The ground hog has come and gone , our winter gear is in full use mode and we are counting the days until we see that first crocus or daffodil poke out of the earth . March brings with it an almost visceral need to see change . Last year I cut several inches off my hair to get some major change . It invigorated me and made everything I wore feel fresh . Hats looked cuter , scarves had more visual impact , my jewelry could be seen without me having to put my hair back . I felt lighter , more stylish , happier .
Being a fan of change , I like to do the equivalent of a great hair cut to my closet on a regular basis . I scour fashion magazines and websites for inspiration . I always find it too ! There are so many people out there really wearing things in a way that pleases them , even if that means taking a tried and true rule and smashing it to smithereens ! I say Hallelujah ! Smash away Fashionista Risk Takers ! Their big risks allow mere style-loving mortals to step further out of conventions way and try something that would have been considered “ taboo ” not too long ago . It ’ s how the big fashion designers work . They take their artistry to an extreme , someone else translates those things into more wearable pieces .
Here is how I keep things fresh . First , I pull a favorite piece out that I want to wear . I ' ll use my polka dot blouse as an example ( which , I didn ' t buy when I first saw it because it just “ wasn ' t me ”; but I couldn ' t stop thinking about it and went back for it , thank goodness ). When I first started to wear it , I went for the easy outfit pick . It ’ s a patterned top so I found a like color solid bottom , i . e . jeans , a faux leather jacket and ankle boots . A great look . Classic with a twist . Then I began to push myself and paired it with a subtle patterned skirt and some statement shoes . Retro chic fabulous ( if I do say so myself ). My next venture with it headed way more extreme with adding additional colors and a bigger print on the bottom . Totally elevated the look and keeps my wardrobe looking fresh . You probably won ' t see me wear this blouse the same way twice , making it look like I have an endless wardrobe , which I don ' t , I just allow myself to have endless possibilities with the pieces I have .
So now my stylish friends , I say venture forth and try a fresh combo with things you already own . Let the trailblazers out there do their thing , all you have to do is follow their lead one step at a time .
By Gaelen Abt , Style Sherpa www . thestylesherpa . com