How to make sure you're still showing up as you this Autumn
It just happens, doesn't it? One morning in October, you reach for a coat and realise summer has 'packed itself away'. The light has changed, the air has an edge to it, and the wardrobe that worked so well a few weeks ago suddenly feels slightly inadequate.
It's tempting to treat this change as a practical chore: dig out the jumpers, find the umbrella and carry on. But it's also one of the best moments to pause and ask, for your own benefit when you get dressed this autumn, are you showing up as you?
Why it matters
Simple really, your clothes should reflect who you are. Research shows* that when what we wear feels authentically us, we are happier, and perform better in the things we are working towards, whether it's a career, a new business, romance or other ambition.
Autumn and Winter could quietly erode that. When it is cold and wet, practicality takes over. The coat goes on, the scarf goes round, and for months the version of you that people meet first is the one dressed for the weather. The elements have a job to do, but they should not be allowed to override your style, or the first impression you make.
The good news is that warm and waterproof do not have to mean anonymous. With intention, what you choose to wear every day can define where you are heading.
Find your three style words
One of the most useful tools I know for this comes from New York stylist Allison Bornstein, and it is beautifully simple.
Choose three words to describe your style.
Start by thinking about the outfits in your wardrobe. What is the one word you would use to describe them (e.g. practical, colourful)?
Then find a word that describes how you want to feel in your clothes (it might be comfortable, or smart).
And then finally, a word that describes your vision of yourself.
Your three words might be practical, comfortable and bold, or colourful, smart and confident.
Once you have your three words, they become a filter for your wardrobe. Take a look at what you have and decide whether each item meets your three-word criteria. If something doesn't, it probably is not you, however good it looked in the shop.
Or make it visual
If you are more visual than literal, a visual board, on Pinterest or made from magazine cut-outs, can more quickly capture how you want to feel and be seen in your clothes. Just create a board with all your images, then review your wardrobe.
Does what you wear match your vision?
Before you put summer away
As you hang up your summer wardrobe, notice what you actually wore and what you didn't. The items you reached for again and again are telling you something about your style. So are the ones still carrying the labels.
Be honest with yourself. If something hasn't been worn in a whole season, ask why. Is it the fit, the colour, or simply that it is not really you? Pieces that no longer earn their place can go to a charity shop, where they will find someone they suit.
Then store what you are keeping with care. Wash or clean everything before it goes away, fold knitwear rather than hanging it, and use breathable bags or boxes rather than plastic. A few cedar blocks or lavender sachets will help keep moths away. Your future self, opening that box next spring, will thank you.
Autumn does not ask you to become someone new. It simply offers a moment to check that what you wear still reflects who you are. If you would like help finding your three words, or making sense of a wardrobe that no longer feels like yours, please send me a message.
Image by Bristekjegor