Mid-life style crisis - thoughts please

[MadameSapphire]

So... I’m going to do some wardrobe focusing - my style is pretty eclectic but I’d really like to focus on one look. I’m either going to go for vintage style modernised with some contemporary pieces, or for a more refined, slightly rock-y, more Cos-like (cut-wise) image. Any thoughts? Advice? Ideas? I’m in my mid-30s and would really like to solidify my style! TIA.

Gentle bump. 🤞🏼

Personal stylist? Can't help with ideas sorry, but I'm in the same boat! I've recently had a box from Stitch fix purely to try and 'define' my look and create a more harmonious wardrobe. 😁 (I say that as I'm lounging around in an old pair of joggers 😆)

Thanks @ImSoMagical - solidarity! I actually don’t think I’m too bad st the styling part, just can’t decide which ‘look’ to focus on! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Do you mind if I ask why you feel the need to focus on one look? I'm not saying it's either right or wrong and, if it's driven by factors like money or shortage of space then fair enough. But they both sound like strong, interesting looks and, if they each express part of your personality, it seems a shame to cut one of them out.

Hi @Floisme, I don’t mind at all! Am moving house and really want to narrow down wardrobe. Interestingly, I think I’m realising which way to go here... I think some of me craves the (apparent) simplicity of a capsule-style wardrobe (which could probably be achieved with the second style) and this aligns, too, with a lifestyle shift (into having young children and, also, aligning with lockdown life) and a career move, too. And yet, I’m realising that dressing in the first style makes me feel so much more like ‘me’ - I think the truth is that I’m struggling to make the style work for the everyday parenting mode (school run, etc!). I posted about this the other week but didn’t have a huge response and continued to feel a bit stuck! Thank you for your response. 😊

I hear you, I've a number of looks bit realised over time that they all focus around a core set of colours - dark jewel ones to be precise. So I tend to buy clothes in black, darker shades of blue, green, red etc. By focusing on colour rather than a specific style I think it can be quite flexible.

If I have to lean towards one look its probably dark academia, or corporate goth as I've been calling it for years.

So I'd focus on what colours really suit you, and the rest might flow from there.

Thanks so much @Hungry675tf. That’s really interesting - I’ve started to try to narrow colour recently and, more specifically, pattern (I’m an absolute sucker for some patterns!). Arghhhhh, dark academia is literally my second style! And I love the term ‘corporate goth’! Would love to hear more as to how you achieve this and with your jewel colours, too...

Defo focus on lifestyle and budget. How many outfits do you need for the main part of your life?

My deciding factor was how I want to look at work. For that I need 2-3 outfits a week in neutrals. Adding colour in a statement necklace and scarves.

Then there is working from home outfits which are similar, but for me an uncollared shirt, not collared, a striped breton not plain crew, the bolder ditsy blouse etc. - versions with a little more personality and colour as I want to feel a lift when I WFH, Zoom calls. Again about 3 of those per week.

I then decided to have a sort of dress down Friday, so this is where I'd again use the basics (the plain trouser etc.) but have more detail I like in my tops, dresses, coat, shoes etc. The kind of clothes that would take me from work to going out.

Lastly the weekends, I need errand clothes which I realised cross over with the working from home clothes but more casual details. I also need casual smart which is the look I really wanted to create when I started this process but realise it's not that practical. For that I'm going to probably one or two things and there is also still probably gap here to fill with inspiration once I have the basics. Not to invest lots here as they won't get worn as much but more style led and fun here.

There is also exercise which is a set of comfy clothes.

If you like vintage, look for vintage details on the clothes. I love the look of Seamstress of Bloomsbury clothes. What era do you like?

I've chosen 4 neutrals and jewel tones for colour.

My other options, as I don't want a wardrobe overly full of neutrals and darks, are some pastels which I know I can rock, and medium tone and neutral univeral colours.

Truth is Beauty has some good style boards.

I'm a big believer in clothes as a form of self expression op so, if dressing vintage feels more like you, then I think I'd be inclined to try and find a way of making it work for your current life.

Is it a specific decade you like? Could you focus on an era or social group where the dressing was more practical for someone with a busy life? For example, if you like a 40s look, you could use landgirl style as your template rather than tea dresses, or if it's 50s, go beatnik rather than rockabilly and so on. Don't forget to crib from men - 60s mods looked very cool I always think.

Thank you for the responses. @MistySkiesAfterRain, Truth is Beauty looks particularly interesting re. mixing looks. @Floisme, I seem to gravitate mostly towards the 70s, with a bit of the 30s/40s and the 80s and 90s thrown in too... eclectic, I know! I’m going to try to make this work for my day to day... thank you!