Stuck in a style rut?

It happens to all of us, and yes, it happens to stylists too! So, what do I do when I feel myself stuck wearing the same outfits over and over and becoming uninspired?

Here are my top tips to lift you out of that funk:

Plan your outfits in advance – whether you do it the night before or over the weekend for the week ahead, planning your outfits according to your schedule, and not on the hop when you’re rushing to get yourself and the kids ready and out the door, is a great first step out of that style rut. If you’re doing this over the weekend, put aside an hour or so to go through your wardrobe and plan outfits for the next 5 days. Don’t only focus on the clothes themselves, but think which shoes, bag and accessories you will be wearing with them too. Write it down or hang each outfit together in your wardrobe, ready to go. Planning ahead also gives us time to make sure the items we want are ready and hanging in our wardrobe and not languishing at the bottom of the laundry bin or in the ironing pile…

Once you get into this habit, you will be amazed at how much precious time this saves you in the mornings, I promise!

Get inspired – I have two main ways I get my inspiration. The first is people watching. Yes, you heard that right, people watching! If you’re in the UK this is the time to sit outside at a café and watch the world go by as you check out what everyone is wearing. On my last trip to London I did just that (even though it was absolutely freezing) and loved seeing the different styles on show on Bond Street compared to Covent Garden. All beautiful and all inspirational!

If you’re in Dubai, now is definitely not the time to sit outside so grab a coffee at one of the malls, take a break from scrolling your phone and look around you at all the different styles on show here! What’s caught your eye? What are you loving? What would you add to your shopping list and how would that piece work with your current wardrobe? All things to consider as you get inspired!

The second place I search for inspiration is Pinterest. I will either search for a certain style (for example “Classic, minimalist summer looks 2024” or “Summer Boho Style” or  “Chic corporate look”) or search a celebrity whose style I am loving right now. Create a mood board and start pinning the looks you love. The more you choose the more accurate the algorithm will be and bring up the styles you are aiming for! You will be spoiled for choice with many outfit options and inspiration galore.

Add colour or print to your wardrobe – Ever heard of Dopamine Dressing? This means using the colour of clothing to boost your mood and mental wellbeing and IT WORKS! Wearing bright, vibrant colours like red, orange, yellow and pink can elevate your mood and energy levels. Blues and greens are usually associated with calmness, stability, nature and growth, whereas purple is associated with royalty (as is deep burgundy and gold!).

Wearing your own favourite colours can also trigger positive emotions and memories which contribute to a better mood!

These are my top tips and I hope you’ve found them helpful. Feel free to reach out by DM or email if you have any questions 😊