Many years ago, I had this coworker I really admired . . . from a distance. I actually didn’t know her very well, but she seemed like someone I wanted to be friends with purely based on the way she dressed. That might sound crazy but it’s true!
Amy (not her real name) always looked cute for work, not in a “I spend tons of money on clothes” kind of way, but in a “I care about how I look and how I present myself” kind of way. She was intentional in her clothing choices and I think I subconsciously believed she was intentional about other things.
And I was right.
I won’t tell you anything Amy wouldn’t want me to share publicly, but long story short, she had been through A LOT of difficult circumstances in her life. Abuse. Divorce. Infertility. All of it.
But she was determined to make her life beautiful despite the challenges she faced. And she did! She made everything beautiful! Her clothes. Her house. Her desk. Her phone wallpaper.
Every day when she showed up to work, she presented herself in a way that said,
I’m smart.
I’m interesting.
I matter.
That attitude rubbed off on me and Amy and I became very close friends over the years. I started dressing like her (embarrassing but true) and eventually developed my own personal style.
She was my first STYLE ICON.
In the journey of self-discovery, it can be totally overwhelming to try and figure out who you are. But if you can find someone else you like and copy them (I mean that in the most normal, non-creepy way possible), you can often “find yourself” more easily.
Invitation #2
Find a style icon.
I want you to choose a style icon. It can be someone you know in real life, it can be a celebrity, it can even be a fictional character! My sister Abby chose Olivia Pope from the TV show SCANDAL as her style icon. The idea is that you choose someone who inspires you in personality and aesthetics. They don’t have to be your personal role model, but you have to like their energy enough that you feel comfortable embodying them. I also find it helps if you choose someone who is in the same industry as you. Abby is a lawyer, so it makes sense that she would look to someone in the legal field. My friend Amy was a photographer, so we had a lot in common as creatives.
Print a picture of your style icon and make a list of what kinds of things they wear. For Olivia Pope, you might write things like:
- Neutral colors
- Tailored pants
- Classic patterns
- Oversized shirts, sweaters, blouses, etc.
- Monochromatic outfits
- Interesting textures
- Etc
Write down as much as you can about your style icon and try to copy it when you get dressed. This should feel a little uncomfortable, but you shouldn’t feel like a totally different person.
Put the “Before” picture you took last week next to a picture of your style icon. Start asking yourself, “What would my style icon wear?” On days where you feel like you nailed it, take a picture to document!
That’s it! You’re rebranding your life!
Until next time,
Rebecca
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