A Seattle Style blog. Helping women who struggle with their personal style or those who just need a fashion fix!
This series is part of the10X10 Spring Challenge. For more information on what it is and how it works, click here.
I’m not the biggest fan of dresses or skirts. I wear them in the summer, but pretty much steer clear of them in the colder months. I have a handful of reasons for not loving them but the three reasons that stand out the most are:
See original outfit post here.
Oops I did it again! For some reason, whenever I wear a black and white top, I always struggle with how to style it. Since I lack imagination when it comes to a monochromatic look, my go-to is always a pop of color. The obvious clothing choice was this cranberry color cardigan. It was only until after this shoot that I realized I had worn almost an identical look 3 years prior, during my first year of blogging! At least I’m consistent.
Repeating this outfit got me thinking about the steps to defining your personal style. I’ve been in the process of pairing down my wardrobe, primarily due to weight gain and not liking a lot of excess in my closet. I realized there is no sense in having a bunch of stuff in my wardrobe that doesn’t fit!
You can learn a lot by looking at old photos and taking note of your favorite closet staples. Doing this will allow you to save money as well as eliminate frustration, buyers remorse, and unworn clothing with the tags still on them.
Assess your lifestyle and get rid of the excess. What do you spend most of your time doing? Are you a stay-at-home mom? College student? 9-5 desk job? Depending on your lifestyle and what you like to do on the weekend, having a fabulous wardrobe might not be ideal. Why have a massive selection of cocktail dresses if you rarely go out? Be realistic and only keep what you need.
Get more of what you love. If you’re a homebody and crave comfort, maybe you should splurge on a nice pair of leggings and some cozy knits. If you prefer a more classic style, fill your wardrobe with gorgeous closet staples like a silk blouse or blazer. I love denim as much as the next gal, but my work doesn’t allow for it. Instead of having a closet full of premium denim, I only have 1-2 pairs that I rotate on the weekend.
Be prepared for those one-off events. If these events are far and few between, keep it simple and only have 1 or 2 nice dresses instead of 10.
What tips do you have for defining your personal style? Share in the comments. For similar post read:
Shop the Post:
Cardigan: J.Crew Factory (similar) | Blouse: J.Crew (this one is cute) | Denim: J.Crew | Bracelet and Necklace: J.Crew (old) | Shoes: Paul Green (similar) | Clutch: DSW | Lipstick: Neutrogena MoistureSmooth color stick (Rich Raisin) c/o
*c/o: courtesy of or gifted.
📷’s by Hello Rigby
I kinda have a love hate relationship with lace jackets and grey denim. Both are neutrals and super cute, but for some reason I find them difficult to style. I don’t know if it’s the fabric (lace) and the drab color (grey), but it’s something I’ve struggled with until now.
My style is pretty casual and I don’t like to look too dressed up, but wouldn’t this jacket look so cute over a simple black dress or skirt? The last time I wore this jacket, I styled it with a white and blue gingham shell. This time I went simple and chose a white blouse. I would love to find a floral top to pair it with too.
Funny story about these jeans, I used to have these (serious throwback!) but never really liked them. Then I found this pair only to return them and buy them again a few years later. Have you ever done that? I did the same thing with Ugg Boots. The moral of the story is sometimes you need to give a trend a try multiple times until it sticks. Now I can’t imagine not having my grey denim.
Shop the Post:
Lace Bomber: Zara (similar black version) | Blouse: J.Crew (old) | Denim: J.Crew | Necklace: Loren Hope via Rocksbox | Purse: Marc by Marc Jacobs (similar) | Booties: Bare Trap (major on sale!)| Lipstick: Burberry ( No. 49 – intense plum) c/o
Photos by Jenn of Hello Rigby.
I used to be obsessed with the cardigan! I seriously had one in every material, weight, and color. One day I decided I was over them and I paired down my collection to just the essentials. I made a conscious effort not to buy another with the caveat that I only could if I needed it to complete an outfit.
When I spotted this gray pleated cardigan (now on sale), all of my previous commitments went out the window – I had to have it! It was the perfect novelty cardigan with feminine pleats and a neutral color palette. After bringing it home, I realized I wasn’t sure how to style it other than one way: white blouse and jeans. I didn’t want my top to compete with the pleats or make things appear too busy.
Once it was no longer summer, I challenged myself to figure out more options for it. I literally tried on every possible option in my closet. This wasn’t too bad since I really didn’t want to style it with any other color than white or chambray.
While a chambray shirt worked, I still wanted my overall look to be soft, so I ended up choosing a white button down with very subtle stripes and gray denim. Going neutral achieved my goal and allowed me to come up with something new. The casual booties also tied everything together.
How would you style this cardigan? Share in the comments.
Shop the Post:
Cardigan: Chelsea28 (now on sale!!!)| Stripe Shirt: UNIQLO (similar) | Denim: J.Crew | Necklace: Ann Taylor (another cute option) | Ring: Happiness Boutique (silver version) c/o | Purse: Marc by Marc Jacobs (similar) | Booties: Bare Trap (major on sale!)| Lipstick: Burberry ( No. 49 – intense plum) c/o
Photos by Jenn of Hello Rigby.
When I started this blog, I had an unspoken goal to utilize what I own and not spend a lot of money and I have done surprisingly well. I used to be notorious for growing tired of a piece and getting rid of it without a thought. When I go back through my archives, I love seeing that I still own most of the same clothes (investment pieces) from three years ago!
I realized I love to remix my closet and started to focus more on working with less. I’d take a small wardrobe with beautiful pieces over a large one of odds and ends.
Take this printed flutter sleeve blouse. The first time I wore it, I went for a business casual look. This time, it’s more off-duty with a pair of distressed jeans and my favorite anorak jacket. I also changed up the hair, lipstick, and accessories.
What tips do you have for remixing your outfits? Let me know in the comments!
P.S. Check out my other outfit remixes.
Shop the Post:
Blouse: J.Crew (similar)| Jacket: Loft (similar) | Jeans: AG | Earrings, and Bracelets: Sugarfix by Bauble Bar c/o| Sandals: Josef Seibel (sold out) | Purse: Marc by Marc Jacobs (similar) | Lipstick: Lancôme Matte Shaker Lipstick c/o