This week in the Indyx style workshop they walked us through”editing up” and “editing down.” This was the first time I look at my style inspiration boards and thought more deeply about similarities. Typically I would look at individual pieces I liked and could add to my wardrobe to complete a look. But this week I looked at it through the lens of what is it essence of the image that I liked, and what were the through lines and patterns between the group of images. It was interesting what I discovered.

Editing Down

A few things stood out in my inspiration board and most of them were unsurprising. I pinned a lot of denim looks and that makes so much sense considering what I reach for in my closet 90% of the time. I also noticed a lot of button ups, layers with jackets, knits on the top, and simple crossbody or basket bags. Somethings that surprised me were the number of skirts that I pinned. I don’t wear a lot of skirts, I think I only own 3 of them actually, and when I do story them out they feel a bit fussy. But a long, gathered cotton skirt is something I’d like to try this spring and summer to give my denim a rest now and then.

Another pattern I identified is a lot of white bottoms for spring and summer. Unfortunately for this phase of my life with a young toddler I don’t think that’s practical at all. There are just way too many sticky fingers and spill happening these days and I think light bottoms would just stress me out. I also noticed a lot of the inspo images are a little oversize and slightly disheveled in its styling. To get that casual effortless look I’ll need to be very intentional and polished in my styling. I love the slicked back buns and minimal jewelry. I also noticed that the open oversized button downs were almost always paired with a fitted tank or tee underneath. A lot of my tees are also relaxed so maybe this year I try out a couple of more fitted ones.

I’m starting to realize that ideal style is a bit of California coastal with a touch of minimalist city girl, and a splash of French countryside. If I infuse an element of that in every outfit I think I’ll find enough interest in each outfit and still feel like myself.

Editing Up

It was unsurprising that this exercise revealed my love of neutrals pretty blatantly. One thing I did not expect was to crave primary pops of color. In some images there was a deep cherry red, or a cobalt blue and I realized that’s severely lacking in my wardrobe. A fun scarf, shoe, or bag could easily inject more personality and give a somewhat basic outfit a lot more personality. A bit of pattern out side of my beloved mariner’s stripe could do the same.

The last part of the exercise was fun for me. I made a list of designers and brands that align with the style aesthetic I am cultivating. I won’t lie, I already have a list of brand I love lingering on my notes app. I use it to search for items preloved so I know which search terms to use. After this exercise I think the list has become more refined. They range from classic Americana heritage brands, to relaxed and organic Cali vibes, and timeless French and French inspired brands.