I have two totally contradictory style influences pulling me in opposite directions. On the one hand I’m practical. I like clothes that are comfortable, functional, timeless and without excessive details. This is evident in my recent Transition Edit post. Shape, proportion and richness of fabric is key. Call it minimalist, or worse quiet luxury.
On the other hand I love extravagance; layers of necklaces, enormous earrings and a great animal print. This is on display in an earlier post, Inspiration Fulfilled Online.
The distinct feel of autumn in the air has prompted me to think about how I want my fall style to unfold. The two opposing views kept creeping up and how to reconcile them. Then it hit me, they’re not opposing, they’re complimentary. Call it opulent minimalism. To gel my ideas I set out to find inspiration.
I can’t tell you how important the process of gathering inspiration is. For me this is when ideas begin to clarify and even go into unexpected directions. Creativity does not thrive in a vacuum, it needs to be fed. When magazines ruled years ago I gathered inspiration from them. I had boxes of tear sheets organized in file folders by categories. Now it’s so much easier and less cumbersome to simply make boards on Pinterest. I’ve been doing this for years and have an extensive collection of boards on everything style related. You can find my boards on Pinterest at Prima Darling, the name of my old blog.
Once inspiration is gathered, I begin to apply it to real life implementation and hunt for the necessary pieces. It's crucial to have inspiration guide you to keep you on track. It's also a great time to shop your own closet. Real style is more about thoughtfully putting pieces together than endlessly acquiring new pieces. Your style is more personal when you pull from your own favorites and make strategic additions to wear them in new ways. Buy less and buy better. Over time you’ll grow your wardrobe exponentially.
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