Defining My Style: Using Pinterest

Since I have been blogging and posting my outfits (about 1 1/2 years now) I have really been working on defining my style, becoming a smarter shopper (not wasting money!), and most of all, being confident in what I wear. For the next little while I want to occasionally share what I have been doing to define my style.

In February I shared with you this link to the No Brainer Wardrobe. I loved the idea of making a board on Pinterest where I could collect images of outfits that just "spoke to me" and seem to really reflect my style. Click here to see the entire board I made. Here is a sampling of some of the images from the board that reflect what I see as my personal style:

Source: rebelattitudes.com via Aubree on Pinterest

Source: capecodcollegiate.tumblr.com via Aubree on Pinterest

Source: mommagoround.com via Aubree on Pinterest

Source: avestyles.com via Aubree on Pinterest

Source: puttingmetogether.com via Aubree on Pinterest

Source: thankfulforsight.tumblr.com via Aubree on Pinterest

After several weeks of collecting pins, I analyzed them and made a list of things that make up my style. Now, some of these items are trendy, but some I have liked for years and years (even before the trend- such as stripes) and I know I will like them for a long time. Maybe some of these things will fade and I will have to rework the list (such as maxi skirts/dresses). However, having a solid base of things I like in my wardrobe will allow for some trendy purchases.

Patterns: Stripes, polka dots, floral

Colors: Yellow, red, blue, orange- the colors straight out of the crayon box and some shade variances

Style: Nautical, ladylike, structured

Items:

• Jackets and blazers
• Cropped pants
• Skinny and flared pants
  
• Belts
• Big necklaces
• Maxis
• Midi skirts (solids and prints)
• Pencil skirts
• Boots
• Wedges
• Pretty blouses with high necklines and many possibilities
• Cardigans
  

I knew I wanted to get several new items for this spring so I made a shopping list of things that I was missing from the above list (or just wanted!).

• Jacket
• Cropped pants in colors that coordinate with my wardrobe
• Solid pencil and midi skirt
• Wedges in colors that coordinate with my wardrobe
• Pretty blouses... no t-shirts and no funky patterns

I have done a lot of shopping over the last few weeks and feel that I have done a good job at purchasing items that will be remixable and not regret purchases. In an upcoming post I will show you all I bought and together we can analyze it and see how I did. In yet another part of this series I want to examine items in my closet that were good purchases and analyze why. I will also look for items that I regret buying and find out why. This will enable me to make another list... a list of items to avoid purchasing. I think that will help me to avoid making poor choices in the future.

Do you have any suggestions of other exercises or tactics I can use to be a smarter shopper? Do share!!!