It always surprises me when working with my clients how often their mood boards do not match up to the actual contents of their wardrobes.
I see people who have identified a very clean, minimalist style when pinning items - particularly interior design posts - only to find a wardrobe full of prints and patterns. Likewise, I have been presented with a very colourful, vibrant mood board only to find drab, muted palettes considered ‘safe’ by the wearer.
To plan your wardrobe based on your style and preferences - away from the hand-me-downs, gifts and impulse bargains you’ve collated over the years - is essential to dressing for yourself and, ultimately, dressing for success. When you feel comfortable and confident, you perform better.
Creating mood boards is one of the first steps of my process. Pulling pictures of things you really love, without thinking too much about why, means you tap into your subconscious aesthetic preferences and begin to find your real personal style.
Be honest about what you like - it can be anything, you don’t need a reason - This exercise has no limits, no budgets and nothing out of stock, so above all have fun with it!Visualising exactly the sort of things you are drawn to will help identify your style - and having it in one place to refer to and remind you what you really like is useful to help you stay on track, both in the clearing out and shopping stages to come.
I also encourage you to open a Pinterest account today and start pinning - it will really help give some clarity on what looks you like, and give you a feel for where you are, and where you want to be.
To find out more about the other steps and activities I recommend to find your style and create a wardrobe that you'll love, you can buy my new book on Amazon here.
Lizzie Edwards is one of London’s most successful Personal Stylists and Image Consultants for Business Women. You can read more about this and other topics, in her new book Look Like The Leader You Are; A 7-Step Style Strategy for Ambitious Women, which is out now and available in Paperback and Kindle download at Amazon.