I once read a quote in a magazine from a woman who said, “Every morning I’m faced with the same problem: What should I wear? As a writer, model, avid equestrian, and mother of two, I’m trying constantly to find the right look to suit various aspects of my life.” That always stuck in my head because her question is a good starting point for anyone getting dressed in the morning. What am I doing today? Where am I going? Who do I have to be today, and who do I want to be? - Amanda Brooks
Who am I is always the starting question in everything you do even when asking the lesser question “What should I wear?”. When you get dressed in the morning, often being fashionable takes a backseat to being functional. For insistence, usually in the morning I wake up, and am faced with all of the jobs duties I have to fulfill that day. I start out at a daycare where I teach babies and toddlers to read, write, simple math, to not ”pee-pee” on themselves (cause who likes to change diapers), and last but not least to not wipe their crummy little hands on my clothes. From there I go home to sew, whatever is on the agenda for that day, whether it be a prom dress or a new wallet for my sister; however, usually when i’m sewing my clothes get cut, sewn and often torn from my “sewing anger fits.” Before the day is almost over I head off to the next destination to teach art to Kindergartners and First graders. I love that job the most but that job does not like my clothes at all. Lastly I handle any errands i might have to wrap up for the day, find food and try to get someone to accompany me to the park.
So in one day I have to be prepared for all that my day may bring me, crumbs, pee-pee, scissors, paint, crayons, food and park cooties.
Often people assume that as a fashion designer I should be ON at all times. Well you just read my daily agenda and being ON all the time is impossible! Which brings me back to the eternal question, Who am I going to be today? In all of those roles I’d still like to maintain my “me-ness” while not being too comfortable and looking like a complete and utter bum…. I guess we all know the answer to that question. I am going to be me! Regardless of what i am doing or where i am doing it. Now on to the next question, What should I wear?
Lets discuss how you can create your style, cause through everything you still want to be stylish.
- Make tear sheets of looks that fit into your daily life. Add as many looks to your tear sheets as want, and as times passes tear off the looks you don’t really care for anymore. What you’ll have left will be things that you tend to always like.
- Write down your style history. Reflect on your life and take note of that that have influenced you most.
- Try a lot of looks
- Constantly ask yourself questions. Are you comfortable? Do you like how you look? Do you like how you feel in your clothes? Can you do all of your jobs today in what you have on?
- Make an effort. Even though I may change a couple diapers today i’d at least like to look presentable doing so.
At the end of my style creation process I found my everyday look was slouchy tanks, form fitting jeans, cute comfy flats and open faced cover-ups. That look works perfect for all that my day has for me, good and bad. Who says the designer always has to be in couture?
let me know what you think or how it worked xo
