Is It Time To Update Your Style?

I’m always so pleased when I receive emails from Distant Francophile readers. It’s always fascinating to learn about the style challenges that women face day-to-day. (And for the record, I’ll always love receiving emails about France too.)

When it comes to style though, one of the most common concerns facing women seems to be getting themselves out of a rut. These troughs can be really big, or just a niggle but they appear to be fairly universal.

You don’t need me to tell you that if you don’t update your style regularly, things can start to feel a bit stagnant in the wardrobe department. And when this happens, it may already be too late. You might have already fallen into a rut. And the longer you are in that space the harder it can be can be to get out of it.

So it will come as no surprise to learn that I’m a believer in women taking a proactive approach to updating their style. But how do you know when the time is right to update your style? Well, the good news is that there are a number of triggers that can give you a signal that it might be time to change things up a bit.

Five Triggers That Indicate It Might Be Time To Update Your Style

1. Your intuition is screaming at you. And it is important to trust your intuition. As soon as any feelings of boredom or stagnation start to surface, it is a signal to take action.
2. You have a wardrobe full of clothes but you feel like you have nothing at all to wear. This can indicate that you are completely over your look.
3. You are going through a life change. A divorce. Starting a new job. Moving to a new city. Children leaving home. Transitioning to retirement. Having your first child. Returning to work. If you are moving into a new stage in your life, there is a good chance that it’s also time to update your style.
4. You’ve either lost or gained weight recently. We all need to remember to dress the body we have right now.
5. For whatever reason, you’ve lost interest in style. It happens. (For me, I apparently lost interest in style for the entirety of my twenties.) If it’s been ages since you went window shopping or picked up a fashion magazine, it’s a sign that a style update may be required.

Now, let’s be honest. It’s one thing to identify that the time is right to update your style. But it’s a whole different thing to work out what you are going to do about refreshing your look. Here are four quick tips designed to get you started, without you needing to chuck out your wardrobe and start again.

Four Tips To Help You Update Your Style

1. Break one of your own style rules. We all have style rules – those things we tell ourselves that we can and can’t do when it comes to dressing our bodies. It can feel empowering to break the rules sometimes. Only wear pants? Try a skirt or a dress for a change. Never wear flats? Give your feet a vacation and ditch the heels for a moment. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is almost guaranteed to nudge you out of wardrobe stagnation.
2. Get playful with your existing wardrobe. Look for different ways to wear the clothes you already have. Mix and match your favourite pieces. Belt that floaty dress. Throw that formal jacket over that casual top. Combine a couple of prints. Get creative and make the most of what you’ve got.
3. Think laterally – maybe the problem isn’t your clothing. Remember, your style is made up of many elements. Hair. Make-up. Accessories. Perhaps you need to tweak another element to get the style update you are looking for. A fresh hairstyle or a make-up lesson could change how you are feeling within an afternoon. And never underestimate the power of a new handbag or a killer pair of shoes.
4. Tap into inspiration. We all have things that inspire us to be our best. For me, that thing is France and all things French. For others, that inspiration might come from art or reading or travel. Take what inspires you and add a sliver of it to your wardrobe. It will add a spring to your step for sure.

Do you feel it is time for you to update your style? Or are you someone who updates their look regularly? Either way, I’d love for you to share your story in the comments section below.

And until next time – au revoir.