Lately, I’ve realized that I need to revitalize this blog. Give it a chance to blossom without being bound by one topic (Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, or MBTI). The blog is a bit like me, it can’t focus on one thing for too long. I like to write and I enjoy sharing my ideas, so this blog will become an outlet for my mental ramblings. MBTI will always fascinates me, so it will still pop up in my…

Have you ever wondered what the human mind looks like from the inside? Not the brain, mind you. The emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of a human being? Perhaps it would look like a house, yes? An infinitely large house with rooms and hallways around every corner. What if each room opened into a different part of our thoughts? What if each room represented a part of who we are? How would you get out?

These are questions answered when two childhood friends somehow are plunged into their own minds. Although they find some rooms to be the same, they also find the differences at the cores of who they are. They both have a lot to learn from each other, and neither of them are quite sure how they ended up here. The most important thing they have yet to discover, however, is where the exit door is.

1. Does it fit my style concept?

The overall look of an item is what will draw you to it initially when you see it on the rack or online and can definitely be used as a first filter to make sure the item is in line with the look you are going for. Inspect each piece carefully and compare its shape, colour, pattern, texture and details to your style concept for the current season. If you are aiming for a classic French-chic wardrobe for example, consider whether the item would support this look or distract from it. Think of your style concept like a painting – each item in your wardrobe should contain elements that match the concept but at the same time should not contain any that clash and would taint the overall look. Be as specific or general as you like – look for a theme or certain colours, patterns and details. Click here for more info on style concepts as a set of individual elements. If you feel your item would represent your style concept well, move on to the next question.

2. Do I like the fit and fabric?

Fit and fabric are the two big non-negotiables. An item that is an inch outside of your style concept is something you can work with, but if its fit does not suit your body or its fabric feels horrible on your skin, you will eventually just stop wearing it. To save you time in the future, it is a good idea to write yourself a little fit/fabric guide on which cuts and fabrics you love/hate, so you can focus your search on a smaller range of items from the start. Garments can often look very different on the rack than on the body, and it can also sometimes be difficult to judge whether you would be comfortable wearing a fabric just by touching it with your hands, so unless you have bought the same item before, you should always try on possible keepers, either at the store or at home (keep receipts!). While trying on items, make sure you move around in them, sit down, etc. As a last step, check the laundry requirements of each piece and, if it’s relatively high-maintenance, decide whether you would be able to commit to wash items by hand or take them to the dry cleaner regularly.

3. What place/function will it have in my wardrobe?

Before you buy an item you should at least have a vague idea of the role you want it to play in your wardrobe. Do you want it to be a part of your capsule wardrobe for the current season or even a part of your uniform? Will it be one of your key pieces or could it make a good basic to pair with bolder statement items? Do you plan on wearing it regularly for work or everyday stuff, or would you reserve it for special occasions? Every new addition should at least harmonise with your wardrobe’s internal structure and your preferred outfit building methods. Even if an item fits your style concept perfectly, if you can’t assign it a function from the top of your head, chances are it would not work with the flow of your wardrobe and you would have to ‘work around’ it more than anything.

4.Will it fill a gap in my wardrobe or add to an already overrepresented area?

For this question you need to put your sensible hat on and consider whether you actually need this item and whether it would help you build a wardrobe that matches your lifestyle. Besides expressing your visual ideals, your wardrobe should also represent all of your activities, ideally in proportional frequencies. For example, if you spend most of your time wearing casual daytime clothes and only a few nights per month at venues that require evening wear, your daytime wardrobe section should be considerably larger than your stock of evening wear. Try to keep track of over- and underrepresented areas in your wardrobe just so you can make a more informed purchase decision should you suddenly find an amazing item. If it would add to an already jam-packed section of your wardrobe, you might want to reconsider whether you could not make better use of the money and closet space to stock an underrepresented area (and thereby make a greater marginal difference to the functionality of your wardrobe).

5. Can I think of at least 3 outfits to wear it with?

If your item made it through all of the above four questions, you might well have discovered a valuable addition to your wardrobe, congratulations :) But before you make a final decision, quickly double-check the versatility of your item by brainstorming a few possible outfits. A strong style concept and a coherent wardrobe structure should already do most of the work for you, but just to be sure, try to come up with three outfits using the potential new item and the rest of your wardrobe. If you can easily think of three or more outfits that you would happily wear, I’d say your item is a keeper!

Via INTO MIND.

day 4 // no-complaint day – this was an easy one. spent the day cleaning up, designing, and going for a great stroll with my bew. there was nothing to complain about. i was mindful of this challenge though, and feel it’s a good one to keep with me everyday.

Complaining is never productive and a catalyst for negative thought patterns. Challenge yourself to not complain about small stuff today. Either accept the situation and move on, or find a solution. – into-mind.com

So. This year, instead of just picking out things I like, I want to be more purposeful so I can be sure my wardrobe is coherent. Overall, I tend to gravitate toward the same colors over and over (green (hunter, emerald, spring, kelly), burgundy, purple, turquoise, mustard/gold, orange, cream, brown, gray) so the majority of my wardrobe matches. And, sometimes, I figure out new outfit combos I'd not considered before. Plus, I tend to wear the same proportions over and over--cardigan+top+pants and thin sweater+pants. The cardigan+top combo works really well for the variety of temperatures I encounter each day (in the summer our office is freezing) and, if the pieces are nicer, works well when meeting with clients.

I would like to wear more skirts and dresses, but dresses are difficult to find and most of my skirts now aren't ones I'd wear again. 

So I'm working through some of the posts on Into Mind and have even started a Pinterest board. I feel like I'm just re-hashing the same stuff I always wear, though, and would like a little more variety.