Style Profile: Margaret

My friend Margaret works as a technical writer in a very casual environment and recently undertook a wardrobe transformation, including a new haircut and total closet cleanout. Like a lot of women, she hadn’t updated her clothing for some time, mainly because she wasn’t sure where to start. Below, I’ve included a before photo, and some after photos of her favorite new outfits.

Tell me about your personal style. What is the most important thing to you fashion-wise?

I’ve never really thought too much about my personal style and going through the makeover has really helped me focus on what I want it to become. Once I graduated from college and actually had a clothing budget I still never really figured out what I should wear. I developed a huge rift between the clothes I wore to work and the clothes I actually liked wearing. I’ve had a lot of problems in the past finding clothes that fit, but I’m learning that you don’t find things that fit if you don’t try them on and pay attention to what is available in different stores. I also think stores are becoming more accommodating of different sizes, and I do a lot of shopping online. With my new wardrobe I’m having more fun with my outfits and feeling more confident. The most important thing for me is for my clothes to be simple to put together into outfits and simple to care for. If an item is dry-clean only, that can be a deal breaker.

You’ve recently done a wardrobe makeover. How do you feel about what you wear now versus what you wore before? Do you find it any more difficult to get dressed with your new clothing than before you had your “makeover”?

I like my new clothes because I feel like I picked them out with a purpose (and some good advice) instead of randomly trying to figure out what to wear. I feel more confident in my new clothes because they are more flattering and stylish. They also fit with what I would choose to wear to work AND out to dinner with friends. I think getting dressed is just as easy as it was before. I have always liked having specific ensembles that I can wear easily. If you tell me that this scarf goes with this shirt then I’m going to put them together every time. I think it will take more time for me to get comfortable mixing and matching within my new wardrobe.

How do your coworkers generally dress, and did this affect your wardrobe decisions before you “made over” your closet? Were you worried about your coworkers’ and friends’ reactions when you decided to dress more smart casual?

My workplace is pretty casual and there aren’t many people in my age range to get style ideas from. It was hard for me to make the transition from t-shirts and jeans (which was my uniform in college) to something just slightly dressier than t-shirts and jeans. Initially I went with a very sporty look that was boxy and comfortable, but not very flattering. I mostly chose my old clothes just for something to wear, not because I particularly liked them. When I’m wearing my new clothes people have noticed and ask if I’m dressed up for an occasion. I have a lot more confidence in the way I dress now and if people do rib me about being dressed up I take it as a compliment.

What are your fashion goals for the future?

My main goal is to continue to update my clothes as the seasons change and figure out more about my personal style. I would like to be able to shop more confidently and predict which clothes will get a lot of wear and which ones will fall to the back of the closet.

Do you have any advice for other women embarking on their own wardrobe makeovers?

A good place to start is Angie’s post on YouLookFab about wardrobe capsules. I liked having a plan to help me figure out what types of items I needed the most.