New year, new you? Not on my watch!

 

I imagine that you might also be mildly offended by this message fed religiously to us once every 365 days? Why would the current you need to be replaced with a new you? So many new year resolutions and services offered at this time are based on the idea that we’re not enough the way we currently are. Not okay my lovely one, not okay. 

It’s the main reason I find myself banging on to anyone who will listen about the fact that I never use my clients as before and afters. Like never. Never ever never. Heaven help the person seated next to me on the plane in years to come. 

 

Before and afters imply that the starting point was somehow defective or damaged, and that some sort of drastic change was necessary. Having worked with countless women over the past 12 years, I am here to shout from the rooftops that that is simply not the case. Like never. Never ever never. Yup.

You are not damaged and you are not defective. There may be things about yourself you’d like to work on, but that doesn’t mean you’re not worthwhile until that happens. It certainly doesn’t mean you need a full scale transformation either. Any steps you take to make life more enjoyable for yourself will only truly stick when you reveal the woman you already are, rather than changing her in a way that leaves you feeling disconnected from her.

This is clearly the case when it comes to personal style; you’re at your best when you’re you, not when you’re dressed up like someone you’re not.

It’s why I’m in the business of style revelation as opposed to style transformation. The two may seem very similar, but there is a difference. One supports you to express who you already are on the inside, through what you choose to wear on the outside. The other glosses over the inner woman, missing a wonderful opportunity to showcase her more fully, in an attempt to achieve a certain wow factor. And while there’s nothing wrong with a bit of wow factor every now and again, it should never come at the expense of you. Transformation might appear exciting with fast results, but revelation is where it’s at for style that sticks! 

If you’re revelation ready, read on for 4 sticky style tips that you can implement today to get your wardrobe working better without the need for any transformation.  

1. After an expensive holiday period, buying a whole new seasonal wardrobe is not likely on the cards. Instead, take stock of what you already have. Restyle, reuse and re-love some trusted old friends that haven’t been out to play in a while. It’s not just Narnia that’s waiting at the back of your wardrobe to be re-discovered. Allow that swoon-worthy Summer dress that feels ‘oh so you’ see the light of day and revel in the compliments that follow.
2. Of course, it’s important to check in with the fit of old friends and gently remove anything that no longer fits or flatters your body. Everyone, and I mean everyone, has an item (or eleventy six) that they cling to for dear life in the hope of fitting into it again.  If this is you, it’s likely time to say goodbye. Our bodies change over time. Nothing to beat yourself up about. Allow yourself to work with your new fit needs, not against them, and notice the sense of relief and acceptance that comes.
3. Make sure you set aside anything that needs mending, altering, donating or selling. Now is as good a time as any to tick this pesky task off the list and get the pieces back in rotation for you, or someone else. 
4. Please, please, please ditch the wire hangers! They are the devil’s work. Invest in high(er) quality flocked or wooden hangers and hang everything facing the same way.  Then, when you rehang a piece after taking it for a spin, face the hanger the other way. This is a surefire way to identify the items you never wear and ensure they are the first to go in the next seasonal cull. 

Got the taste for more? My Wardrobe Workout service is just the thing to put an end to fashion cravings and closet confusion by re-discovering the woman you are today and revealing her through your existing personal style and wardrobe choices. Read all about what’s involved here!

Hi, I’m Nicole, and I’m a personal stylist obsessed with helping women in business and corporate roles to experience effortless, stylish dressing, allowing them to stand out for all the right reasons. I bring strategy, solutions and expertise to my clients. I fully understand the challenges women face when trying to achieve a wardrobe that actually works and I take the pain out of shopping for clothes and deciding what to wear. I transform something that feels fraught and complex into a streamlined solution expertly tailored to you.

Cover Image credit: Fi Mims Photography