"Last year, I think it’s safe to say just about every one of us lost a piece of our identity. You don’t realize how much the little things—the coffee shop you stop at on the way to the office, the shirt you wear on the mornings you’re feeling your best—shape us and how we feel every day. And for me, there was no area that I felt this more about in 2020 than my wardrobe.
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For some, wearing sweats and never putting makeup on is a dream come true, but putting together outfits and getting ready in the morning has always been something that I live for. I get excited on Sunday nights thinking about what I’m going to wear to the office Monday morning, and I never realized just how much it was a part of me until it was taken away. Sure, I followed and wrote about the trends of the year and even invested in a few, but at the end of the day, it was the year of not getting ready—and this year, I’ve vowed to change that.
I haven’t made a single resolution this year except one: to truly have more fun with my wardrobe—here’s how:
1. Adding more color
It’s no secret that here at The Everygirl, we love neutrals—and hell, so do I. If I’m investing in a new piece for my wardrobe, it’s always safe to choose something neutral that I know I’ll wear for years to come. But this year, I’m done wearing only neutrals.
Over the past year or so, I’ve gotten into the habit of not investing in a ton of color, but noticed that when I do wear it, it impacts my mood in the best of ways. In all honesty, I don’t need anything else in a neutral color in my wardrobe, so when I do decide to buy new things, they’re going to be in fun colors that make more of a statement than something tan or grey. This year’s color trends are looking like a lot of lavender, pale yellow, and green, and all of those sound like a pretty great place to start.
2. Being more comfortable with feeling uncomfortable
No, I don’t mean I’m going to wear things that aren’t physically comfortable—that’s never the answer. Rather, I’m getting more comfortable wearing the things I might feel a little silly in when I first leave the house. For example, I bought a beret last year (before Emily in Paris, believe it or not), but never wore it because every time I left the house I felt like I was wearing a sign on my back that said “I’m trying too hard.” News flash: the only one who knows how hard you tried is you. For all anyone around you knows, that beret or those boots could be something you wear every single day. The only one thinking about it is you, so it’s time to rid ourselves of feeling self-conscious when we step out of our comfort zones, and instead embrace it as a potential new normal if it’s something you find you feel great in. (Yes, the beret is now a part of my daily outerwear, and no, I don’t think about it anymore.)
3. Stop waiting for an excuse to wear my favorite clothes
It’s easy to fall into a habit of waiting to burn that expensive candle or break out those investment boots until there’s a reason to, and in 2021, I’m saying no more to that. Having a drink on a patio with my friend? Going to run some errands? Both sound like a fantastic excuse to break out my “special” clothes (no, I’m not talking about a ball gown here, but that jacket I love but can never find a reason to wear? Absolutely). Too often I find myself wearing the things I’m most comfortable with or that are on top of my piles of clothes when I am getting dressed, and I’m saying no more to those habits. Know what sounds like a great excuse to wear my leather pants? A regular Tuesday.
4. Mixing patterns
Nothing can make inspiration hit like a good muse, and last year, mine was Astrid Sloan in “The Politician”. Her styling made me stop in my tracks; it mixed bold colors, incorporated tons of accessories, and did a hefty amount of mixing patterns. As I was watching it all, I could think about is how I wanted to start styling my clothes more like that when circumstances allowed—and I’m saying the time is now.
When done right, there’s nothing more effortlessly chic than mixed patterns; although it’s intentional, it looks anything but, and while it’s not something I thought to do in my regular life last year, I’m going to be more intentional about incorporating it into my rotation of outfits this year. In my opinion, the best way to pull it off is by sticking to similar color palettes, but from there, the less thought goes into it, the better.
5. Choosing more out-of-the-box accessories
I’m the first to admit I gravitate toward the gold necklaces and the tried-and-true, years-old sunglasses I wear every day, but what better place to get out of your comfort zone than with accessories?
I’m someone that doesn’t usually buy new accessories unless they’re high-quality and something I know I’m going to wear for years to come, but this year I’m vowing to choose a few trendier ones to incorporate into my daily outfits; my go-to Ray Bans and dainty gold hoops will still be there on days I don’t want things that are wilder, but they’re going to be put on the backburner for things that are fun and different this year.
6. Switching up my beauty routine
When it comes to makeup, I’m following in the footsteps of our beauty writer, Beth, and being more strategic with pairing my makeup looks with my outfits. It’s easy to wake up every day and choose my outfit carefully, but then apply my makeup the same way I do every single day. I love makeup and beauty trends and scour the aisles of Sephora more than I should, but too often am getting things that I already have in my collection: neutral eyeshadow palettes, soft pink blushes, and the like. This year is the one I’m going to start dabbling in more color on my eyes and lips and less of the neutral browns I’m far too comfortable with. Another place I’m starting? Taking a break from the neutral manicure I’m used to in exchange for more seasonal colors. Makeup washes off at the end of the day, so why not have fun with it?
7. Trying silhouettes I don’t gravitate toward
At my most comfortable, I’m wearing something along the lines of straight-leg jeans, sneakers, a tight shirt, and a jacket. This year, I want to be conscious about trying trends that aren’t something I’d ordinarily gravitate toward. Instead of wearing white sneakers for another day because they’re what are sitting by my door, I want to get more use of the things that I have but don’t wear as frequently because of habit’s sake.