HOW TO STEP OUTSIDE OF YOUR STYLE COMFORT ZONE

There are many factors that come into play when creating great style – from understanding the clothes you choose, colours, styles, patterns, right down to the cuts and how they all work together to create your personal style. However, confidence is a key factor to bring all this creative styling together. As a Style Coach I’m often finding more and more that my clients are talking about the C word (Confidence) I even wrote a book called “Boost Your Confidence” with tools and techniques designed to get you some of that self-confidence you deserve. I think confidence is one of the crucial parts to finding your optimum style, it allows you to be creative and express your individuality by having fun with outfits, fashion and trends. 

HERE ARE A FEW WAYS TO GIVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE A KICK IN THE BUTT WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR PERSONAL STYLE!!

BEFRIEND YOUR BODY 

It’s time to get naked…HELL YES THIS IS FOR REAL! It still surprises me how many women don’t do this. If you don’t, you’re not in touch with your bodies or shape. This is powerful stuff to really get to grips with your silhouette and helping you to understand how to dress it.

Okay, stand in front of a mirror without clothes on. I don’t want you to look at your height, weight or size – just your proportions and shape. See where your waist is…do you have hips or a long torso? Are you an hourglass, pear, apple or straight shape? Once you understand your body shape you will have more confidence and truly master how to dress it.

DETOX YOUR CLOTHES THAT DON’T HAVE THE FEEL-GOOD FACTOR

When you open your wardrobe, you should feel so much love for the clothes you have in there. If you don’t & they make you feel bad about yourself, then GIRL it’s time to detox that wardrobe. Take some time out (a few hours should do depending on the size of your wardrobe) one afternoon and create the right ambience (music and a glass of champagne or two). Then get rid of the clothes that don’t fit, are no longer part of your current style, dated and make you feel not so good when you wear them. Now, I want you to be ruthless, this is all about making space in your wardrobe for items that make you feel happy and good about YOU!

REWRITE THE STORY YOU PLAY IN YOUR MIND

What kind of conversations do you have in your head, to you talk to yourself in a negative way, are you always criticising how you look and feel, or do you talk with respect and self-love? I want you to really take note about the negative phrases you may use all the time and start rewriting your mind to replace them with some positive self-talk. 

STEP OUTSIDE THAT PREDICTABLE COMFORT-ZONE

Let me ask you, “When was the last time you tried a new style or colour?” It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to your style. We know our comfort-zone is a safe, warm place to be – it brings predictability, safety and assurance to all the stuff we like to hang on to. Take it slow and start with small changes such as adding new accessories or taking a brighter, bolder garment and pairing it with a go-to, staple piece you like to wear. Remember it’s all about baby steps until you feel more confident about stepping out of your style comfort zone. 

BODY HANG UPS AND STYLE

BOY!! We all have body hang ups, don’t we! Please STOP allowing your body hang ups to keep you from embracing you and your personal style. Irrespective if you think they are valid, which I’m almost 99.9% sure they are not, don’t let it stop you from developing your own sense of style. Your focus should never be on what’s wrong with your body, but rather on appreciating what is right with it. When you dress in tune with your personal style, you’re overall confidence will improve. 

FINAL THOUGHTS….

You are your own CEO of your style and should be constantly evolving. Think of your wardrobe as a genuine ally to feeling more confident and secure about you and your personal style. Time to give your style comfort-zone a BIG KICK IN THE ASS.