your new life. Your aim shouldn’t be to blend in so well you disappear. You want to still be you…but updated. Take more notes.
3. Compare both sets of notes and decide what your strong points will be in this new environment. You’ll want to use your new personal style to advertise these positives.
4. Browse fashion magazines and designer websites for images that have the qualities you want.
5. Try on everything in your closet. Judge each piece by whether it does what you want your new image to do. Be strict with yourself. Better yet, get a good friend to help and tell him to be honest. Put unwanted clothes into big plastic bags for charity.
6. Make a list of what you need in your wardrobe to make a splash. Study magazine and online images again for specific ideas.
7. Shop. Take that brutally honest friend. Try on things you’ve never tried before and do not be afraid.
8. Buy things that make the statement you want to make. Buy things that fit perfectly or can be tailored easily. Buy things that make you feel fantastic. Put extra effort into accessories. A famous architect and designer once said, “God is in the details.”
9. Take everything that needs to be fitted to the tailor right away. No excuses.
10. Keep up the good work.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can’t throw out things that you know you should, pack them away for now. Revisit them when the new style is up and running and you’ll probably be happy to let them go.