MissusSmartyPants Personal Profile Style ArticleVolume 8 Week 18 May 2, 2013

Remember: only the last 4 weeks remain posted!

Finding Your Style Inspiration All out of style ideas? Or perhaps you've never really had much style-savvy in the first place. How do you get 'style inspired' when you've been wearing the same stuff over and over and your style has become rather boring? What can you do to get style inspired and have that stylish look you've always wished for?

This week at MissusSmartyPants.com we are exploring some fun ways (and somewhat unusual places) you can get style inspired. So, strap on your seat belt and get ready for a wild ride! You are going to see how everything in nature like a pretty sunset or colorful butterfly (and a few celebs mixed in) can inspire your style!

By spending more time IN your closet and thinking of it as “shopping”...You’ll shop less yet your style will dramatically improve! Sounds good, doesn’t it?

One of the biggest style blunders women make is thinking they need to buy MORE clothes (and spend MORE) in order to have better style. It's just not true. Instead, what women really need are more style tips and style inspiration on how to wear what they already own!

STOP the shopping insanity! You do NOT need to spend more on your wardrobe--once you have the main/core wardrobe items--you need to learn to be creative with them.

ORGANIZE YOUR CLOSET FIRST! As you know...you can’t organize CLUTTER! __Spend more time in your closet! Women don’t spend enough time keeping their closet organized—therefore it gets messy and out of control quickly and then they really don’t know what’s IN their closet anymore.

Trust me, if your closet is messy you are bound to find some “hidden gems” in the back of your closet right now! Set your timer and get IN your closet:

__Edit Twice a Year. Ever so often you must edit out what you are not wearing. Apply this rule: Once its organized from now on, when you add-in something new, remove something not being worn. (Your new mantra: 1 in, 1 out!)

__Change your habits! From now on, when you take it off, HANG it up or put it in the hamper/dirty clothes basket....not on a chair or on the floor! Stay on top of this.

Don’t let closet clutter hold back your style anymore!When you can SEE what’s in your closet...you can put more stylish outfits together.

__Don’t let a lack of organization hold back your creativity or your style! A chaotic closet means you won’t see the possible outfits you could make! So, if you don’t know what’s in your closet start de-cluttering it FIRST, then you will begin to see the style magic begin!

De-clutter first--then you’ll be able to start creating ‘new’ stylish outfits! Where to find your style inspiration.

Nature. The most beautiful color combinations can be found all around you! Look to nature to find the most pleasing color combinations, then give them a go in your own wardrobe. For example, the azaleas are blooming right now...deep green leaves with fuchsia or salmon peach flowers. Get inspired and wear green with salmon pink in one outfit. Flowers, grasses, trees, even rocks with cream, gray and brown colors can be replicated into one outfit.

Below, this splendid sunset is full of color inspiration you can use to create an outfit using the colors found in a summer sunset...

     

Splendid 'Famus' Crop Pant

A seaside resort inspired this subtle blue-green casual look below...

Art Study Tee from Coldwater CreekEyelet Denim Shorts (petites, misses, womens)

Braided Handle Tote by Coldwater CreekTropic Drops Long Necklace by Coldwater Creek

A warm peachy-pink and gray sunset can inspire you to create this pretty look below...

Celebrities. On TV and in magazines--you are bombarded with images of celebrities! But do really you LOOK at what they are wearing? DISECT THEIR OUTFIT. What is is that you love? A pretty style of jacket or an interesting color combination? Find out what you love and make note of it! Let ‘celebs’ inspire your style.

Olivia Palmero shows off an outfit you might want to copy...

Jessica Alba shows us a ‘young n’ trendy’ look...

Miranda Kerr shows off an easy yet stylish look! Wear a colorful jacket over your basics...

Retail lookbooks/catalogs. Most stores like Nordstrom, Ann Taylor etc. have ‘lookbooks’ right next to their cash registers. Take one. They are full of complete outfits you can copy! *To be more earthy-friendly...look online at store’s websites...often lookbooks are there for the viewing! READ & COPY!

Check out other women. See what other women are wearing and copy them--or at least use their creative dressing ideas and make them your own. Check them out at the mall, drinking coffee, at the office, etc...

The runways. Exaggerated, interesting and bold are words to describe a designer’s runway show. However, sometimes they show interesting ‘new’ color combinations or styles you might want to try and copy.

Store mannequins/displays. The store displays are decided by their corporate headquarters, therefore they are outfits created by professional staffers. A display photo sheet is sent to each store so they will know exactly how to display new merchandise. If you see a display you like--snap a photo with your phone!

I’m always out there looking at (okay, dissecting) the latest store windows & displays...

Use ‘hidden’ gems to inspire a complete outfit! By far this is one of my favorite ways to get style inspired! Use a colorful shoe or handbag or a lost piece of jewelry (something that was buried at the bottom of your jewelry box forever) to help you create a stylish outfit!

Perhaps you’ve been lucky to inherit some of your mother’s or grandmother’s pretty jewelry....if so, WEAR IT!

A brooch pinned up high (and wide) on the shoulder brings attention upwards towards your face...

Now that you are inspired...get IN your closet and start making some ‘new’ outfits!

“Inspired” means you use the above references as ideas to get you started with making your own outfits--uniquely your own. You don’t and shouldn’t copy every style piece by piece and remember: keep your body type and personal coloring in mind.

For example: I saw this casual look of Heidi Klum’s that I liked...So I thought: I have white de-stressed cropped jeans and a blousy top that is similar!

I copied Heidi’s look and made it my own.

Below, Alexis Bledel (on left) wore this outfit (I’m really not sure who she is) but I liked her outfit and I decided to ‘copy’ it, LOL! (I’m on the right)

(BTW: That’s a green brooch strung onto a long gold chain I used to create this ‘copy-cat’ look above.)

More ‘style inspiring’ ideas to help you create outfits using what’s already in your closet:

__Mix dressy and casual items together in one outfit. Why not?

__Wear unmatched items in one outfit and ‘ground’ the look by wearing matching shoes, belt and handbag all in the same color.

__Grab your LBD. Add a colorful/bright brooch at cleavage/neckline and wear matching bright shoes! What a cool way to bring “zing” to your same LBD!

__Add more unique shoes/handbags to your basic wardrobe. Can a gal ever have too many? I think not. (Need more? Check out quality consignment stores)

__Wear a hat! So style-savvy and sophisticated it’s not funny. All eyes are on you when you walk in with your hat and fashion-forward attitude. Tie/wrap on a scarf or pin on a brooch for added ‘cool factor’.

Auto-chic! Yup. That’s you...every time you don a hat!

__Dress up a plain sheath dress (straight or A-line) with a colorful wrap sweater or wear a lacy top OVER the dress! (makes the dress look like another skirt you own)

__Add a vest, bolero, or short jacket to a plain dress. Think interesting layers over your dresses--and you’ll find you have more to wear w/ fewer pieces! It’s amazing.

__Tie your dress shirt in a knot at your waist...then wear a flirty skirt with it.

Knot your dress shirt at your waist for a neat look...

__Wear a scarf in your hair or around your wrist for a funky vibe.

__Belt it. Wear a belt over your thin jackets and sweaters. Or belt up high under your bust.

__Mix styles. Mix romantic (lace/ruffle top) with rigid (cargo pants) and a structured handbag. Keep in mind, ONLY ONE style should dominate the outfit while the other style is ‘touched’ upon.

__Layer UNDER your dress! Add a button-down blouse or a 3/4 sleeve knit shirt...for an interesting layered look!

__Wear several equally bright colors in one outfit!

__Anchor unusual dressing combinations by having everything in the same color palette or matching all the accessories (all black or brown for example).

__Shop off the beaten path. Shop in unique stores (from Goodwill to Burberry--and everything in-between). Be picky and only buy what you love and will wear!

__Know the trends. Know what’s in style by viewing the MSP “Big Spring Preview Part 1 & 2”...then go and do your own thing! Know the trends, wear the ones you like--but remain your own person.

Pull out your full-length mirror, put some music on and get creating some awesome looks using what you have in your closet!

This week, get style inspired and save money (by not shopping)! This can be lots of fun when you challenge your creative side and create new outfits with what’s in your closet.

Love, Leslie MSP

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