Hey guys. So here I have Jasmine. She asked me to help her build her personal style. For me, there is an entire process to developing one's style and it definitely takes time. Most people think they know what they want to look like until they actually have to shop for the items. A lot of times it just takes some refinement and the process of trial and error to figure out what works for different people. So be patient and take it one step at a time. So when I first started with Jasmine I just asked some simple questions like what she likes to wear, the type of look she's going for, what she thinks her best features are, and what are some basic staples she already has. These are major things to think about before making a shopping trip to ensure you are not buying unnecessary things or items that don't compliment the clothes in your current closet. It helps one narrow done what it is that you might need to really complete your wardrobe or enhance it, whatever direction you are looking to go in.

We went to a few different places but we made some purchases at three stores; the thrift store, Zara, and then Forever 21. At the thrift store we found a few tops and a really nice fitted trench coat. The first thing I spotted was that salmon colored trench. I fell in love! It was impeccably kept up by its previous owner, everything about it was perfect. Jasmine is on the shorter side and the jacket was still a great length on her and it just fit her so nicely. The tops we picked out could either be worn for work or an everyday look. She was obsessed with the bright green tropical top, so I let her get it and figure out what she wants to do with it later. Everyone has their own personal style if you don’t have pieces in your closet that make you happy then what’s the point of dressing with a purpose. At Zara, we were focusing on finding some quality staples that could be used to pair with anything. Here, she found a really nice black leather jacket that could be an everyday staple item that could make any outfit feel completed. She also found some really cute black leather loafers. These shoes could be used to dress up a simple outfit, making it polished or even make an outfit sort of quirky. Then at Forever 21 she found two pair of jeans that she really needed; a black pair and a basic blue denim which are both staples for any outfit. She also found one printed midi dress that can easily be thrown on as a quick outfit to run errands or just to go out during the day. We found a nice turtleneck and windbreaker just as filler pieces to layer with and complete an outfit. Lastly, she found some accessories to enhance her outfits. I had her focus on golds because based off of this color palette, it's better if she has accents of gold in her wardrobe creating a rounded and warm look. It also could set a tone for other outfits she may already own in her wardrobe.

Now looking at these receipts, she did spend a pretty penny, but that doesn't always have to be the case. If you don't have the money at the time you can definitely wait until stores are having big sales or special promotions going on. You also don't have to buy in bulk when you go shopping; it's definitely ok to buy one or two pieces at a time. Another option, if you don't have the free time, is to consider shopping online, where most brands have deals going on. But if you're a person who worries about online clothing fitting properly, pay attention to those sites that offer free shipping/returns so that you don't have to worry about paying to ship items back if they don't fit. Also this gives you the opportunity to see all your options on one screen and all together. You can easily shop three different places and sort of make outfits between them all because you can easily flip back and forth through the sites to make sure you are making a cohesive look. This too lets you see what you have at home and then make your decision without buying something too similar to what you already own. However, if you truly are the one that needs to see clothing in person, just pay attention to when stores are having sales so that you can possibly make a list of what you are potentially looking for so that you can stay on track and shop with a purpose.

So what's on your shopping list? Are you looking to refresh or revamp your entire wardrobe? I'm willing to help so let me know!