Style Resolutions for 2020

Happy New Year everyone! I thought to kick off 2020 – not only a new year, but a new decade, I’d share some simple style resolutions that have been playing on my mind of late. I’ve said before that I’m not usually one for resolutions. Instead, I prefer to work towards goals that can’t be quantified, however, I’ve found this a useful tool in informing my habits and my style for the year ahead.

Wearing Alessandra linen maxi dress (love the black too), Saint Laurent slides, Parisa Wang bag (also here), Missoma earrings, Missoma bracelet, Mejuri dome bracelet, Fedoma Jewellery ring

I’ve got five key style resolutions for 2020, all vastly different from last year. Part of that is a realisation that some resolutions aren’t achievable in a practical sense as a result of my line of work (but are things I’m continuing to reflect on and try to do better with), and others I’ve simply integrated into the way that I shop. Instead, I wanted to focus on things that I knew I could change. I’m a firm believer that we should never set ourselves up for failure. Each of these resolutions (aside from #5) are simple changes that I feel confident I can stick to over the next 12 months.

Be Practical

Perhaps the biggest life change that I’m facing in 2020 is going to hit in a mere two months, which kicks off my first style resolution; be practical. I’ve truly got no idea what to expect as a first time mum, and I’m aware that everyone’s experience is completely different. My main aim here is to stay adaptable.

I’ve mentioned this before, but there’s a chance that my body might change. I may go up a size, or I may revert back to my pre-pregnancy figure with time. At any rate, I want to be realistic about it, and how I approach my outfits, my style, and my wardrobe. Mostly, this means that to start with, I’ll be opting primarily for items that are nursing-friendly.

One thing I’ve been mulling over a bit recently is the idea of my “fantasy self”. This has definitely been a driver of many purchases over the past few years, all of which tend to end up decluttered because as beautiful as they are, they’re just not me. So my first step is to be honest with myself about how any new wardrobe additions will truly fit into my life.

Invest in Brands I Love

Along with analysing what I wore for the year, I decided to take some time to map out my *ideal* wardrobe for 2020. What my style would look like, what the key pieces were, classic outfit combinations and key brands. And what I realised was, many of the brands on that list were the ones I obsessed over five years ago, but had stopped shopping from (full price at least) due to the cost.

This goes a little hand in hand with that fewer, nicer things mentality. Each individual item may cost more, but those big ticket purchases often end up being really fulfilling. Especially when it ticks off a big desire on your ‘shopping list’.

That’s not to say that I won’t still look to places like Uniqlo, & Other Stories, COS, Madewell or Everlane for basics. Instead, I’m hoping to be more selective about how and where I spend my clothing budget this year.

Limit Prints & Patterns

In my early twenties, I was obsessed with almost every print Karen Walker came out with. And each time I’d bring a new item home, it’d always illicit the same response from my mum; that would look better if it was a solid colour. There’s no denying that my mum has had a huge influence on my personal style – she looked chic no matter whether she was in a power suit, or wearing jeans and a tee. And ultimately, she was right. What it boils down to, is being able to appreciate something, without feeling that urge to buy it; a reflex I’m planning to hone in 2020.

The reasons for this are two-fold. First, when I look back at my favourite outfits of 2019, there’s just three outfits with printed pieces. I naturally gravitate towards block colours, and I want to embrace that more this year. The second reason has to do with wearability and versatility. Bold, loud prints are a statement maker – always have been and always will be – and I find for that reason, I wear them with less regularity. I’m not sure if that’s a side effect of documenting my outfits online, but I generally like to take a break from a printed or patterned piece after wearing it. Unless it’s stripes, of course.

Know My Colour Palette

Every year during the transitional season, I always feel this sudden urge to go off-piece and add some new colours to my wardrobe. It’s been a goal of mine for some time – especially when I see how great it looks on other girls. The reality is, it’s just not my comfort zone. And I’m okay with that. Instead, I’m hoping to look back on these resolutions when that desire strikes, as a reminder that it never really works for me. My colour palette might be boring, but I’m hoping instead to try and test the boundaries of those neutrals I’ve really come to love.

Curb My Emotional Shopping Habit

One thing I’ve never tried to hide is that many of my impulse purchases are a result of emotional shopping. It’s been a crutch since my late teens to use a new purchase to mask or cover up how I’m feeling. While it might give me an initial buzz, those feelings are still sitting there, bubbling under the surface. And I’d daresay, it’s probably a contributor to my anxiety, which always flares up this time of year.

January and February in particular are always trigger months for me. Without going into too much detail, it signifies the time that I both learnt my mum was sick and lost her, in addition to the last time I ever saw her before she passed. Five years later and I’m still dealing with those immense feelings of loss and grief. She was my best friend, and not a day goes by that I don’t wish I could share something with her.

These emotions tend to rear their head any time I’m going through a difficult time, or period of change, as those feelings of grief re-emerge. As a result, I shop – sometimes almost compulsively – which has been at complete odds to many of my other goals that I’ve had over the last 12 months.

I’m hoping that by opening up and being fully honest about how this impacts me will not only be an additional step I can take in the healing process, but also help anyone who also struggles with emotional shopping. I’ve been trying to fight it for years, and I’ve always been on the losing end of that battle. Here’s hoping 2020 will be the year I manage to change those behaviours!

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So there’s a look at my style resolutions for 2020. I’d love to know what changes you’ve got planned for the year ahead (if any), or what goals you’re hoping to achieve in the comments below.