Wardrobe Architect // 3 Exploring Shapes

For step number three Colette has a look at shapes.

"Imagine you are designing an outfit. You begin with an empty croquis (fashion figure) as your base. You then begin adding lines to represent the overall shape and fit of the garments before adding color, texture, or details. That’s where we’re starting.

Each piece you wear has a distinct shape, and figuring out which ones make you feel good will go a long way toward helping you make more practical and satisfying choices."

It is all about which shapes you feel good in, what makes you feel comfortable and confident. So I filled in the worksheet and did this in a completely intuitive manner so I do not know how much sense it makes, but I am going to keep it here on the blog for future reference.

So we can definitely see that I do not like spaghetti straps (they just intensely remind me of junior high school) or halters (also here, too many negative associations). I like maxi on skirts and dresses (big love), but avoid midi length (because I feel it makes me look short and my legs fatish). I like a various amount of shapes on dresses, but do not like dropped waistlines (except of 1920s period pieces). On the tops and blouses front I am not particular specific, but I do not like cropped blouses and prefer looser fits. I like my blazers either fitted or boyfriend size, but am not a friend of boleros. I like somewhat loose cardigans I can just throw over a dress. I guess a fitted and cropped cardigan would be fine if accompanied by a pair of jeans with a high waistline or a vintage style dress. The questions about outerwear confuse me. I am not sure what exactly is meant. Coats? Or like stuff you wear when hiking? But I do know that "cropped" and anything I would wear in the "outside" do not go together (except for beachwear. Is that outerwear?).

Wardrobe Architect // 2 Defining a Core Style

The second chapter starts with some words of wisdom by Colette:

"It’s tempting to believe that you can define your ONE TRUE STYLE and never have to think about it again, but it defies common sense. We are people. We change, we grow.

However, there are some things that are so ingrained in our personality, tastes, and lives that they come up again and again, like refrains through our lives."

 The aim is "to uncover the style that makes you feel like yourself and attach words and images to them". To accomplish this, there is a worksheet you can download where you can collect feelings, icons and words describing your style. In the end, you should have 3-5 words that describe your style and transfer these into a visual of 12-15 images. 

I will not bore you with the entire word-finding process and present to you my moodboard:

5 words: classic, monochrome, ethnic, figure flattering/hugging, cool

Choosing 12-15 images is not easy. Deciding what goes in and what does not is quite tricky. For example, I do like color, but not too much. I do like and own "pretty" dresses, but they do not get that much wear. I like glitz and adore my New Years Eve sequin dress, but a once-in-a-year outfit shouldn't get a spot here. I think my collage turned out as a realistic representation of what I like on a daily basis, and as this exercise is all about finding my "core" style I think the lack of color and such is fine.

It will be interesting to see how this collage will change in the year ahead!

Wardrobe Architect // 1 Making your Style more Personal

Colette advises to think about your own personal story and how it effects your style using the bullet points History, Philosophy, Culture, Community, Activities, Location and Body.

• History: I have always been interested in what I was wearing. Even as a little child I would request certain patterns on the clothes my grandmother would knit for me. I guess that has always stayed the same: I am very particular about what I wear and I rather choose my clothes myself. I used to like clothes with an interesting twist. But generally speaking, my style has become more toned down. No feather jackets anymore..


• Philosophy: Is there a certain philosophy I would like to see reflected in my style? Nothing comes to me right now...


• Culture: The culture I grew up in didn't have any particular rules of dress. Although coming to think of it, people around here do tend to wear more toned down, dark colours. Greys, blacks, beige, browns... Hardly any loud patterns or bright colours. May be the cool and rainy climate... in summer things get a little more adventurous, like white. That color palette is an aesthetic value that has definitely influenced me. Also I can name a classic, figure flattering silhouette as an aesthetic influence. As for archetypes, or certain figures in culture, the style of Audrey Hepburn, Sofia Lorén and Frida Kahlo appeal to me, and as for present figures, I have always be partial to Kate Moss and her somewhat disheveled style as well as to my current favourite, Caroline de Maigret (coming to think of Caroline, her book "How to be Parisian wherever you are" made me believe I might actually not be nutty at all ('looking at your phone and not picking up'), I just live in the wrong country). 


• Community: My community lies within the culture I grew up in. So aforementioned applies here as well. Additionally I would point out, that my more fashion adventurous friends that dare to break out of the boundaries of the toned down color palette and shapes are also a well appreciated influence.


• Activities: I go to university, I go to work and as of now I have started to go to the gym. My hobby is sewing, and occasionally I spend quite a bit of time on renovating various parts of the house. And in my free time I like to meet friends. This influences my style how? I can wear pretty much what I like to any of these. If anything, my daily routine has made my style more slobbish, leaning towards comfort. I haven't worn heels in ages (I used to wear heels several times a week).


• Location: The climate in which we live has a great influence on our choice of clothes. As I live in a cooler climate I do wear jeans, tights and long sleeves most of the year. Boots and closed shoes are in regular use as well. In the warmer months I like to wear suede ballerinas with toe cleavage (important detail), and of course dresses ans skirts. So those dresses are best that can be paired with tights and boots in the cooler months. 


• Body: What clothes make me feel good or bad? I am 164 cm, so I don't like clothes that make me feel shorter. That is a general rule. Apart from that not much comes to my mind. Oh, and Capri pants are a no-no. Never liked them. Make me think of a middle aged woman with blonde permed hair and blue glasses who hoardes baking supplies and collects coupons. Coming to think of it, I am describing my aunt...