Notes on Styling | 36 | Styling thoughts, prep, buying, thinking...as we let January go.
Bits and bobs that got me through January...
January was a lonnngggg month. I had all good intentions to have a lovely piece for you here today about Style Design and tell you more about why I believe in this new styling process I am creating but alas time and things got away with me this week. Next week is another week. So instead, as we begin a brand new month, I thought I would share a couple of my own personal styling bits from January, the things I have thought about or done that have felt like a soft landing into the new year.
Thank you for being here with me.
Julie x
Hello lovely reader,
I love how Substack feels like an unfurling of my own processes and ideas - a place for me to get things down and sort through layers of change, of seasons, of things. I hope it helps you to feel it’s ok to do things at your own pace too and in your own way. January was a slow month for me (what with crutches that I only said goodbye to mid month), and a bout of horrible migraines. What’s this they say? Life is what happens when your busy making plans. I did gently get back on the yoga matt however, after 2 1/2 months and I cannot tell you how good that felt and I also did manage a lovely trip to Ireland for some birthdays and catch-ups.
So, as we ease into a new month, here are some of the little things helped me slowly get into the new year.
I’ve been leaning into my Style Words.
(In the most casual of ways ….and I’m digging it).
NATURAL (Cosy tops in cool tones) + EFFORTLESS (Oversized styles) + ELEVATED (Chic, Interesting accessories) = HAPPY JULIE.
There was a time, when wearing something like this cosy, very chill Passenger Fleece would not feel right for working with a client, not dressed up enough, not fashion enough. It feels good to let go of all the ideas we hold around how we should dress and embrace how things feel. The fun (and joy) is in how we bring those items that bring us comfort together to make them feel stylish to us. I loved wearing this fleece through January (mostly with black Lululemon Yoga Pants/occasionally with blue denim and always with my pink Cubitts Glasses). I don’t see my fleece on their website but they have really lovely options here.
I am always thinking about Style Words. If it’s not for clients, it’s my own - thinking about them, are they changing? dressing with them in mind. The order of you words matters too, to give you more method for putting things together. The first word is the most ‘you’ word, the one that kind of feels the most naturally you, the second is more aspirational but it’s the third word that then brings the most important ingredient, it’s the emotional word that brings what it is you want to feel in your outfit. For me this is elevated. It doesn’t necessarily come naturally to you to get this feeling in your clothes.
And yes, sometimes you lean more on one word than another, like me in January, leaning into effortless in my own way with my cosy jumper vibes. Sometimes it feels good (and necessary) for things to be cosy, easy and not overly stylish at all.
A fourth word I am playing with *Preppy/Quirky
I’m kind of playing with a 4th word at the moment too. I feel a love for preppy but I don’t think it’s in my top 3. I see it in my pink glasses. Just something kind of off, slightly nerdy, off beat - you know? I like this. Sometimes I play with this and sometimes I leave it sitting there outside my usual words but I can identify it in myself when I want too. When things are quiet in January, it’s been nice to think about my words again.
I bought 2 things.
I bought 2 things this month. This double-face wool coat from Arket and a pair of navy Velvet ballet flats from Mango that I’ve been eyeing for a while (below).
Navy might just be a theme for me in Spring. I love combining it with black - breaking that navy with black should-never-be-seen rule brings me lots of preppy, effortless and couldn’t care less vibes that my Style Words will tell me I will love ;-)
These Mango Navy Velvet Ballet Flats were my second purchase. I bought them in a 6 but am currently waiting on the 5. The 6 fits but I am wondering will the 5 feel nice and snug. Nothing worse than a ballet flat that slips at the back. (for reference, I have kept the 6 too until I can try on the 5 and will then send the other back). Online shopping takes time….
I’ve thought a lot about Shoes.
2024 for me is the year of only buying great everyday shoes that give me options for the clothes I wear - EVERYDAY. Over January, I did a little review within the categories I wear most often and it really helped to identify the gaps and bring into focus what feels missing or what I would like to keep an eye out for.
Shoe Findings ◡̈
I own a couple of dressier options and that’s all I need. I don’t want or need to spend money here.
A good addition in Spring will be a dark trainer for a more elevated but casual vibe - this is missing from my wardrobe.
The Everlane City Boots (below) I bought in the Autumn have shown me that the style of boot I like has evolved to a softer Almond toe. It fits well with a more natural, effortless feel. Anything too pointy feels a bit off to me. It’s also amazing how having this low height of heel feels. Just enough elevation to feel chic but comfy enough to run around in. It really is the perfect height (pic below). I would like to find a neutral colourway (maybe taupe?) in an everyday boot that feels good for Spring and will give a lighter look to my denim and tops.
Everyday Smart is where I want to concentrate. I love a loafer and an ankle boot for sure but I want to consider what other styles fit with natural, elevated and effortless, that would add something fresh/ different or preppy to my wardrobe.
The Everlane City Boot in black leather. I bought in a 9.5 which is a UK 6, my usual size and they fit perfectly. These boots are the most comfy I have ever owned. 
I’ve been looking through my Style Lists & Folders.
These are the two places I add things that feel would be a good consideration for my wardrobe. You guys know my buying slowly folder I keep on my laptop (cos I’ve mentioned it a lot!). It’s where I bookmark things I come across or look for to save for consideration. Of course, most items don’t get bought but that’s the beauty, nothing is bought without proper thought, time and style visualisation.
Below is the second way I gather my thoughts on purchases. I keep a list in the notes on my phone (I also do this for kitchen bits as you can see!).
This is actually a more important list as it’s general categories of items that are missing/ lacking/ or would be a good category to add. There’s no big work in this. When I think of something I need, I add it (ladder in tights, add this to the list!). You can see I had a belted Navy Coat on this list, which is the item I found in January. Things get added when I am getting dressed and I can see what I would ‘love’ to add to an outfit.
Sometimes I also make notes on here of something I tried and want to remind myself of the size that worked (like the Agolde Jeans on here right now).
p.s If you haven’t tried Nigella’s little mini eggs and tomatoes, it’s an ideal quick lunch for one! She calls it ‘Eggs in Purgatory’!
I ticked off some Alterations.
It’s time to get things ready for Spring - alterations, dry cleaning, reviewing & freshening up.
January was the month to try on and bring a couple of pairs to my dressmaker to alter so they are ready to go for Spring. It was all trousers. Those nigly lengths. I had 2 pairs that needed slightly shortening and 2 that I wanted to let down whatever was there to let down.
I appreciated the simple act of getting dressed.
There are times when you want to go all out, to dress up. Then there are times when all you want to do is wear something easy, keep it simple and appreciate the simple art of getting dressed. Having come off my crutches, it felt so good this month to actually wear two shoes instead of one and a nice pair of jeans! It really is the little things. A little scarf to elevate et voila - it felt goooooddd!
Mt Style Design Journal is constantly teaching me.
A new client call last week reminded me of what I hear so often.
I feel I should just know who I am and what I want to wear.
The conversation reminded me of how hard we can be on ourselves and how ‘knowing’ ourselves is a bit like climbing a set of stairs. From the bottom, it seems impossible to believe you will make it, that you will ever know who you are or what you love but once you start to make progress, it’s not about the top at all but what you are learning along the way. That’s who you are.
As I was working on a couple of little things on my client’s Journals I was reminding myself how feeling in tune with ourselves is a constant process of coming back to good habits done consistently over time. That’s what builds that special personal connection to the person you are the clothes you love. Little things in the everyday matter just as much as big buys.
See you next week with a deep dive into why I created my new Style Design Coaching Programme and what it actually does.
Julie x