Nothing says dread like Monday mornings, don’t you think? Well, I take that back- any morning where you know you have to get up and go to work or school or burn through a to-do list or maybe even both is like the last supper of times of day. And what’s even worse is that these types of mornings are quite inevitable, and if you are a fellow twenty-something as The Twenties Project team continues to be, retirement and therefore a full 8-10 hours of sleep is years away. Le sigh. And it’s not just the idea of starting another coffee-filled quasi-productive day, it’s the morning routine that’s the real clincher in all this doom and gloom. So much to do, so little time. So much sleepiness, so little Red Bull. There’s probably a creepy statistic out there stating that “What the heck should I wear?!?” is the most common exclamation made between the hours of 6 and 10 a.m. everyday around the world. But wait. What if it didn’t have to be that hard? What if you could figure out a way to squeeze in a little more sleep while getting everything done that you need to (and more) while staying completely calm without rushing and getting to where you need to be on time (if your friendly local bus driver decides to do his job that day, of course)? Some may think I’m crazy, and for the record, I’m quite close. But you can do this! All that it takes is a little reading- down below that is, and actively trying out this fantastic action plan that I guarantee will help you meet your getting ready goals. Mine is finishing a Ryan Gosling dream. Welcome to “The 5 ‘-tions’ of Getting Ready”, a series for the next few weeks on how to start everyday with a big beautiful fashion sha-bang!
-tion No. 1: Inspiration
Anybody who knows sports will agree that the best defense is a good offense. Anyone who doesn’t, now knows. Trying to put yourself in a constant state of inspiration sounds like a tiresome task, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll start to reap the benefits in such a hardcore way that you won’t mind making it a habit. And trust me, for anyone who’s got a creative bone in their body, this will be fun! First, determine the following: which is your most effective method of getting outfit inspiration? It could be anything from blogs (like Mission:Fashionable!) to magazines, to celebrities to movies and television. Maybe it’s even a combination of two or more fashion outfits! Whatever it is, find a place preferably near your closet, dresser or wherever you keep your clothes and accessories and create an inspiration board using pictures, fabric samples, colour swatches, whatever you like of stuff that inspires you and emulates what you want to look like when you walk out that door everyday. Or if you don’t have the space, make a photo album of snapshots in your phone or laptop or tablet that you can quickly scroll through for some great outfit ideas! Or (yeah, I’m going off, I know) why not a digital picture frame? Hang it up or set it in an easy-to-see spot somewhere near the battlefield and get ready to watch a constant flow of free-wheeling fashion goodness! For example, here’s what my current inspiration board looks like:
And make sure that it stays current to what you like and what you feel good in- it’s natural to have changes in opinions (and your body) so that being said, it’s vital to have something to look at that is up to date. It’s also important to try and choose images that reflect the pieces that you currently own in your wardrobe. Right now. As in you could reach in that closet and pull out a real tangible piece of clothing. Not stuff that you wish you had (that’s another blog post!) but stuff you’ve got right this instant. Now that being said, it doesn’t mean that you have to choose images that are strictly street style or ready to wear- anything goes! Say you are really into this beautiful photoshoot from Vogue that’s wild west inspired- think suede fringe, dusty floral prints and big belt detailing. Obvies that leather chaps are a strict 9-5 no-no, but that doesn’t mean that you can throw on some jewellery with silver tribal detailing or put on your favourite cowboy boots with an A-line skirt and blouse!
All this inspiration sounds just like fun and games but it really will help you when you’re trying to get out the door quickly. When you train yourself to constant have the creative juices flowing, you’ll start being able to see all of your various pieces in a new light and therefore be able to dig yourself out of any ruts or snore-fests you’ve been neck deep in and start to try new combinations and styles.
I do have a bit of a disclaimer though. You should never ever ever be trying radically new things in the morning when you’ve got things to do and places to go. You know you’re on a tight schedule, which is stressful. You’ve got other things to remember and prioritize- you might not have even had breakfast yet (for shame!), so don’t make it harder than it already has to be!
And I’ll admit, I’m not perfect. Surprise, I know. And further shock, neither is anyone else. So although enthusiasm and positivity are the most powerful sidekicks you can have in your fashion extravaganza, things might not always work out the way that you want them to, and so you should always be ready with at least 3 other outfits that can be modified based on the weather that you can depend on when all else fails, or it’s just one of those mornings where your brain decides to go on strike.
But I shall stop myself here, don’t want to give next week’s post away! Stay tuned for the next –tion step of 5 to getting ready more easily!
Keep me updated on this first step of your personal fashion mission at l.twentiesproject.com! Want more fashion inspiration? Check out http://www.missionfashionable.com!
The Twenties Project 