When it comes to getting dressed in the morning, my outfits have always been a mixed bag. My style has changed plenty of times throughout my life, and I think the people around me have noticed that. For example, one comment I'll never forget: "You look like a pilgrim from the 1600s," an intended tease thrown out by the boys in middle school who thought my Junkfood tee layered under a brown corduroy jumper with black-and-white striped tights was not a cool outfit, or perhaps outdated? Noted. The ridiculous and obviously inappropriate nickname "pilgrim" stuck around for at least one full year, in which I never wore those tights again, even though there was nothing wrong with them. My self-esteem has since improved. So, like, when my future brother-in-law tells me I look like "Britney Spears way after her prime" (what does that even mean?) when I'm wearing my baggy cargos with chunky work boots, I shake it off, because I know I like what I'm wearing. Why else would I have put it on?
As a fashion editor, it'd be pretty phony to say I'm not influenced by trends, because they're really all I see and study on a day-to-day basis. It's somewhat impossible to be an avid shopper and be oblivious to the changing trends. But I'm learning that you can take them with a grain of salt and kind of acknowledge them, embrace one or two, then roll out your own signature aesthetic however you choose. That may look different every day. Some days, I may be mixing and matching prints with a paisley boho dress, and other days, I may be mixing and matching with those old black-and-white tights from middle school.
"If I buy that piece, will I be working my closet around it just to show it off, or will it fit into my closet like it belongs?" I ask myself. "If I buy that piece, will I look like everybody else?"
Even though there will always be undeniably chic accessories that seem to "take over" street style for a moment, like the Bottega Veneta pouch du jour, I feel like I have a duty; an obligation to myself to stop and consider whether or not I actually like those things. "If I buy that piece, will I be working my closet around it just to show it off, or will it fit into my closet like it belongs?" I ask myself. "If I buy that piece, will I look like everybody else?"
When you're just wearing what you like, it's obvious to those around you because you carry yourself with confidence, and watching other people do this inspires me to do the same. There are seven women I follow on Instagram who consistently inspire me to get dressed. I don't necessarily save their outfits in the hopes that I can re-create them with my own wardrobe. Instead, I add them to my mood board because their colorful, inventive looks give me the urge to reconnect with articles of clothing I've tossed aside for years.
These women - bloggers, stylists, entrepreneurs, and budding Hollywood stars - definitely dress for themselves first, even though a couple of them do work with a stylist. How do I know? You see, their outfits aren't consistently any one thing - be it sporty, preppy, or feminine - they're moods, and moods change.
For 2020, I vow to dress more in tune with my mood, which for me means playing with color. That's why you'll find that the ladies ahead don't just stick to one specific palette. They're constantly trying new fabrics, new prints, and new silhouettes. If that sounds appealing to you, you'll probably adopt some of my 2020 style icons as your own. Scroll through to learn about them all, then check out some of my own outfits moods.
