If you're only wearing 20% of your closet, it's not your fault

The fashion industry is a $1.5 Trillion dollar industry. Everything is for everyone!

Do you trust the Fashion Industry? I mean, do you think they put out fashions year after year, season after season that have your best interests at heart?

The answer for me as a Stylist is no, they do not have your best interest at heart, they have only their own. The Fashion Industry is a business and they exist to make a profit, so you’ve got to recognize what’s right for you because everything is going to be presented as though it’s a desirable thing to have.

Failing to recognize the BS can have tragic consequences, because you’ll think you’re looking good, only to be the victim of a hideous trend that you were talked into… And you cannot let this happen, no no no.

Don’t get me wrong, the Fashion Industry is not the enemy, but you have to understand them. You first have to understand the motivation behind what you’re seeing in the stores and online, BEFORE you shop, otherwise, you can be taken for a fool.

Do they make cute things that will make you look amazing, or do they make awful things that will make you look foolish? The truth is they do both. They make a ton of stuff that is complete crap AND they produce incredible pieces that can literally take your breath away.

OK, so that’s no different than most industries, right? The automobile industry makes gorgeous cars and ugly cars. Jewelry makers can produce diamonds and pearls or cheap shit that tarnishes and turns your fingers green in less than a month!

So what to do and where to turn? No matter what the Fashion Industry is currently producing, you have choices. I like to teach my clients to become inner-directed when it comes to their clothing choices.

You’ve got to be sure you know what you can and cannot wear. You owe it to yourself to find out.

Anne Morrissey

So how do you find out? How do you know what looks good on you and what doesn’t? You start with a full-length mirror placed in good lighting. If you don’t have one, get one now! It doesn’t help to be critical, everyone has their least favorite parts.

Now put on one piece like a blouse for example. Just look at the blouse, not anything else you’re wearing with it. What do you think? Does it fit well, is it a good color for you, do you smile when you see yourself, does it feel good on your skin? Are you happy with the print?

If you can answer yes to these questions you’re probably quite sure the blouse looks good on you. It feels like you, not someone else.

On the other hand, maybe it’s too blousy and it’s adding weight to your midsection – and nobody needs that! Or maybe in your analysis the color is washing you out, or it’s too long for you if you’re a petite lady. Then those are signals that that particular blouse is not for you. It doesn’t matter if it’s the latest trend, or the influencers are all wearing it and the celebs are rocking this blouse all over the place.

A no is a no, period. Be OK with no because you’ve learned something and you are now free to try something better for you. If you purchase something that is really a no, you will not wear it. Or you’ll wear it a few times and not feel right about it. This is one of the ways you end up with a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. You try to turn a no into a yes…

Do yourself a huge favor, don’t buy or keep anything unless you really love it because it feels right for you. You set your own standard and stick to it. You’re not dressing to anyone else’s standard, because you’re not just anyone, you’re you.

Teenagers dress alike because they don’t yet know how to differentiate themselves from the crowd. You are not a teenager, so don’t dress like the crowd. Understand yourself enough to know that what you’re wearing is a reflection of you, not a copy of someone else.

If you’ve been following the advice of the Fashion Industry for a while, it may be hard to hear what I’m saying, but once you know how you want to show up in any situation, you will never go back to following again, because you know for yourself what you can and cannot wear.

This is just the beginning, setting your own standard. There is more – much more to it. But this is one of the foundations of great personal style. More on That Later…

Stylishly Yours,

Anne