HOW TO START DRESSING-UP LIKE THE IT-GIRL YOU'RE MEANT TO BE

Since you’ve found this article, I am sure that you’re one of the girls who are really eager to up their fashion game but somehow got stuck in compiling every possible outfit inspiration all over the internet. Maybe this is not the first article you’ve encountered about creating your dream wardrobe but, you’re still there trying to decide on what to do to really achieve that; well, that’s understandable because when you look at it, fashion is just fast-evolving and there really seems to be endless of choices which, if I’m being honest, can be really confusing. 

But, girl, worry not! I am here for you and I am not here to just discuss the “staples” EVERY girl in the world should have in their wardrobe because, honestly, I think we all deserve a wardrobe that screams our name on it and not just some boring and basic clothing pieces that everyone is imposing on us.

So, if you’re like me who got fed up in buying clothes that don’t really work for you, read on as I discuss the exact steps you should take to start dressing like the it-girl that you really are.

1. GO TO PINTEREST AND CHOOSE THE OUTFITS THAT SPEAK TO YOU

Before you think that I bluffed you and this is just another one of those internet tips that can’t help you, let me explain. As I’ve mentioned, there are endless choices on the internet and it would help a lot if you could just visualize how you would like to dress up, and I believe that the best way to do that is by creating a mood board using Pinterest. 

You can start by creating a board on your profile, and naming it whatever you like. Then, go to your homepage and start searching for keywords like “outfit inspiration,” “women’s outfit,” or if you have a specific style in mind you can use that like “cottage core outfits,” “business casual,” “street style,” or if you are someone who looks up to a celebrity’s specific style you can also try searching for their name. 

After that, I would like you to choose one specific outfit that you like and pin it on the board that you created earlier. Now, to keep you on the right track, I’d suggest that you scroll down because Pinterest would automatically show you outfits that are under the same aesthetic. I would urge you to pin at least 50 outfit inspirations to give you a more concrete visualization of what you want to look like.

2. DECIDE ON COLOR PALETTE,  TEXTURE, AND MATERIALS

After pinning outfit inspirations, you can now start deciding what color palette you want your wardrobe to follow. Go back to your board and look at all the outfits you’ve pinned. Spot the reoccurring colors on your board; are they earth tones, neutrals, or maybe they are bright-colored? It would all depend on your style. 

It is not enough to decide on the color palette of your wardrobe; it is also essential for you to know what texture and materials you’re going to be looking for. So while looking at the colors also make sure to observe what are the texture and materials you commonly see on your board. It could be wool, denim, silk, cotton, linen, or probably leather. Again, it would all depend on your style. 

This would greatly help you with what to look for next time you’re shopping for clothes so you know that everything that you’d be getting is something that you like and is geared towards you creating that dream wardrobe and, frankly, it’s for you to make sure that you would always have a cohesive look. Yes, even on “days you don’t have anything to wear.”

3. CHOOSE YOUR WARDROBE STAPLES

Since you’re just starting to build your dream wardrobe, I would suggest starting with the pieces of clothing that commonly appeared on your board, which you can also mix and match. 

You can start by choosing 3 pieces of bottoms each, for the cold season, and summer. You can also choose 3 different styles of skirts to your liking if there are any. After doing that, you can proceed with choosing tops. 3 for summer, and 3 for when the weather is cold. If it’s part of your aesthetic, I’d suggest getting at least 1 dress that could also go with everything you chose. Here in the Philippines, we don’t do much layering since the weather is usually hot but, getting at least 1 outer-wear like a hoodie, coat, blazer, or leather jacket that goes with your chosen style would also help you improve your simple outfit. In choosing shoes and accessories, you just have to follow the same concept. Review your board and look for pieces that you can mix and match, and you should be good to go!

You might not want to exactly follow the outfits that you’ve found; maybe you’d like to change their color or anything about it. You can definitely do that since it is your style but, while shopping for your wardrobe staples, it is always important to keep in mind that it should follow the color palette, texture, and materials you’ve found on your board.

Now that you’ve learned how to create your dream wardrobe, go forth and hit your favorite boutique, department store, shopping center, or even your local thrift shop! It’s time for you to enjoy seeing your reflection when passing by a mirror outside.