STYLE
The
Formula
Step One
MENTALITY
Learn how a personal challenge of giving up spending for three months evolved into a mentality of low buy. Confessions of a recovering excessive shopper with credit card debt, turned savvy spender with a closet I feel proud of.
LOW BUY
The Results
without spending on anything outside the normal food and personal care necessities. It was tough, but it needed to be done as I felt I was spiraling into a space of excessive spending.
During this period, I took notice of the normal patterns I’d fall into while shopping for clothes, shoes and accessories. I’d obsess over having the latest trends. Jump on deals even if I didn’t absolutely love the item. Crave the need to purchase but then would often feel left with remorse post purchasing. All of these actions had led me to a place of feeling like I had too much “stuff”, not to mention poor money management.
A FEW YEARS AGO, I DECIDED TO EMBARK ON A PERSONAL CHALLENGE WHERE I’D GIVE UP SPENDING ON MYSELF FOR THREE MONTHS ...
Putting a stop to all of this cold turkey was
good for me.
It allowed me to go through my closets and purge.
Take notice of the things I’d only wear once and work to get rid of them.
Realize my money and time spent on shopping is better well spent on items that would actually last, that I could wear season to season.
THUS, I DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A NEW MENTALITY FOCUSED ON ‘LOW BUY’.
As someone who truly gets joy from living a stylish life, continuing on with a “no spend” would be very difficult.
Truly being thoughtful about the items I add to my wardrobe. Educating myself on the toxicity of fast fashion and supporting brands that stand for good. Abiding by the wardrobe rule I created that would allow me to curate the ultimate wardrobe when I do allow myself to shop.
Step Two
WARDROBE RULE
The key to curating your ideal wardrobe? Ensure the makeup is split by two main categories: heavy on elevated basics and light on statement pieces.
MY 80/20
The Criteria
The criteria I like to look for with these basics are:
ELEVATED BASICS INSPO
Elevated basics are the key staples in your wardrobe that add value to your closet.
Ensure your closet has items across the essential categories so you can mix and match to your heart’s content. If you’re missing one vital piece, start saving and hunting.
Elevated Basics
80%
VERSATILITY
The basic can be styled in various ways — allowing you longer-term use. think a damn good cami, or the perfect white tee.
QUALITY
The basic can last season to season — providing more bang for your buck. think high percentages of cotton, silk, wool.
EDGE
The basic has a slight twist — making it fresh, on-trend and relevant. think a blazer that’s oversized or denim that’s cropped.
The Criteria
Usually, these are items that are “on-trend” for the given moment, such as:
STATEMENT PIECES INSPO
Statement pieces are the one-off items in your wardrobe that you might not get as much use out of however, you fall in love with upon sight and feel they reflect your style edit upon wear.
Be on the lookout for unique pieces to add to your wardrobe that truly speak to you. Try to shop a variety of high and low price points, but when in doubt, lean towards lower. Your cost-per-wear will be lower in this category so you’ll want to shop smart.
Statement Pieces
20%
VARIOUS PRINTS
Animals, florals, patchwork
UNIQUE TAILORING
Cropped, elongated, over-sized
BOLD COLORS
Pastels, gemstones, primary
Ready to make an edit and
INTO YOUR LIFE?
INTEGRATE THIS STYLE FORMULA
I’d recommend first and foremost, doing a closet cleanse ...
going through all items, and asking yourself the simple question “does this item add value to my style?”. If at any time the answer turns into you trying to convince yourself you should hang on to said item, it might be time to part ways.
Get Started
ONCE YOU HAVE A CLEAN PALETTE, APPROACH EACH SEASON WITH THIS FORMULA IN MIND.
Refreshing your wardrobe with a handful of elevated basics, while adding the occasional statement piece here and there for special occasions and random pops of joy.
And in the meantime, I’ll be here curating across each category for your inspirational needs.
