Transitioning your Style from your 20s to your 30s

I don’t think I ever experienced as big a shift in my *style* mindset as when I crossed the line from my twenties into my thirties. While I ascribe to the mantra that you should wear what you want, regardless of your age, to me it signalled a desire to dress slightly sophisticated. Keeping in mind that I work at home, of course. I swapped mini skirts in favour of a more modest mid-thigh hemline, and slowed down on adding whimsical details like ruffles and frills (though I’ll still make the odd exception!).

Wearing Naadam cashmere sweater, MVN the Label midi skirt, Isabel Marant belt, Everlane day tote mini (review here), Everlane day heels, Madewell earrings, Linjer wrap ring

The realisation came for me when I found many of my favourite stores no longer carried items that I felt were a true reflection of my personal style at that point. They were vibrant, cute and youthful – a far cry from the classic and timeless style I’ve been chasing for years now.

These days, I’m most of the way there on my journey to refining my personal style. Because let’s be realistic, our style is constantly evolving and shifting as our tastes and preferences change. I know what silhouettes suit me, what colours I feel most confident in, and I’m mostly done with the experimentation phase from my early twenties. Today I thought I’d share some of the tools I’ve used to transition my style from my 20s to my 30s, without feeling like I needed to start my wardrobe from scratch.

EVALUATE YOUR WARDROBE

Similar to a closet declutter, I find it so useful to seriously evaluate the contents of your wardrobe. Ask yourself questions like: Do I feel good wearing this? Does this silhouette give me confidence? Does this piece reflect the personal style aspirations I’d like to project? Does it feel to short/tight/uncomfortable? Does this item reflect my current lifestyle?

If you can, take the time to actually try everything on. It’ll give you a sense of silhouettes you’re drawn to – and ones you’re not – fabrications you prefer, and also allow you to assess what colour schematics work best with your skin tone.

A good indicator that the contents of your wardrobe aren’t servicing you well, is that constant feeling that you have nothing to wear. Despite a clothing rail and drawers full of clothes. Sometimes, a quick re-jig of where things are hanging or folded might be all you need to look at your closet with fresh eyes. More often than not however, I find removing the items that are no longer giving you joy (whether you sell, donate, recycle or hide them away in a box) is a simple way to effectively increase the styling options you have.

CAN YOU REMIX IT?

The first thing I like to try and tackle is whether the items that don’t feel quite *me* can be worn differently. Sometimes, it’s a simple change up in styling that can make a ‘youthful’ piece feel more sophisticated. Try out a few different outfit combinations, opt to pare things back with simple basics, or use them as layering pieces. Not only will you come up with new ways to wear your old favourites, but you’ll breathe new life into something you were potentially thinking of parting ways with.

GO BACK TO BASICS

You only have to take one quick glance at my closet to know that there’s one simple style rule I live by: basic is best. You can’t go wrong with classic silhouettes, or timeless style staples. These items are what anchor your outfit, and are the building blocks on which you can inject playful elements such as print, embroidery or ruffles. I often like to build my outfits around these basic pieces, adding interest with stripes, a fun shoe, or a vibrant bag.

The best part about going back to basics is that many of us already have these pieces in our wardrobes already, though instead of being the main star, it’s possible that they were often looked at as the supporting act. A simple shift in mindset is all it takes to change the way you look at your outfits.

JUST BECAUSE IT’S CLASSIC, DOESN’T MEAN YOU NEED IT

There are so many lists out there that state the wardrobe must-haves for your thirties, but I think it’s worth taking those with a grain of salt. Personal style is exactly that, it’s personal. What one person wears daily, another might not feel entirely comfortable in. I’ve fallen victim to the trap of buying items just because I was told I needed to have them in my closet, and was sorely disappointed when it didn’t work out. Again, take the time to get a real understanding of your favourite wardrobe staples, and add to your closet (only when you need to!) accordingly.

BUILDING A WARDROBE TAKES TIME

At the end of the day, just remember that building a wardrobe that you’re 100% happy with takes time, and it won’t happen overnight. Keep a running list of any items you think are missing, so that they’re top of mind when you do have the budget to invest in your closet. Being mindful and conscious of what you buy and when, will help you to avoid shopping mistakes in future.