My Style Manifesto for 2020

Over the past three and a half months, I’ve referred back to my style manifesto countless times. Usually at the start of each year, I’ll set myself some “style resolutions”. It’s a half-hearted attempt for me to try and push the boundaries of my style. Wear more colour, and all that. But it’s never really worked for me, and towards the end of 2019, I decided I wanted to start the new decade fresh, with an outline of what I wanted my style to look like. The tough part? Actually sticking to it.

Pictured above from L to R: Arket cream t-shirt, Arket denim shorts, Arket caramel trousers, Everlane skinny jeans, Kindersalmon trench coat (10% off sitewide with mademoiselle10)

I’ve had a number of questions about my style manifesto since mentioning it on Instagram, so I figured, what better time than now to put metaphorical pen to paper and share all the details.

How did I build my Style Manifesto?

The first thing I wanted to touch on was what drove the principles or key details of my style manifesto. I’d come to the realisation that what I wanted my style to look like, and what it actually looked like weren’t consistent. Temptation came in many forms, and ultimately I’d be swayed to add things to my wardrobe which were beautiful, but didn’t quite align with my “style goals” (to put it loosely). Having some kind of bible I could refer back to when adding to my closet seemed like a simple solution. This would be the foundation for my personal style moving forward, and hopefully make my wardrobe feel more cohesive. Clearly the years of obsessing over my closet hadn’t gotten me quite where I wanted to be.

My first action was to take a look at pictures I’d saved on Instagram and Pinterest. I identified common themes, silhouettes, outfit pairings, and colours. Then, I outlined brands which resonated with me from a style perspective. And finally, I marked down pieces which were missing from my wardrobe and would really round out my style.

To keep me on track, I created a document where I mapped out all these findings, split across four sections; style notes, outfit combinations, brands, and items to buy.

Style Notes

So lets touch on those style notes, shall we? It’s perhaps little surprise that many of my reference points had strong Parisian or Scandinavian style elements. My love for classic or generally timeless outfits is still going strong. An underlying current of wardrobe basics was to be punctuated by; oversized jackets, statement shoes, feminine blouses, oversized billowy dresses, and cardigans worn as tops.

For colour palette, in addition to my core colours of white, black, grey and denim, I wanted to add in more neutral tones. I love the combination of camel worn with cream and oatmeal. So a lot of caramel, beige, teddy and blush hues. To deepen things up, I love a good muted blue, navy, burgundy or emerald green; jewel tones tend to work well with my complexion. As a wild card, I wanted one vibrant colour: red.

The final style note was “full tonal looks”. Wearing head to toe monochrome is quite possibly the simplest way to look chic and pulled together, and it kept popping up in many of the reference pictures I’d saved.

Outfit Combinations

I also found it useful to note down any outfit combinations which would make up the “uniform” aspect of the style manifesto. This is probably the one element that I’m still fine tuning, and one thing I’ve picked up on is that the majority of these combos are geared around cooler weather (at least for us in Australia, anyway!). This isn’t by any means an exhaustive list either, but I thought I’d share some of those outfit combinations down below.

Slim fitting tank + Jeans + Oversized blazer + Heels
Crew neck sweater + Knit tied around shoulders + Skinny Pants + Blazer
Oversized sweater (worn loose) + Skinny Jeans/Leggings + Sneakers/Heels
Oversized blazer + Oversized tee + Mini skirt + Heels
Loose-fitting knit + Mini skirt/Shorts
White tee + Blue Jeans + Black blazer
Crew-neck tee or sweater + Mini skirt + Pointed toe flats

Brands

We all have those brands that we gravitate towards. Subconsciously, they tend to inform our personal style – particularly if it’s somewhere we shop frequently. Because of this, it can be easy to feel like you’ve fallen into a style rut. One thing I realised as I started to jot down the brands which embody the style I’d like to have, was the price point. A number of them fall in that contemporary, or luxury designer space. Because my budget is also a factor in how I can shape my wardrobe over the coming year, my aim is to keep an eye out for discounts for core pieces I’d like to buy, and also shop pre-loved, too.

Again, this isn’t an exhaustive list, but some of the brands I identified included; Toteme, Acne Studios, Isabel Marant, The Row, Raey, Bassike, and Babaa on the more expensive end. Some of the more affordable retailers included; Uniqlo, & Other Stories, Madewell, and Everlane.

To add to my Wardrobe

Similar to a closet declutter, the final step was to identify the gaps. What core pieces did I feel were missing? I took two routes here. The first laid out exact items and brands, for example, a pair of Gucci loafers. The second gave a description of the item, such as a pair of dark tan or ochre coloured trousers. Itemising specific pieces has always served to me as a better method for wardrobe planning as I know what I’m saving up for. I’ve always found this helpful as I’m easily distracted.

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So there’s some insight into how I mapped out my style manifesto for 2020. I’ll admit, it’s not an exact science. I wanted to opt for a loose framework that could grow or be added to, particularly as I knew becoming a mum would likely create a shift in how I looked at my wardrobe. Too much structure can add pressure, and what I liked about this approach is that it’s flexible. And hopefully, it’s something I can stick to.

I have to say, that so far, I’ve really enjoyed this approach to my wardrobe. Almost all the new additions I’ve made for 2020 have fit within the scope, and I’ve found myself referring back to my list before making a new purchase. I’ve enjoyed revisiting brands like Acne and Isabel Marant, which largely represented the bulk of my non-Karen Walker purchases close to a decade ago. And ultimately, I’ve felt a lot more confident in what I’ve been wearing.

Whether it’s a style manifesto or a personal style profile, I think that this approach to getting dressed each morning can be incredibly helpful, particularly if your closet lacks cohesion. Let me know in the comments below what you’re doing to guide your personal style in 2020.