Why getting dressed feels harder than it should
Let’s be honest most mornings getting dressed isn’t some glamorous Pinterest moment. It’s more often than not throwing on the same old leggings and baggy t-shirt, running upstairs to throw on a different jumper approximately 12 minutes before the school run and wondering why nothing feels right.
The worst thing is we usually blame ourselves. “I need to lose weight”, “I need new clothes”, “I just don’t have any style” are all things I hear regularly. After working with many women juggling a life, kids, work and social events I can tell you this, it’s not a body problem and it’s not that you don’t have style… It’s that you just don’t know what your style is yet.
When you don’t understand your style foundations, everything feels harder than it needs to be.
As a personal stylist in Bristol I always start with three things:
Understanding which colours suit you and how to pair colours together
Understanding your frame and how to dress your body shape
Understanding the styles you like that suit your lifestyle and reflect your style personality
Once you understand these 3 core foundations getting dressed becomes lighter, shopping becomes smarter and you stop standing in front of your wardrobe feeling overwhelmed and start intentionally shopping from the clothes you already own and love. If you are unsure of any of the above I recommend having a colour analysis and shape and style identity session.
Let’s dive a bit deeper
Your Colour Season
Why some colours make you glow and others make you look exhausted.
Your skin has an undertone, your eyes have depth, your natural colouring has balance. When you wear colours that harmonise with that…
✨ Magic! your skin looks fresher, eyes brighter and more awake (even if you were up at 5:30am 🙃) When you wear a colour that is slightly off either too warm, too cool or too heavy it can:
drain your complexion and make you feel washed out
emphasise shadows or dark circles
make you feel like you need to apply more makeup
Most women think they need better clothes, often they just need the right colours.
And once you know them, getting dressed becomes a lot more intentional.
Your Body Shape & Proportions
No, this isn’t about hiding your body!
This part is not about shrinking yourself, it’s about understanding balance. Every woman has natural proportions:
Shoulder width
Waist definition
Hip shape
Vertical line
The clothes we choose interact with those proportions whether we realise it or not. When something doesn’t “work” it’s not because your body is wrong, it’s usually because the cut isn’t creating balance.
That shift in thinking is huge. Instead of “Why do I look awful in this?”
It becomes “Oh, that neckline isn’t doing me any favours.” That’s empowering because you stop fighting yourself, stop the negative self talk and start choosing clothing with intention that you know works for you.
Your Style Personality
This is the bit no one talks about!
Have you ever tried something on that looks great on the model in store or online but you try it on and it’s too frilly, too figure hugging or way too much material?
You can wear your best colours and you can choose flattering shapes but if the outfit doesn’t feel like you, it will still feel wrong. The neckline, the waistband, sleeve length, even where the seem on a tshirt hits your shoulder can make or break how an outfit and how it makes you feel. Have you ever tried something on that looks great on the model in store or online but you try it on and it’s too frilly, to figure hugging or way too much material?
Your Style Personality is about how you naturally express yourself. It’s not about trends, it’s not about age and it’s not about what your friend wears. It’s about what feels aligned with your overall style, how you like your clothes to sit next to your skin and what makes you take a second look when you catch your reflection unexpectedly 😉
We all have a dominant style personality although we can have a mix of a couple. Identifying your style personality and using it as a foundation has huge benefits when you make clothing choices, saves you time in the morning, can avoid meltdowns in changing rooms and stops you from wasting your money!
There are 6 main style personalities, there are fusions too but we will keep in simple at this point.
The Classic
Neat, tidy, tailored and polished.
The Classic woman likes to always feel polished. She values looking well-groomed, appropriate and elegant whether she’s at work, at lunch or at a school event.
She doesn’t chase trends and she doesn’t want drama. She wants to look put together without overthinking it.
Victoria Beckham, Kate Middleton, Viola Davis, Julia Roberts and Michelle Obama are great examples of this style personality.
The Dramatic
Bold, confident and striking.
The Dramatic woman walks into a room and you notice. She loves statement outfits with structure and impact. She’s confident, bold and not afraid to be seen.
Practical? Not always.
Memorable? Absolutely.
If she dresses too safe or neutral, she feels muted. She doesn’t want subtle she wants presence.
Celeb examples are Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Lizzo, Jennifer Lopez and Serena Williams.
Images : Pinterest
The Natural
Natural, comfortable and practical
The Natural woman is effortless.
She gravitates towards comfort and ease not because she doesn’t care but because she values authenticity. She wants to feel comfortable in her skin and her clothes.
When she’s forced into overly structured or fussy pieces she feels restricted. She doesn’t want polish she wants ease.
Sienna Miller, Halle Berry, Jennifer Aniston, Bar Refaeli and Cameron Diaz are natural celeb examples.
The Romantic
Girly, whimsical, feminine and delicate
The Romantic woman loves softness.
She’s drawn to:
- Lace
- Ruffles
- Pleats
- Florals
- Flowing fabrics
She prefers draping shapes that highlight curves and create feminine movement. She doesn’t want sharp tailoring she wants softness and femininity.
Some examples are Eva Mendes, Gabrielle Union, Kiera Knightley, Emma Watson.
The Creative
Individual, unconventional, unique approach to style, creative one-off pieces.
The Creative Trend woman is bold, independent and completely uninterested in playing by the rules.
Her wardrobe is a playground and she doesn’t follow trends she interprets them. There’s no single formula for her style as It evolves constantly.
The goal isn’t to tame her creativity. It’s to refine it so it feels powerful rather than chaotic.
Perfect examples of this would be Lupita Nyong ‘o, Iris Apfel, Erykah Badu, Katy Perry and Gwen Stefani.
The Urban Casual
Street chic, contrast, layers, eclectic, comfort and low-key
The Urban woman is inspired by street culture and city style.
Her wardrobe might include:
- Elevated loungewear
- Trainers as statement pieces
- Layered looks
- Subculture influences
Think 90’s hip-hop, skate, rock, sports-casual. Her outfits are often detail-led, the right trainers, the right jacket and the right accessory. She doesn’t want traditional elegance she wants effortless cool.
Celeb examples or this personality would be Dua Lipa, Gigi Hadid, Zoe Kravitz, Jesy Nelson and Gwen Stefani.
Image : Pinterest
Why This All Matters (Especially When You’re Busy)
When you understand the colours that suit you, the shapes that balance you
and the personality that expresses you, you stop panic-buying.
You stop standing in front of your wardrobe feeling overwhelmed. You stop thinking you need a whole new wardrobe. Instead you build from the foundations you already own, outfit pairing becomes clearer and styling your outfits becomes intentional.
And when you’re a mum juggling life clarity is priceless. You don’t have time for endless experimenting, you need it to work.
Ready to Actually Make It Make Sense?
If you’ve read this thinking “Oh That explains a lot.” Then you’re probably ready for clarity. Not a whole new wardrobe or a drastic change just understanding what you already own and refining it.
If you’d like personalised support, you can:
Fill in my Online Consultation Form
Book a complimentary discovery call to talk through where you’re feeling stuck
