In my intro post I asked for suggestions regarding what I should write about. Theresa, all the way from Koala-land, suggested I write about how I put an outfit together. Initially I was hesitant: I don’t know that I am qualified to tell people how to get dressed. However, since I am new here, I figured I should write for my existing audience, and obviously I know what I do to dress myself. So Theresa, this one’s for you.

First off, I usually choose one thing I feel like wearing. Often this is the shoes. Tonight it was a particular jacket. I think this works for me because it’s like a focal point and it stops me saying “I have nothing to wear”.

Then I guess I usually “theme” my outfit, which sounds weird but works. For example, on Friday my overall look was a wee bit Diane Keaton in Annie Hall (but obviously modernised). If you think about it, when you go into stores you will never see a  mannequin dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. That wouldn’t capture the imagination of the customer, so the store gives each outfit a “direction”, like “alpine princess” or “boho glam”. In fact, large chain stores like Glassons or Sportsgirl give their entire shop a direction, because it creates a cohesive look that is easy for the customer to get into. And that’s how you ended up buying into the “Navajo warrior queen” look.

When in doubt (or running late for work), I use a palette of colours. Three is a good number: one focal colour, such as red, and then two more neutral colours that can be repeated, like cream and dark grey. I learnt this at Glassons as a merchandising trick. The outfit looks neat and pulled together, but doesn’t look like you just gave up. This is also a good way to learn how to print-mix!

Accessorise the hell out of your outfit. Do I ever leave the house without some kind of accessory? Nope. Accessories are usually pretty cheap, and in my experience they are the thing most people will comment on.

Little tweaks make a big difference: sometimes rolling up my sleeves, pinning my hair up, or wearing a shirt tucked in instead of hanging out will make me love an outfit that I was just planning to throw in a heap.

Think about the last time someone complimented your outfit. I know exactly what I was wearing the last time someone stopped me in the street to tell me they liked my outfit…and now I know it’s a winner. A compliment means you have found a good look, so you can replicate this in different colours and patterns.

Buy things that have a point of difference. It takes a while to build up a good basic wardrobe, but once you have it’s time to get some conversation-starters in there. Use them as a building-block. For example, I have a full cotton skirt that features cream  silhouettes of ladies dancing around the hem. The skirt has a very definite 50s, ladylike look and so I carried that through the rest of the outfit.

Finally, make sure your clothes fit, they’re in good condition, and that you feel confident in them. 90% of a good outfit is the strut!