13. September *the biggest fashion season* Reminders
It's pretty overwhelming the amount of new fashion right now..
It’s only September 10th but it’s easy to find yourself absolutely overwhelmed by the new season ‘edits’ landing. Collection after collection, brand after brand, website after website. gulp. It’s a lot.
Where to start?
(in case there is any doubt, just some of the collaborations happening).
At the start of any new fashion season, I pull myself back to the one thing I know to be true when it comes to buying well, styling well and wearing well.
Personal Style is about outfits, not items.
No matter what item you are falling for, the question is, do you feel you can create outfits that you will love from the item?
The style you have access too right now are those clothes you default to, to do the everyday little things that need to feel easy for you - grab a coffee. meet a friend. pop to the post office.
Here are a couple of questions to help you focus.
What outfits do you want to wear over the next few months?
(dresses, separates, denim, soft casuals?)
How do you want those outfits to feel (I’m talking if someone were to say, how would they describe your outfit……….?)
Pick one word that feels easy and natural to you and the other that is more aspirational (like maybe soft and smart or neat but creative).
What do you have in your wardrobe right now that is your starting point to create outfit/s like this?
What denim? What dresses? What tops? What Knits? Catalogue or photograph the items that you genuinely want to wear and that are an honest starting point for the kind of outfits you want to focus on.
Now, start to make a list of what you know these items need in order to complete the outfit?
This is where your shopping for autumn should be focused.
Therefore;
Think outfits, not items.
I used the same process when packing for holidays in the last few weeks.
What do I want to wear?
I want to wear soft loose separates that mix and match so I have more outfits with less stuff! I want to focus on trousers for comfort. (I have brought 3 pairs of trousers that I have created lots of different outfits around - piccys of how I have styled one pair below).
How do I want to feel?
Holidays are a mixture of city time and relaxed air b&b in the country so I want to feel sophisticated but just comfortable and natural…
What do I have in my wardrobe that can create outfits like this?
Example; Cream Linen Massimo Dutti Trousers.
These cream linen Massimo Dutti Trousers (styled below) are one of 3 different trousers I have brought that I have created 12 different outfits with.
Once I’ve created my outfits, I ask myself is there anything I need?
Start a little shopping list, of what’s missing?
It’s interesting too, when you go through this process, a lot of the time what’s missing are ‘finishing’ items - the right shoes, nice accessories, sunglasses that just make you feel great, a lovely bag….
By all means by the things you want to buy but these 3 little questions are really worth considering - how the items you want sit amongst your existing style and pieces, what they add and how great the feeling is when you have more outfits you can put your hand too and less items that don’t quite seem to have a family :)
Hope this was helpful.
As always thank you for reading, and sharing and I would be delighted for any questions or comments. You will find me in the comments below and it all helps me be found by more people here on Substack.
I have to mention one gorgeous email I had in the last few days from one of you guys saying how my page helped her choose an outfit differently over the weekend for meeting a friend - that made my day so thank you so much.
You can always also reach me hi@juliecobbe.ie
Think I might post up all the holiday outfits I created?? - what do you think??
big hugs,
Julie xx
Love it Jules!! Planning on getting everything out of my wardrobe over the next few weeks and removing what doesn’t do it for me anymore