I’m not sure whether I’m meant to admit this, but I really do get a kick out of clothes and dressing up. Ever since my teen years when I relished experimenting with fish net stockings (thankfully they didn’t stick) and colourful berets (those actually did), I found the idea of donning an outfit both interesting and awash with possibilities. Dave still credits my knee-length camel-coloured coat as one of the reasons I caught his eye at university all those years ago. (Although he also coveted my bright yellow car, so I’m not sure how much stock to put in that revelation).

We all have to wear something. Whether it is the tee-shirt and jeans we glumly pull out of the closet every morning, or the pencil skirt and stiletto heels – the clothes that we wear can have a big impact on the way we feel about ourselves, and the messages we send out to the world.

Once you become a mother the idea of getting dressed can seem more like – ‘okay, what doesn’t have a spew stain on it’, or ‘I just want something that fits because my body sure isn’t arranged in quite the same way anymore’. I think the practicalities of one’s wardrobe certainly shift when little ones come along, but that doesn’t have to take all the enjoyment out of it.

I’m not advocating becoming obsessed with fashion, slavishly following trends or dashing out to buy a whole new wardrobe every season. What I have learned – over the past twenty or so years of enjoying the process of approaching my closet is this – it can actually be fun, if you are willing to let it.

Here are some of the tips I’ve gleaned along the way:

1. Shop at an Op Shop

Ever since the moment when I sank my hard-earned cash into a striped turtle-neck jumper (yeah, I’m questioning my tastes too) and promptly accidentally washed out the vivid blue and purple colours to an awful khaki tone, I resolved never to put myself in that position again.

Op shops are the best. Quite aside from the fact that you save a hell of a lot of money and save the planet from the perils of fast fashion, you can also experiment freely with a sense of style without feeling as if you are tied to your purchases. Known as sunk cost bias, it is the notion that you end up valuing something simply because you paid a lot of money for it, rather than because you actually think it is cool. When you pay $4.99 for a collared shirt or $8.99 for a dress, it really doesn’t matter so much if the item doesn’t work in the day to day, you can just bag it right up to go back to Savers.

I have been very contentedly shopping at op shops for as long as I can remember, and (almost) every single item in my current wardrobe has been procured from one of my treasure hunts or is a hand-me-down (up?) from my sister or other friends. You probably shouldn’t get me started on this topic. I could espouse the values of op shops for hours!

2. Experiment with a Style of Your Own

I have been through many style variations over the years and I love that freedom of being able to figure out what really works for me. Elements that are important to me now are:

1. Colour (is it one I actually wear? Brighter colours or vibrant floral prints might look nice on the hanger but for me I know I actually reach for the more plain colours – navy, deep red, black, white and grey.)
2. Style (is it a classic, French style? I love the clean lines, the contours of the outfits that flatter and don’t cling to the wrong places.)
3. Comfort (am I actually going to be able to wear it? Some outfits look amazing on the hanger, but if I don’t feel great wearing it, chances are I won’t pick it out again. Even today I bagged up an Alannah Hill top that looks nice but the wool is scratchy and clingy around the middle which drives me crazy.)
4. Quality (Is this going to last? When you shop at Savers, you can afford to look for the items that are made well. I look for items that are tailored nicely and won’t be too much effort to wash or maintain).
5. Body shape (What flatters the body I have? We all have flaws and great points. Something that might look amazing on someone else may well look terrible on me. As an example – I don’t own a single pair of pants because I just find they just don’t flatter my thighs at all. I look for skirts that sit at the waist and flare out, tops that are fitted without clinging and dresses that come to the knee or just above).

The answers to the above questions will look different for you – perhaps your style is Bohemian, Minimalist or perhaps it is athletic wear. Set up a Pinterest board and go crazy! Here’s mine as an example.

 3. Don’t Get Tied to Trends

This follows on from the previous, but if you find a style that works for you, stick with it!

Life is too short to have to recycle your wardrobe every season just because some magazine tells you that sock booties and bishop sleeves are ‘in’ now, or ‘make sure you wear mint green or a pop of yellow’.  Wear what you love and feel good in, girlfriend!

4. Accessorise!

This is one of my favourite parts. A simple scarf, hat, belt or necklace can transform an outfit into a completely new one if you are willing to be creative about it! The best bit – accessories cost a couple of dollars (if you shop at Savers, that is). There is something rewarding about having a few key pieces that you know work for you, and you can just switch in a different belt/necklace combo for summer or a hat/scarf/tights combo for winter. It’s the French way!

5. Enjoy it!

When you own what you put on your body, there is a subtle shift that takes place. Rather than seeing it is another chore to pick out clothes in the morning, if you can manage to enjoy the process, it makes such a difference. And if you want someone to come with you on a trip to Savers to figure out your style, just let me know, haha!

I know these tips aren’t exactly rocket science, but I have loved writing about this! Over to you now. What are your style tips? If you could label your style, what would it be (in three words max)?