Are You Happy With Your Personal Style, I Mean Truly Happy?
As the New Year settles in (taking me a bit longer honestly), it is the perfect time for us to reflect and set some exciting and aspirational goals for personal reinvention. I do not consider this the same as resolutions, because those seem to set us up for fairly quick failure.
Rather, I approach the new year and ask myself:
What I am happy with?
What have I learned?
What do I want to change and how am I going to do that?
What are the small steps I’m going to make this year so that I’m happier with my growth this time next year?
I do believe in baby steps because it’s something most of us can manage and execute.
As a personal stylist who has worked with hundreds of women for over 14 years, and most my clients being in midlife range, I think one inspiring aspiration to consider this year is honing in on your personal style. I believe that embracing your individuality and expressing it through fashion can empower you to feel more confident, vibrant, and true to yourself. Let’s be honest, these are not things we always embody at this stage in our life, but we can and we should!
Embrace Change
Let’s start by embracing change. The journey of reinventing ourstyle can be challenging, especially when society often discourages women from embracing their uniqueness as they age. Many women at this stage may struggle with feelings of invisibility or inadequacy, feeling that their best style days are behind them. Many of us are going though pre and post menopause, myself included, and this is when real change happens not just with weight but everything else that comes with it when hormones are out of balance.
I know first hand what it feels like to question myself and dislike what I see some days in the mirror. It's natural to feel the pressure to conform to certain expectations, leading to frustration and self-doubt. I believe this is your year to take the opportunity to reclaim your identity. Embrace the change as a chance to celebrate who you are at this stage of life. Your experiences, wisdom, and unique perspective are something to be proud of, and your style should reflect that.
Discover Your Style
Let’s start by channeling what we love about our style, instead of what we don’t. Just this tweak makes a big difference in our attitude towards our style transformation. Many women experience a disconnect between who they are and how they dress, often holding onto clothes from decades past, convinced they must cling to old identities, and worse, old sizing that just sits there and haunts them daily in the closet.
The fear of change can feel overwhelming and thus crippling where we just don’t make the change. Create a mood board filled with inspiration from style icons, friends whose style you love, magazines, and social media. Pay close attention to the styles that you are consistently attracted to. There will be similarities in each which is the start of your evolving personal esthetic. Don’t let past insecurities hold you back; this is your moment to shine.
Edit Your Wardrobe
Next please take the time to edit your wardrobe. This can be very difficult to do as just the idea feels overwhelming; therefore, it rarely gets done. But lean in on how you feel when you step inside your closet and write those words down, good and bad. This could be the motivation you need to take the leap.
Whatever pieces conjure bad feelings or mixed emotions, those should go. Pieces that no longer look good on your body, or sizes that aren’t manageable anymore should go. It can be disheartening to open your closet and feel uninspired or overwhelmed by clothes that no longer suit you. We tend to feel guilty about letting go of clothes that carry sentimental value, or that were costly, therefore creating unnecessary clutter for years sometimes. This is the wrong mindset approach to honing in on your personal style.
This process isn’t just about cleaning out your closet; it’s an opportunity to make space for pieces that truly represent your style.
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Invest in Key Pieces
As you begin to define your personal style, invest in key pieces that align with your vision. Often, women become apprehensive about making significant style changes, fearing it will require a complete wardrobe overhaul. Focus on quality over quantity and choose versatile items that can be styled differently for various occasions. It can be a painful realization to discover that your current wardrobe doesn’t reflect your personality, but remember, these pieces should not only reflect your style but also reflect your lifestyle.
The Benefits of Working with a Professional Stylist
One of the most effective ways to navigate these challenges is by working with a professional stylist. After working with 100’s of women I can tell you that almost every single one of my clients, no matter the age or socioeconomic background have asked for help for the same exact reasons above.
I’m not sure why some hesitate to ask for help but my assumption is that they believe it’s a luxury, or the stylist will be a diva and make them feel worse about themselves or will want them to spend too much money on new clothing to achieve the person the stylist thinks they should be. These are all huge misconceptions, or at least should be if you hire the right one.
All women deserve to feel great about themselves and celebrate themselves every day. We do so much for others prior to doing for ourselves, maybe 2026 is the year to invest not only in your style, but in your happiness and confidence!
These are a few of the benefits of working with a personal stylist:
Personalized Guidance: A professional personal stylist will take the time to understand your body shape, preferences, and lifestyle, creating a wardrobe that truly reflects who you are.
Time Saving: With very busy schedules and various responsibilities, shopping can often feel like a daunting task. A stylist can streamline the process, saving you time and ensuring a focused approach to curate a working wardrobe.
Fresh Perspective: A professional stylist can provide an outside perspective, helping you see potential in styles, colors, or brands you may have overlooked, encouraging you to take some risks and explore new looks.
Confidence Boost: A stylist can empower you, helping to build your confidence by showing you how to wear pieces and style outfits that make you feel fabulous, ultimately shifting your self-image positively, and helping you get dressed easier every day.
Sustainable Choices: A good stylist promotes a curated wardrobe that emphasizes quality pieces, helping you invest in items that are both stylish and sustainable.
Money Saving: A good stylist will respect your budget and find pieces that are within your price range, and that work with your current wardrobe to make several outfit options. They will know where to shop and when to shop for sales.
Experimenting helps you evolve: Fashion is all about experimentation, so don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Many women express concerns about looking "too much" or feeling out of place when trying new styles. We often rather hide or blend in. Trust your instincts and allow yourself to explore what makes you feel empowered. Try new styles, play with accessories, and mix unexpected elements. Take inspiration from fashion trends but make those work for your style. Authenticity will shine through when you wear what makes you feel good.
Confidence is Key
Lastly, remember that confidence is the ultimate accessory. It’s common to feel self-conscious about body changes and aging. Celebrate your body for everything it has been through and wear your style with pride. When you feel good in what you’re wearing, it shows, and you naturally exude confidence.
If you are ready or just think you might be, I’d love for you to book a Style Discovery Call with me. Let’s discuss how I may help you achieve your personal style goals and guide you through some of your style challenges and the discovery of what really is possible for you.
