One of the reasons I started this blog and my quest to find glamour in the desert, wherever it may be, is because with months and months of 100+ degree temps, it’s so easy to fall into a fashion funk.
Today it’s supposed to reach 110. And even though this year we’ve been lucky that it’s taken so long to get there, I already want to hide out some place air conditioned and just give up, forget about fashion and step right into my jeans-and-a-tank-top funk.
When you don’t live in a big city like LA or NY, there isn’t street style all around to inspire you. So if you’re already feeling like nothing will go except a summer dress and shorts for the next few months, here’s 5 ways to find some style inspiration and help beat that wardrobe funk.
1. Read style blogs
Sassy summer style from Jessica of What I Wore
There’s nothing like cruising your favorite style blogs to get an instant fashion-inspiration fix. Unlike fashion magazines, you’ll see real people and how they style outfits, which is kind of refreshing! Not to mention, you’ll find just about every kind of outfit blogger niche to relate to from budget outfit bloggers and plus-size outfit bloggers to bloggers that live across the world and everything in between!
Jessica totally rocks the red
Perhaps what I like most about outfit bloggers is so often, the clothes are actually wearable. As much as magazine spreads are often inspiring, they’re also styled in a way I just can’t wear in real life.
Jessica from What I Wore (above) looks darling in her summer outfits and they’re totally approachable too.
2. Make a mood board
Try a mood board with looks that inspire you
In my office, I have a cork board that I use as a “mood board.” I tear out fashion spreads and ads that I totally covet and anything else that may be inspiring. Even if I don’t have the budget to be dressed in the head-to-toe Gucci fashion spread, it doesn’t mean I can’t put together my own, similar look.
Ads, fashion spreads, colors and anything else you find pretty is perfect!
As a bonus, my mood board so happens to be in front of my second closet so I can just reach in and start digging!
3. Travel
Chic and pretty in a spring skirt
One of my favorite places to people watch (and totally judge people’s outfits) is the airport. Everyone is coming and going from different places so you never know what you’re going to get. That and everyone’s idea of “airport style” can be hilarious (but that’s a later post entirely.)
Loose and comfy pants are still oh-so-stylish
But traveling always leaves me fashion inspired. Every city has its own vibe, its own “style” and getting to see something that I don’t every day makes me want to run home, rummage through my closet and see what I can invent.
Shorts that are cute and not at all like the girls in AZ wear
When I can’t travel, I’ll live vicariously through street style shots like these from The Sartorialist.
Effortless style
4. Play dress up with a friend
Find new options right under your nose!
I love to play dress up (who doesn’t?!) but inviting a friend into the mix is oh-so-fun. An outside source getting into your closet will pair things in ways you just didn’t think of before. And just like that, you have tons of outfit options you didn’t see before, and they were all hiding right under your nose!
5. Hit the bookstore
Quality time with your fave fashion mags is a total must!
Sure, there’s fashion magazines everywhere, even at the gas station, but do you ever pick up their other-country counterparts? Whether it’s British Vogue, Milan or Glamour en Espanol, I love going to the bookstore and sifting through fashion magazines from all over the world. It’s an awesome source of inspiration and fun to see how style around the world is just a little bit different.
What are your favorite tips for beating a fashion funk?
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My closet, probably like yours, is not harmonious to my life. At all. It’s a constant work in progress and no matter what I stock up on I’ll inevitably reach in, gaze upon racks of clothing and declare that I have absolutely nothing to wear.
Can we ever stop this from happening? We’ll always want more, but you can at least build a better wardrobe so the feeling of having absolutely nothing to wear happens a whole lot less often. Here’s your four step guide to a better wardrobe and some gorgeous closets for inspiration to get you started.
1. Survey your lifestyle
It’s likely that the items you have in your closet aren’t at all proportionate to the lifestyle you live. If you reached into my closet, for example, you might think I go to nice restaurants and posh events everyday since it’s overflowing with sky-high heels and cocktail dresses. But that isn’t the case. And it’s totally wrong.
Survey your lifestyle and determine what types of activities you spend doing most; your clothing should be equally proportionate. If you spend 60% of your life at work, for example, about 60% of it should be clothing you can adapt to the office. As much as I love stocking up on coats, ballgowns and stillettos, I am not a socialite. So my closet shouldn’t be. You’ll be much happier in the morning when you realize your closet is realistically in line with your needs.
2. Survey your surroundings
Just like your ratio of clothing should be proportionate to your life activities, it should be proportionate to your surroundings too. Specifically, seasons. My personal weakness is coats. I love them. I totally stock up. But I live in Arizona and this kind of hoarding I do is admittedly, totally unreasonable. My closet should be stocked with desert lifestyle basics, not resemble a winter wonderland. Make sure your closet lives in harmony with the seasons where you live.
3. Survey your remnants
If you haven’t worn it in 6 months to a year, you probably won’t! Definitely donate, and for those designer duds, check out local resale shops where you might even earn a few bucks.
4. Rinse and repeat
Building a better wardrobe is a constant process. You’ll want to survey your closet every few months. Purge, rinse, make a list of new items to stock up on and repeat! You’ll be on your way to building a better wardrobe in no time.
What are your tips for keeping your closet in tip top shape? Share them below!
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{Photo: Sandy Manase}
Don’t you just love those “must-have” style posts? No matter who the expert or author is, they’re usually pretty good about telling you that the five must-have items for your basic wardrobe building blocks should include:
- A little black dress
- A trench
- Perfect jeans
- Pressed white blouse
- A blazer
Fantastic. Fail-safe. Except here where several months out of the year, it’s over 100 degrees, your wardrobe basics vary a bit.
I’ve lived in Arizona most of my life and I’ll tell you, I believe I’m just about the only gal here who actually owns a trench coat. And whenever I do wear it thinking I look as chic and stylish as ever, I tend to get “it’s-not-actually-raining-that-hard” stares.
So what are the five essentials you should own in your wardrobe for a perfectly harmonious desert lifestyle? Here’s my five style picks below.
1. Lots of tanks and wife beaters.
Forget using them as “layering” objects, more often than not, they’ll be all you need to pair with jeans, cute skirts or sport under a little leather jacket come winter. Stock up on plenty. My favorite budget buys are the $8 tanks at Target or the $3.50 “Fabulous Finds” from Forever 21.
2. A little black dress
No matter where you live and what the climate is like, you’ll need at least one (if not several) little black dresses. From date night to work meetings to a daytime piece when paired with sandals, it truly is the one fashion item that will take you just about anywhere.
3. A perfect loose cardigan
If you aren’t willing to fork over the money for a trench that you may wear the 5 times it actually rains here, stock up on some loose cardigans instead. They’re perfect year-round and remember to always keep one in the car. Even when the weather starts to feel like hell on earth, your office is likely a cool sub-zero so you’ll never know when you’ll need one!
4. Awesome jeans
Whether wide-leg, skinny or bootcut is your fancy, never underestimate the power of a pair of awesome-fitting jeans. This is one item that if you’re having trouble with fit, it’s worth the investment to seek out a tailor. There’s nothing like a great-fitting jean to make you feel like a total babe.
5. Plenty of sandals
I’ll confess, I don’t stock up on nearly as many sandals as I should. And summer after summer I regret not doing so. From jeans and leggings to summer dresses, this shoe will take you through the seasons.
What are your must-have wardrobe items for desert living? Did I miss one of your top 5? Leave a comment below!
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