Dressing with Intention

After setting my five simple style resolutions for 2020, I’ve decided to shape some additional frameworks around how I selectively shop, and also get ready for the day. The key here? To be intentional about it. Too often I’ve found myself caught up in the hype. Or, the temptation to suppress my anxiety has been so strong that an emotional shopping binge has clouded my judgement. So I thought today I’d chat a little about dressing with intention.

Wearing Matteau tiered dress (affordable alternatives here and also here), Everlane wide strap sandals, Charles & Keith bag, Mejuri editor hoops, Muru Jewellery necklace, Missoma bracelet, Fedoma Jewellery ring, Wanderlust & Co hair clip

Dressing with intention is at its core, a true reflection of our personal style. It might be a uniform you wear day in and day out; a form of self-expression; or, it may be more deliberate. Carefully constructed outfits which reflect your lifestyle.

One thing to always keep in mind, is that when you’re dressing with intention, you’re dressing for yourself and not others. It’s an outfit that is intrinsically you.

Be guided by your intuition

Another way to look at this is to ask yourself how you want to present yourself to the world that day. Do you want to be classic and minimal in your choices, or bold and colourful? For someone who has a very refined personal style, the spectrum will be tighter, narrower. Perhaps more subtle even. Go with your gut, and let that guide the core pieces that you choose to clothe yourself with. With this outfit, I wanted to wear something that was chic, minimal and effortless, but still showcase my personality – something I think I achieved by pairing the basic colour palette with a statement bag.

Be mindful about what you add to your wardrobe

Another common theme for me this year is mindfulness – in all elements of my life. Mindful about how I nourish my body and soul, how I choose to spend my down time, and what I decide to add to my wardrobe. Less is more; there’s no shame in outfit repeating, and the best purchases are always the ones you wear over and over again. A great way to look at this is to ask yourself when buying something new; will I wear this 30 times?

Ask yourself whether this outfit makes you feel confident

There’s this cliche saying that women don’t dress for men, they dress for other women. As I see it, you should be dressing for yourself, and not others. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and one of the keys to always looking stylish, is to feel confident in what you’re wearing. This shines through if you love your outfit, it’s a true representation of your personal style, and it’s a flattering fit. If you put something on and feel uncomfortable, or a little off, I’d take it as a sign to switch into something different. Pinpoint the piece that is throwing the outfit off, and swap that out for something else.

Dress for your authentic self

I’m definitely guilty of being influenced by the style of others. Often, it’s a one-off purchase that I loved on said person, but it just isn’t quite right for me. As much as I think sites like Pinterest can be an incredible source of inspiration, it’s valuable to remember to remain authentically you. Don’t try to mimic someone else’s personal style. How you dress is unique to you, and that’s definitely worth embracing.