personal style

&
the perfect wardrobe

Define your personal style and rebuild your wardrobe from scratch.

W O R K B O O K

INTO MIND 2014

the long road to the perfect wardrobe

Personal style is more than just a

way to get dressed in the morning.
Its about celebrating creativity,
self-expression and figuring out
what makes you feel confident and
inspired every day.

So, you want to build the perfect

wardrobe? Youre in for an epic
quest. But fortunately, its a fun one
too!
Think of this workbook as your
personal road map to wardrobe
bliss. A precise step-by-step game
plan that will help you upgrade, rebuild and overhaul every aspect of
your personal style and wardrobe:
From your style concept to your
shopping strategy. With hands-on
instructions and lots of practical
tips along the way.
Youll learn how to separate your
true style preferences from passing
trends, how to create a kick-ass
signature look for your style and a
versatile capsule wardrobe. How
to write a truly helpful shopping
list, build up a comprehensive
brand guide and become your
own best stylist.

This book is strictly not about

fashion. Its not about figuring out
whether you are the bohemian
or the preppy type. On no page
will you be prescribed a set of Ten
wardrobe essentials every woman
needs, told which colours to wear
or how to dress up a maxi skirt.
Instead, what youll find in this
workbook is a set of easy-to-use
techniques to help you cultivate a
strong sense of style that is uniquely your own and curate a matching
wardrobe. A wardrobe that is perfect for your style and your life.
Are you ready? Then lets go!

table of contents

This book contains 17 practical

worksheets, all designed to transform one specific component of
your style or wardrobe. Complete
them back to back for a 360
wardrobe overhaul or create your
own programme.

01 // dissect your current wardrobe

02 // discover your unique style preferences

03 // analyse your lifestyle

15

04 // create a colour palette

19

05 // select your key proportions

24

06 // map out your style concept

28

07 // develop a signature look

33

08 // work out a basic wardrobe structure

39

09 // build your capsule wardrobe

44

10 // create a complete inventory for your wardrobe

51

11 // write a truly helpful shopping list

59

12 // explore your fit & fabric preferences

61

13 // write a brand guide for your personal style

64

14 // discover new item combinations

68

15 // style 10 perfect outfits

70

16 // build a travel wardrobe for any trip

76

17 // upgrade your wardrobe organization

79

how to use this workbook

If the current contents of your wardrobe only make you yawn or even
stress you out instead of inspire you
on a daily basis, its definitely time
to do something about it. Find out
how to best utilize the action steps
in this workbook and kick-start your
style journey.

First, a little disclaimer: If you are

looking for a book to read front to
back on a lazy Sunday afternoon,
this isnt it. To get the maximum
benefit from these worksheets you
need to a) print them out and b)
work with them, do the exercises
and dig deep. Write all over the
pages, add sketches and notes,
cross out entire sections, glue on
images, whatever you like. In
short: Put the WORK in workbook.
Tackle each worksheet step-by-step
and give yourself ample time to
develop your ideas. If you hit a
creative block, simply try again
tomorrow! Styling is a skill like any
other: It takes practice to get good.
And remember: You always have
the option to reprint individual pages, for example if you need more
space for your answers or want to
redo a page. Keep your workbook
in a binder, so you can easily take
out and insert individual sheets.

be completed over several days.

For anything in between, reserve
about two to four hours.
Difficulty: Some worksheets require
a little more brain power than others. The difficulty stars will tell you
whether you really need to concentrate (i.e. get coffee and turn down
music) or whether you can do it on
the couch with a cat on your lap.
Creative tasks pertain to the visual
aspects of your personal style and
will involve things like collecting
inspiration, working on the overall concept of your style or styling
outfits.
Practical tasks deal with the functional aspects of personal style,
including building a versatile
wardrobe structure, calculating
item frequencies, assessing your
lifestyle, and so on. Put on your
sensible hat for these.

Qu i c k f a ct s : The first page of

each worksheet includes four quick
facts (in the form of mini star ratings) about what kind of tasks you
can expect:
Time: Worksheets with a single
star can be ticked off in twenty
minutes or so, worksheets with five
stars are bigger jobs that need to
4

how to build the perfect wardrobe:

10 basic principles

These ten principles summarize the

philosophy that all of the techniques
in this workbook are based on.
Use them to inspire your own set of
guidelines, pinpoint your priorities
and keep track of your progress!

I. SELECTIVIT Y
Reserve your closet space for items that you love 100%.

II. DEFINITION
Develop a strong personal style and perfect your signature look.

III. QUALIT Y OVER QUANTIT Y

Build a wardrobe of high-quality key pieces that last you more than just
a few seasons.

IV. AUTHENTICIT Y
Forget conventional style typologies like classic or bohemian and create your own unique look.

V. F U N C T I ON
Aim for form and function. you should be able to walk, run and dance
in every outfit.

VI. S T YLE TRUMPS FASHION

Get excited about fashion trends that suit your own style but ignore others.

VII. INVES TMENTS

Invest time and thought into developing your style and selecting the perfect garments.

VIII. VERSATILIT Y
Select harmonizing, mixable items and build a strong foundation of key
pieces.

IX. COMF ORT

Comfort is a non-negotiable. if an item scratches, itches, tugs or rides
up out it goes.

X. EVOLUTION
Stay inspired and redefine your style often.
5

01 // dissect your current wardrobe

Step 1: Take stock! This worksheet

will help you dissect your current
wardrobes most and least favourite
items into a tangible list of elements
that you can then use to rebuild
your wardrobe from scratch.

Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

Even if you are convinced you

need new clothes ASAP: The first
step of any major wardrobe overhaul should always be a closer
look at the items that are currently
in your closet. Which pieces do
you love, which do you hate and
why?
What made you reach for the
same pair of boots several times
last week and why has that top
been sitting in the back of your
drawer for three months now?

Was it the colour, the fit, the material or just something about the
overall style of the item?
Use this worksheet to first identify
your most and least favourite wardrobe pieces (and give your closet
a mini detox while you are at it).
Then dissect the two groups into a
list of specific elements to use as
a handy reference during the next
steps.

S T E P 1 / / I D E N T I F Y M OS T A N D L E A S T FAVO U R I T E I T E M S
Make sure you have at least 1 hour of spare time and two big boxes ready for this first step. Then: Put on some music and
go through your entire (!) closet piece by piece. Put every item that you love and wear regularly into the first box. Items that
you dont like, hardly ever wear or you had already forgotten about go into the second box.
6

Next, you need to assess what exactly it is about those items that makes you love or hate them. Start with the first box,
your favourites. Pick up each piece, perhaps try it on, and then figure out which of its individual elements are the reason you like it so much. The soft cotton fabric? That perfect true red? The fitted waistline? Write each element into the
respective column below and add tally marks to the # subcolum for every other item that you love for the same reason.

s t y le

co l o u r

material

f it

When it comes to defining your personal style, knowing what you dont like is just as valuable as knowing what you do like.
So, for this step: Repeat the same process with the second box and write down all the elements you hate about your bad
items. If you have been diligent about keeping your closet well-edited and dont have too many items to analyse in your box,
think back to any pieces you once owned but quickly threw out. And the end, once you have analysed all bad items, find
another home for them (your friends closet, charity shops, etc.)

s t y le

co l o u r

material

f it

02 // discover your unique style

preferences

To define your personal style you

need to dig deep and get creative!
Your goal for this worksheet: Collect
a ton of inspiration from as many
different sources as you can and
then identify a set of key elements to
form the basis of your style concept.

Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

Your personal style is a unique mix

of individual elements: colours,
silhouettes, textiles, themes and
specific items all woven into one
coherent story line.

At the end you will be left with a

set of tangible elements that you
can use throughout the next steps
(e.g. to create a colour palette, a
style concept or a signature look).

But what if you have no idea what

individual elements you want to
base your style on, let alone what
story line you want it to convey?
Thats what this worksheet will help
you with. If you already have some
rough ideas, the steps on the next
few pages will help you further
shape and clarify them.

E x t ra t i p : Try not to complete

all steps of this worksheet in one
go. Take a one-day break from all
things style and fashion after your
initial inspiration search (step 1),
to allow your brain to organize
the huge amount of visual information you filled it with and give
your creative energy a chance to
recharge.

The first part of this worksheet is

all about discovering what kinds
of things resonate with you, what
inspires you: from whole outfits to
beautiful colour combos or even a
certain feeling or mood. Then, the
second step is to identify which of
these elements you actually want
to be a part of your style concept
and to what degree.

S T E P 1 / / CO L L E C T I N S P I R AT I ON
Set aside a couple of hours to browse a broad range of print, online and even real-life sources and write down everything
that inspires you in some way in regard to your personal style. Think colours, complete outfits, specific items, overall themes,
beauty looks or anything else that catches your eye. Tick off each source in the list below once you have gone through it
and write your findings into the respective boxes on the next page.

your go-to fashion magazines

lookbooks of your favourite brands

personal style blogs

architecture, design + art books

all of style.com

non-fashion magazines (home decor, travel, etc.)

websites/ books of fashion photographers

illustrations (fashion + non-fashion)

movies/ tv shows

online shops

vintage drawings, books + posters

friends + family members

10

co l o u r s

ove ra l l t he me s / mo o d

p ro p o r t i o ns/ o u t f i t s

s peci f i c i t em s

beauty

o t her

11

S T E P 2 / / A S S E S S I N S P I R AT I O N
This next step is about figuring out which of the elements that you discovered during your inspiration search, you want to
include in your style concept and to what degree. The table on the next page will help you evaluate each element based
on a range of different criteria, for example whether it is wearable, whether it suits your lifestyle or fits into an overall theme
with the other elements.

H ow t o:
First, write down your elements on the left. Then, for each element, move through the columns by answering the respective
questions. Each column acts as a filter for one specific quality that all elements in your style concept should have. Only
elements that make it through to the last column deserve a spot in your style concept.
The table includes space for twelve different elements. Feel free to print it out as many times as you need to work through
the set of elements you found during step 1 of this worksheet.

12

13

EL EM ENT
Yes (move on)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)
Yes (move on)
No (stop here)
Yes (move on)
No (stop here)
Yes (move on)
No (stop here)
Yes (move on)
No (stop here)
Yes (move on)
No (stop here)
Yes (move on)
No (stop here)
Yes (move on)
No (stop here)
Yes (move on)
No (stop here)
Yes (move on)
No (stop here)
Yes (move on)
No (stop here)
Yes (move on)
No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

C.

A.

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

D.

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

No (stop here)

Yes (move on)

E.

Side element

Key element

Side element

Key element

Side element

Key element

Side element

Key element

Side element

Key element

Side element

Key element

Side element

Key element

Side element

Key element

Side element

Key element

Side element

Key element

Side element

Key element

Side element

Key element

F.

A nswe r A - D el em e nt by e l em e nt. A. Do I really love this? B. Would I actually wear it (or do I only like it in an abstract way)? C. Does this suit my body shape and colouring?
D. Does this work with my lifestyle? Answer E + F wi t h al l e le m e n ts in m in d . E. Does this fit in with the overall theme of the other elements? F. Should this be a key or a side
element in my style concept?

K EY

S T E P 3 / / P R I OR I T I Z E S T Y L E E L E M E N TS
Use this page to further break down the final set of elements that made it through to the end of the table during the previous
step. For each element, think about whether youd like it to play a key or a side role in your wardrobe. For example, if one
of your elements is suede: do you want to wear suede boots, bags and jackets several times a week or only in small doses,
perhaps twice a month? As a second step, also consider whether an element already exists in your current wardrobe or not,
and then add it to the respective quadrant below.

key

mi ss ing

ex i s t i n g

si d e
14

03 // analyse your lifestyle

The perfect wardrobe not only

reflects your personal style but is
also 100% tailored to your lifestyle.
A three-part worksheet to help you
track your lifestyle, identify overand underrepresented areas in
your closet and visualize both your
current and ideal wardrobe composition.

Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

Personal style is only one half of

the puzzle. Your wardrobe should
also be functional and suit your
lifestyle.

Defining your own lifestyle can be

tricky, so the first step in this worksheet is to track your activities (and
your outfits) for a couple of weeks.

What does that mean exactly?

Two things: a) your wardrobe
should give you enough to wear
for all of your different activities
and b) its composition should
roughly match the time you spend
on each activity.

Based on that information you can

then go on to identify the most overand underrepresented sections in
your closet and, in the third step,
visualize your ideal wardrobe.

For example, if you work full-time

in a corporate environment and
go out for drinks twice a week on
average, the work wear section in
your wardrobe should be considerably larger than your nightlife/
going out section.

15

S T E P 1 / / T R AC K YOU R L I F E S T Y L E
The best way to get a clear idea of your lifestyle and how well your current wardrobe is tailored to it, is to track both your
activities and your outfits for a couple of days or weeks. So: For the next 16 days, take a minute or so each night to write
down what you did that day and what you wore. Dont worry about capturing every detail of your schedule or looks (a
couple of notes like school --> black dress + suede boots + denim jacket is enough), but make sure you do keep track of
every separate outfit you wear in a day, including the sweat pants + plain tee combo you rock at home.

what i did

what i wore

what i did

what i wore

what i did

what i did

what i did

what i wore

what i did

what i did

what i did

what i wore

what i did

what i wore

what i wore

what i did

what i wore

what i wore

what i wore

what i did

what i wore

what i wore

what i wore

what i did

what i wore

what i wore

what i did

what i did

what i did

what i wore

what i did

what i wore

16

S T E P 2 / / I D E N T I F Y + E VA LUAT E AC T I V I T Y A R E A S
Once you have tracked your lifestyle for 16 days, go back over your notes and identify your main activities. Think work,
school, running errands, casual daytime stuff, nightlife, lounging at home, formal special occasions, etc. Group activities for
which you wear the same kinds of outfits together and write your final list into the left column of the table below.
Next, check how many times during those 16 days you wore an outfit for each activity (adjust that number slightly if you
feel like the tracking period was not representative). Then, use the scales in the last column to indicate how well-represented
your activities are in your current wardrobe. For example: Do you own a huge selection of yoga pants even though you only
make it to class on average once a week (overrepresented)? Do have to repeat the same outfits for work more often than
you would want (underrepresented)? Or is the number of clothes you own for activity X roughly proportionate to the amount
of time you spend on it?

ACTIVIT Y AREA

no . o u t f i t s

how we l l - re p re se nt e d i s t hi s
a ct i v i t y i n yo u r wa rd ro b e ?

perfect
underrepresented

overrepresented
perfect

underrepresented

overrepresented

perfect
underrepresented

overrepresented

perfect
underrepresented

overrepresented

perfect
underrepresented

overrepresented

perfect
underrepresented

overrepresented

perfect
underrepresented

overrepresented

perfect
underrepresented

overrepresented

17

18

CURR ENT

I DEAL

Use the pie chart templates below to visualize both your current and your ideal wardrobe composition. Start with your current wardrobe. Use the activity areas you
identified in step 2 as categories and then divide your pie chart into sections that are proportionate to the space each activity takes up in your wardrobe. For example, if
25% of your wardrobe consists of everyday items, the respective activity should get a quarter of the pie chart. Then, based on all of the information you collected in this
worksheet, create an ideal wardrobe composition for your lifestyle, where each activity is optimally represented.

S T E P 3 / / V I S UA L I Z E YO U R L I F E S T Y L E

04 // create a colour palette

Every great wardrobe needs an

expressive, cohesive colour palette.
Use this worksheet to first pinpoint
your unique colour style and then
turn it into a versatile colour hierarchy for your wardrobe.

Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

We all have a natural preference

for certain colours and revealing
that preference is one of the most
essential steps you can take towards refining your personal style.

Your final goal: a 9-shade colour

hierarchy, complete with three
main colours, two neutrals and
four accent shades that express
your personal style and suit your
lifestyle.

Then, once you have a better idea

of your colour style, the best way
to ensure your wardrobe reflects
that style, is to work with a clearly defined colour palette from the
beginning.
Thats where this worksheet comes
in: In four steps it will walk you
through the entire process of developing a colour palette for your
wardrobe.

19

To figure out which colours you are naturally drawn to, browse your favourite blogs, Pinterest and magazines, and print or
cut out every image that speaks to you, purely based on its colours. Dont feel like you have to stick to fashion-related images
for this one: Anything goes, from outfit shots to graphic design to landscape photography and so on. Make sure you also
include any colour-specific inspiration you found while completing worksheet 02. Then, select your favourite images and use
them to create a colour mood board in the space below.

20

Next, you need to dissect your mood board into individual shades. Ask yourself: Which colours are the most dominant,
which best represent the overall feel of the mood board? Pick out up to 15 different shades and add a swatch of each below
(use coloured pencils or scraps of paper). Try to express the colour scheme of the mood board as accurately as possible.

S T E P 3 / / A S S E S S CO LOU R S
Just because you love a certain colour it does not automatically deserve a spot on your colour palette. A shade also needs to
be wearable, suit you and fit in with the rest of your look. Use the table on the next page to narrow down your colour set from
step 2 to a smaller, cohesive selection that you can then turn into a functional colour hierarchy for your wardrobe in step 4.
H ow t o:
Complete the table in two rounds. In round 1, answer the questions in columns A - C for each of the colours you picked out
in step 2 one by one. In round 2, inspect all shades that got three yeses as a whole, before answering question D.
Additionally to yes and no you also have a third option for each question: yes, with adjustments. Use it whenever a
shade needs some tweaking to fulfil the criterion. For example, if you picked out a bright purple shade from your mood
board, but realize it would clash with the other, less saturated colours, consider going with a more toned-down purple instead. Then, continue through the columns with the adjusted version of your colour.
21

22

COLOUR

A.

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

No

Yes

Yes
No

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Can I see myself wearing this in my

day-to-day life?

No

Yes

Do I really love this colour ?

C.

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Does it suit my colouring?

D.

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

Yes, with adjustments:

colours?

Does it fit the overall feel of the other

S T E P 4 / / C R E AT E A COLO U R H I E R A RC H Y
After step 3 you will be left with a set of colours that not only represent your unique colour preferences, but that are also
wearable and fit the same overall theme. Now its time to organize those colours into a hierarchy for your wardrobe. Go
through your set and for each colour, ask yourself how versatile it is and how big of a role you want it to play in your wardrobe. Choose nine shades in total: three main colours, two neutrals and four accent shades. Use the checklist below as a
guide and to make sure your final hierarchy is both functional and varied enough.

m ai n co lo u rs
3 shades that best represent the
essence of your colour palette

a cce nt sha d e s
4 colours to add variety

n e u t ra ls
2 colours to support and
balance out the other shades

f inal c hec klist

Do your main colours express the essence of your mood board? Can you see yourself wearing them a lot?
Do your neutrals work with every other shade in the palette? Could they effectively work to tone-down a look?
Does each one of your accent shades add variety to your palette (avoid fillers)?
Does you colour palette offer enough variety for you and can you already think of lots of colour combos to try out?
Do you love this colour palette and can absolutely imagine basing your wardrobe on it?
23

05 // select your key proportions

A versatile set of proportions is the

cornerstone of a well-structured
wardrobe. This worksheet will
help you figure out a range of key
proportions for your wardrobe that
not only express your style, but also
flatter your body shape and suit
your lifestyle.

Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

The best way to add structure to

your wardrobe and tailor it to your
lifestyle, your body and your taste,
is to work with the concept of proportions.

At the end youll be left with a

neat list of proportions that you
can use as a framework for your
next capsule wardrobe or as a
shortcut to building great outfits.

A proportion is essentially nothing

but a formula for a certain combination of item categories, like pencil skirt + loose-fitting shirt + mules
or high-waisted, skinny jeans +
cropped, boxy jacket + wedges.
In this worksheet, youll first brainstorm some proportions and then
assess each of them based on how
well they suit your body, your lifestyle and your style.

24

Use the prompts below to brainstorm a few possible proportions, i.e. specific combinations of item categories, for your
wardrobe and style concept.

Which are your current go-to proportions?

Which proportions stood out from your inspiration search for worksheet 02?
Which proportions do you always find
yourself repinning on Pinterest?
Which proportions do you love on other people but havent yet worn yourself?
Which single proportion would you
choose if you could only wear one for the
rest of your life?

S T E P 2 / / E VA LUAT E P ROP ORT I O N S

The key proportions in your wardrobe should do three things: a) reflect your style, b) suit your lifestyle and c) flatter your
body shape.
Use the table on the next page to evaluate each proportion you came up with during your brainstorming session. Write
your proportion idea in the left column and then start with the first question: Does this proportion reflect your style? If it does,
check the respective box and move on to the next question. If the answer is an honest no, consider whether you could tweak
the proportion somehow to make it fit your style. If you could, continue through the columns using the adjusted proportion.
Otherwise, stop there and repeat the process with the next proportion idea.
25

26

PROPORT ION ID EA

Yes (move on to next column)

No (stop here)
Yes, with adjustments (move on):

Yes (move on to next column)

No (stop here)
Yes, with adjustments (move on):

Yes (move on to next column)

No (stop here)
Yes, with adjustments (move on):

Yes (move on to next column)

No (stop here)
Yes, with adjustments (move on):

Yes (move on to next column)

No (stop here)
Yes, with adjustments (move on):

Yes (move on to next column)

No (stop here)
Yes, with adjustments (move on):

Yes (move on to next column)

No (stop here)
Yes, with adjustments (move on):

No (stop here)
Yes, with adjustments (move on):

Yes (move on to next column)

No (stop here)
Yes, with adjustments (move on):

Yes (move on to next column)

No (stop here)
Yes, with adjustments (move on):

Yes (move on to next column)

No (stop here)
Yes, with adjustments (move on):

Yes (move on to next column)

No (stop here)
Yes, with adjustments (move on):

Yes (move on to next column)

No (stop here)
Yes, with adjustments (move on):

Yes (move on to next column)

No (stop here)
Yes, with adjustments (move on):

Does t his propor tion suit your

l i f e st y l e ?

Yes (move on to next column)

sty l e?

D o es t hi s p ro p or t i o n re f l e c t yo u r

Yes, with adjustments:

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

No

Yes

Yes, with adjustments:

No

Yes

Does t h is propor tion suit your

body ?

S T E P 3 / / F I N A L I Z E YOU R S E T
Any proportion that made it through all three columns is a keeper! Write them all down into the table below for easy reference. While you are at it, also think about what kinds of activities you could wear each proportion for (work, play, gym?)
and add any first outfit ideas you may have at this point.

PROPORTION

g re at f o r t he se a ct i v i t i e s

outfit ideas

27

06 // map out your style concept

Use this worksheet to create a detailed style concept for your overall
personal style or a seasonal capsule
wardrobe. With space for a visual
summary, your key and side elements, beauty looks, sample outfits
and more.

Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

Your big goal for this worksheet

is to connect all the style components you gathered in previous
worksheets, like your proportions,
colour palette and other elements,
into a single cohesive concept and
a roadmap for your entire personal
style.
Use the steps on the next few pages to first decide on an overarching theme and then flesh out every
detail of your style concept: from
your key elements to your beauty
look.

Then, use your concept as the basis for your signature look, a seasonal capsule wardrobe, or simply
to build outfits that are 100% in
tune with your style.
E x t ra t i p : Personal style is rarely static, so try to revisit your style
concept from time to time (at least
every three months) to incorporate
new elements or give it a fresh angle.

On the long road to the perfect

wardrobe, creating a style concept is an absolute key step! So:
make sure you dont settle until you
come up with something that you
L-O-V-E.

28

S T Y L E CON C E P T / / H OW TO
As a first step, spend some time reviewing worksheets 01 to 05 and critically assess how everything fits together. What is
the big picture theme of your style? Once you have a clear idea of the overall story line of your style, you can start working
on the individual components of your style concept. Remember: This is a key step, so dont rush it! Be prepared to rewrite
your answers, reprint pages or even start from scratch a couple of times.

A . visual summar y
First, try to summarize the overall aesthetic of your style visually, as a set of images. Aim for precision and only use as many
images as you need to accurately convey the essence of your concept.

Now express your style using a different medium: words. Write full sentences, bullet points or single words. Describe the
overall look you are going for, what kinds of outfits you want to wear and what your style is inspired by. There is no need to
get into the specific elements your style consists of just yet, focus on the big picture, the main idea.
C . key + s i d e e le m e n t s
Your elements are what turn your main idea into something tangible, something to build outfits from. Fill in your key and side
elements from worksheet 02, but be prepared to adjust your selection if any elements no longer fit your overall concept. Also:
Do not include any elements related to colour, beauty or proportions here, reserve them for their own sections (see below).
D . co l our pa le t t e
Add your final colour palette from worksheet 04. Again: adjust if necessary.
E . pro por t i o n s
Fill in your final selection of proportions from worksheet 05.
F. b e a u t y l o o k
For this section, think about what kinds of hair and make up looks would best represent your style. If you need ideas, check
your final list from worksheet 02 for beauty-specific elements. Choose one everyday look and one special occasion look.

Based on all of the above components, write down a few sample outfits (or use images) that optimally express your style
concept. For now, dont worry about whether you can create those outfits with your current wardrobe. Your style concept
should accurately capture your ideal style, regardless of how close your wardrobe is to that ideal at the moment.
29

S T Y L E CON C E P T
(date/season)

VISUAL SUMMARY
(create a mini mood board that summarizes the overall feel of your style)

MAIN IDEA
(describe the essence of your style in a few sentences, words or bullet points)

30

S T Y L E CON C E P T
(date/season)

KEY ELEMENTS

SIDE ELEMENTS

(key pieces, looks + essential elements)

(side elements to add variety)

COLOUR PALETTE
(your main colours, neutrals and accent shades)

31

S T Y L E CON C E P T
(date/season)

PROPORTIONS
(list your key set of proportions/ outfit formulas)

(at least one everyday look + one special occasion look)

SA M P L E O U T F I TS
(as many concrete outfit ideas as you can think of)

(space for outfit snaps)

32

07 // develop a signature look

A step-by-step guide to designing

your own unique signature look:
Identify the essence of your style
concept and turn it into a wearable
5-component outfit formula.

Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

A strong signature look is the ultimate sign of great personal style

and an easy fast-track to stylish
dressing.
It is the flagship look of your entire personal style: the essence of
your style concept, i.e. its core elements, all packed into one outfit.
Finding the right signature look
for your style takes some digging:
You need to separate your key elements from non-essentials and then
combine everything into a single
outfit formula that you can recreate, in different versions, over and
over again.

This worksheet will guide you

through the complete process in
four steps.
Bear in mind that this is definitely
one of the harder sheets in this
workbook, so do not expect it
to be something you can tick off
during a lunch break! Give it your
best creative effort and be prepared to rewrite your ideas as often as needed.

33

S T E P 1 / / S U M M A R I Z E F U N C T I O N A L R E QU I R E M E N TS
Start by defining the functional criteria your signature look should fulfill. What qualities does it need in order to be optimally
tailored to your everyday life (think climate, activities, comfort, personal preferences)? Feel free to refer back to the lifestyle
analysis you completed for worksheet 03 for this one.

S T E P 2 / / S U M M A R I Z E S T Y L E R E Q U I R E M E N TS
Next, define the form criteria for your signature look. Go back over the style concept you created for worksheet 06 and
summarize the main idea in the box below.

34

Now its time to integrate form with function and design the five individual components of your signature look: its colour palette, proportion(s), accessories, hair & make up and additional details (e.g. specific styling techniques, materials or patterns).
Complete this step in two rounds, using the table on the next page:

ro u n d 1 For every component, come up with up to three alternatives that represent the essence of your style, as defined
in step 2. For example, for the component colour your three alternatives could be a) cool neutrals + brighter accents in red
and royal blue, b) achromatic colour scheme and c) shades of cool blue + light sand and white.
ro u n d 2 Assess each alternative from a functional standpoint: Does it match the criteria you laid out in step 1? If it does,
check the box in the last column.

Remember: A signature look is not a fixed combination of specific items, but a blueprint for an overall look that you can wear
in lots of different versions. So, instead of choosing single items or very specific elements as your alternatives (e.g. light blue
linen shirt or silver stud earrings), your goal is to come up with a defined, but flexible overall theme for each component (e.g.
light, cool colour scheme or delicate, silver jewellery).

35

functional
check

DETAIL S

HAIR & MAK E UP

ACCESSORIES

PROPORT I O N S

COLOUR

L i s t u p t o 3 a l t e r n a t i ve s t h a t best represent t he essence of your

s t y l e f o r e a c h co m p o n e n t

36

Use this page to experiment with different combinations of the components you came up with in step 3 and ultimately figure
out your final look. Do this by mixing and matching your favourite alteratives (that also passed the functional check) for each
component. Visualize how they all would look together, write down your thoughts and then rank your combos. Repeat the
process until you come across a combination that optimally represents your personal style and that you can see yourself
wearing a lot, in different versions.

pos s i bl e com b o o f c o m p o n e n t s

no t e s

ra n k

37

On this page write down the final blueprint for your signature look. Add its components on the left and also include a visual
example, like an outfit photo or a collage of items. And finally, list a few specific outfit ideas at the bottom of this page, i.e.
different ways to wear your signature look.

co l o u r p a l e t t e

propo r t i on( s )

m ai n i t em s

acces s oi res

hai r & m ake u p

SA M P L E O U T F I TS
variation 1

variation 2

variation 3

variation 4

38

08 // work out a basic wardrobe

structure

A quick formula to help you calculate how many pieces you need per
item category for a single wardrobe
section. Work out a basic structure
of item frequencies for your seasonal capsule wardrobe or find out
exactly how many bras, gym clothes
or evening dresses you should own.

Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

Figuring out how many clothes you

need is definitely one of the hardest parts of the entire wardrobe
building process.

Simply plug in your numbers and

proportions, follow the steps and
use the results as rough guides
when planning your next capsule
wardrobe or new additions.

Too many items and you lose track,

too few and you cant express your
style concept properly (and also
simply wont have enough to wear
for your day-to-day life).
To help you estimate the ideal
size and structure of your capsule
wardrobe or any other wardrobe
section, Ive come up with a simple
formula.

39

First, decide which wardrobe section you want to create your basic structure for. Possible sections could be your everyday
wear, your work wardrobe, your gym gear or the clothes you wear for special occasions. Next, select your no-repeats
period, i.e. the number of weeks you want to go without repeating the same exact outfit.
Then, based on these two pieces of information, calculate how many different outfits you have to be able to create using
the wardrobe section in question, for one no-repeats period. For example, if you work out three times a week and your
no-repeats period is two weeks, you need six different gym outfits (single items can be repeated of course, just in different
combinations). Or, if you work full-time and your no-repeats period is three weeks, you need 15 different outfits to wear
something different to work every day.

N O- R E P E ATS P E R I OD

weeks

OU T F I TS N E E D E D

40

In the left box, write down all of the proportions you want to create using your chosen wardrobe section. Refer back to
worksheet 05 if you need help with this step. Then, break down your proportions into individual item categories.

PROPORTIONS

41

S T E P 3 / / C A LC U L AT E I T E M F R E QU E N C I E S
Use the table on the next page to calculate a basic wardrobe structure based on the info you listed in steps 1 and 2. Move
through the columns from left to right, following the instructions below.
A . group
Group your item categories from step 2 by function, e.g. tops, bottoms, shoes, outerwear. Anything that you could not
physically wear at the same time, for example a pair of sneakers and a pair of heels, is likely going to belong into the
same group. List your groups in column A with enough space apart, so you can later convert them back into individual item
categories in column E.

Next, write down for how many outfits (out of the total number of outfits you need) you want to wear a piece from that group.
For example, lets say you need 20 different office outfits in total for four weeks. If you want to wear a jacket or a coat four
times a week, you would need an item from the outerwear group for 16 of the 20 outfits.
C . # repeat s
For each group, choose how many times within your no-repeats period you are ok with repeating the same item. For example, if your no-repeats period is four weeks and you want to wear each outerwear piece once a week, write down a 4.
D . # / gro u p
Divide column B by column C to get the number of pieces you need per group. Round up to whole numbers if you get
something like 4.25.
E . i t em cat eg o r y
List all item categories that belong to each group.
F. # / ca t e g o r y
Distribute the number of pieces you calculated in column D across the different item categories for each group. For example, if you need nine pieces of outerwear (group), you could aim for four coats + five jackets (your item categories) or six
coats + three jackets, depending on your preference.

EXAMPLE
A.
gro u p
tops

shoes

B.

C.

D.

# outfits

# repeats

# / group

11.5

21

21

E.
i t e m ca t e go r y

F.
# /category

crew-neck t-shirts

fine-knit sweaters

button-down shirts

slingbacks

flat sandals

loafers

4.25

42

(wardrobe section)

A.
gro u p

B.

C.

D.

# outfits

# repeats

# / group

E.
i t e m ca t e go r y

F.
# /category

43

09 // build your capsule wardrobe

Ready to tackle one of the biggest

milestones on the long road to the
perfect wardrobe? Use this worksheet to map out a mixable capsule
wardrobe for the current or upcoming season.

Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

This worksheet is where you put it

all together - your style concept,
the info you gathered from your
lifestyle analysis and your key proportions - to create a seasonal,
stand-alone capsule wardrobe of
about 20 to 30 pieces.
If you havent yet, go back to worksheet 08 and work out a basic
wardrobe structure for your day-today life based on your key proportions (make sure these are tailored
to the season you are creating your
capsule wardrobe for). Then, use
the template in this worksheet to
flesh out the details of that structure
and choose your 20 to 30 items.
Co l o u r v s i t e m fu nct i o n
On the next few pages youll find
two separate templates, one for
each of the two ways you can go
about selecting your items to ensure you final capsule wardrobe is
cohesive, but versatile.

1. Colour (pages 45-47)

Base your wardrobe on your colour palette if colour is often the
number one element you focus on
when building outfits or buying
new items, your colour palette is
one of the most defining aspects of
your style concept or you have a
signature look that you wear in lots
of different ways.
2. Item function (pages 48-50)
Organize your capsule wardrobe
by item function if you like to think
about your clothes in terms of key
pieces, basics and statement pieces, you often build outfits by choosing one item to be the focal point
of your look and then round it off
with a couple of basics, and you
usually pay more attention to things
like the cut, material or details of
an item, than its colour.

Before you get to work on your

capsule wardrobe, choose one of
the two:

44

45

Neutrals support and balance out your main and accent shades.

worksheet 08) in the corner box.

SKIRTS

ca t e g o r y

high-waisted/ soft peach

royal blue mini

heather grey midi

black pencil

red A-line

accen t sh ades
1

d) Reserve accent shades for larger item categories (five items or more).

some notes (colour, style, cut, etc.) about your ideal candidates for all missing slots.

mai n col ou r s

c) Where possible, include at least 2 different main colours per category.

lines and tick the mini checkbox to indicate that you already own this piece. Then, write down

EX AMPL E

b) Include at least one neutral per item category.

an item category in your wardrobe structure. For each, add a quick description on the dotted

across your entire capsule wardrobe.

a) Aim for 40% main colours, 30% neutrals and 30% accent shades

Next, fill each slot with an item you already own or can shop for. Go through your current

wardrobe first and pick out any item that fits one of the colours in your palette and belongs to

d is tr i b ut i on g ui d e l i ne s

st e p 3

main colours, neutrals and accent shades. Use the guidelines on the right as a starting point.

For each item category, distribute the total number of pieces across the three columns, i.e. your

ne u t ra l s

express the essence of your style concept.

to the first column and also write down how many individual pieces you need for each (from

st e p 2

Main colours are the key components of your colour palette and should

Add every item category you need to create your chosen proportions (from worksheet 04)

Accent shades add variety and depth to your palette.

co l o r p a l e t t e re c a p

st e p 1

46

ca t e g o r y

mai n co lo ur s

(season/date)

ne u t ra l s

accen t sh ades

47

ca t e g o r y

mai n co lo ur s

(season/date)

ne u t ra l s

accen t sh ades

48

Basics fill in and balance out your outfits.

you need for each (as calculated in worksheet 08).

COATS

ca t e g o r y

EX AMPL E

white, double-breasted

belted herringbone

key pieces
2

classic trenchcoat

fill the missing slots and pencil them into the table as well, but leave the checkboxes unticked.

the checkbox to indicate that you already own it. Then, think about what kinds of pieces could

red peacoat

st at em en t pieces
1

d) Reserve statement pieces for item categories with more than four items.

piece count!).

c) Include at least one key piece per item category (make that first key

in your wardrobe structure, fits your style concept and would make a good key piece, basic

or statement piece. Jot down a description of each item on the respective dotted lines and tick

b) Include at least one basic per item category, two if possible.

es across your entire capsule wardrobe.

a) Aim for an even distribution of key pieces, basics and statement piec-

d is tr i b ut i on g ui d e l i ne s

mentation.

item to buy. First, go through your closet and pick out any item that belongs to an item category

Your next job is to fill each slot either with an item you already own or notes on what kind of

st e p 3

how to find a good distribution.

key pieces, basics and statement pieces. Refer to the guidelines on the right for some tips on

Then, distribute the total number of pieces for each item category across the next three columns:

b a si cs

overall idea of your style concept 100%.

proportions into the first column. In the corner boxes, note down how many individual pieces

st e p 2

Key pieces are the workhorses of your wardrobe and should express the

Refer back to worksheet 04 and write every item category you need to create your chosen

Statement pieces add variety to your looks and allow room for experi-

it e m f unct i on ove r v i ew

st e p 1

49

ca t e g o r y

key pieces

(season/date)

b a si cs

st at em en t pieces

50

ca t e g o r y

key pieces

(season/date)

b a si cs

st at em en t pieces

10 // create a complete inventory of

your wardrobe

A handy worksheet to help you

create a complete inventory of your
wardrobe. With space to include
everything from your key pieces to
your accessories, plus lots of helpful
info, like the role of the item, its
condition and more.

Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

Its time to take stock! Once you

have already made some progress
with your wardrobe, set aside an
afternoon or so to go through your
entire closet and write a complete
inventory of every single thing in
it: From your main items to your
accessories, gym clothes, special
occasion wear and so on.

The template also allows you to

fully customize how you want to
group your items (more on that on
the next page).
Youll find five full pages for you to
fill in in this worksheet enough for
people with a small-ish wardrobe.
Everyone else: Simply print out as
many pages as you need!

Use your inventory to keep track

of your progress, note down
items that need to be repaired or
replaced and regularly check for
any gaps and surpluses. At the
beginning of a new season, use
your inventory as a starting point to
build your capsule wardrobe.
The inventory template on the next
few pages includes several columns for you to record the most
important details about your items,
for example what role they each
play in your wardrobe or what
seasons they can be worn in.

51

Before you can start your inventory, you first need to decide how you want to group your items and also select a few short
labels for the different functions in your wardrobe and your main activities, that you can use to further describe your items.
Use the space below to write everything out.

ACTIVITIES
Example:

Outerwear

Example:

W = Working in the office

Lightweight coats

D = Casual daytime activities

Winter coats

C = Meeting clients

...

...

ROLE
Example:

K = Key piece
B = Basic
...

52

53

W, C, We, D
C, N, D
C, N, We
W, N, D

D . a ct i v i t i e s

B
K
B

C. ro l e

favourite item! maybe get a second one?

repair zipper asap
wear with fitted tops only
dry-clean only!

Labels: S - signature look item, K - key piece, St - statement piece, B - basic, W - work, C - casual everyday, D - dressier daytime stuff, N - nightlife, We - weekends

....

special occasion skirts

SKIRTS
everyday skirts
black A-line
leather mini
navy maxi
grey bandage

A . ITEM

E. to be repaired

F. to be replaced

As shown in the example below, use the first column to list all of your items, organized into your chosen top-level categories.
Indicate which season(s) the item can be worn for: Spring, Summer, Fall and/or Winter. Feel free to adopt your own definitions for these.
Note down which role(s) the item plays in your wardrobe using your pre-defined labels.
List all applicable activities labels.
Use checkmarks to highlight any items that need to be repaired or replaced.
Space for additional notes about the item.

EX AMPL E

C.
D.
E+F.

A.

Once you have chosen your top-level categories and labels, reserve at least one full afternoon to go through your entire closet, category by category, and record every
single item in it. Use the columns to note down additional details.

S T E P 2 / / CO M P L E T E YOU R I N V E N TORY

54

A . ITEM
s

COMPLETE INVENTORY

C. ro l e

(date/season)

D . a ct i v i t i e s

E. to be repaired

F. to be replaced

55

A . ITEM
s

COMPLETE INVENTORY

C. ro l e

(date/season)

D . a ct i v i t i e s

E. to be repaired

F. to be replaced

56

A . ITEM
s

COMPLETE INVENTORY

C. ro l e

(date/season)

D . a ct i v i t i e s

E. to be repaired

F. to be replaced

57

A . ITEM
s

COMPLETE INVENTORY

C. ro l e

(date/season)

D . a ct i v i t i e s

E. to be repaired

F. to be replaced

58

A . ITEM
s

COMPLETE INVENTORY

C. ro l e

(date/season)

D . a ct i v i t i e s

E. to be repaired

F. to be replaced

11 // write a truly helpful shopping list

I present: the shopping list 2.0.

Use it to closely define your ideal
candidates for free wardrobe slots,
zap the urge to impulse-buy in the
bud and spend your budget the best
way possible.

Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

If you want to build the perfect

wardrobe, most of your decision
making should happen before you
hit the shops. You need a razor
sharp definition of what exactly it
is you are looking for, otherwise its
just way too easy to get distracted
by all the pretty things on display
and blow your budget on non-essentials and impulse buys.

Write down as much info as you

can, take your list with you when
you go shopping and then use your
criteria as a handy filter to quickly
scan every section in a store and
make smarter purchasing desions.
Reprint as often as needed!

The template on the next page will

help you define your target from
all angles. What role do you want
the item to play in your wardrobe,
what colour should it be, whats
your budget, and more.

59

60

ITE M
must-have elements
(fit, fabric, colour, etc.)

role of item in wardrobe

(basic, key piece, etc.)

(date/season)

(additional criteria, details, etc.)

nice-to-have elements

possible brands/shops

budget
l

priority

12 // explore your fit & fabric

preferences

Your clothes should not only look

good but also FEEL good and fit you
well. Explore a range of different
silhouettes, cuts and materials, and
then put together your own fit &
fabric guide with your favourites
and absolute no-goes.

Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

Fit and fabric are two of the trickiest but also most crucial elements
to get right when shopping for a
new item. Thats why its a good
idea to establish a few easy rules
of thumb early on in the process
about which fits and fabrics you
love and, just as importantly,
which you hate.

Use the last page of this worksheet

to summarize your findings and
give you something to refer back
to whenever you are on the hunt
for a new item.

This worksheet will help you create

your own fit & fabric guide in two
steps. First, you need to experiment and sample as many different materials, silhouettes, lengths,
necklines and finishes as possible.
The next page will give you lots of
ideas for where to get started.

61

Your first assignment: try on as many different fits and fabrics as you can. Go through your current closet first but then branch
out and hit the shops to discover new materials, cuts and finishes. Aim to complete the list below and tick off the fits & fabrics
you have tried and formed an opinion about, as you go along. At the end, create a summary of your preferences by writing
your most and least favourite fits & fabrics into the table on the next page.

Angora

Faux fur

Polyester

Tweed

Cashmere

Faux leather

Raw denim

Velvet

Chambray

Fleece

Rayon

Viscose

Chiffon

Knits

Satin

Wool

Corduroy

Leather

Silk

Cotton

Linen

Spandex

Denim

Mohair

Suede

nec k l i nes

s le eve s

waistlines

t yp e s o f t ro u se rs

Crew neck

Strapless

Tailored

Tailored

Scoop neck

Off-the-shoulder

Loose-fitting

Tapered

V-neck

Spaghetti straps

Straight

Pleated

Deep v-neck

Sleeveless

Fitted, but not tight

Chinos

Square neck

Cap sleeves

Slim-fitting

Slim-fitting

Boat neck

Short

Empire

Skin-tight

Halter neck

3/4-length

A-line

Boyfriend

Sweetheart neckline

Half-length

Drop waist

Flared

Turtleneck

Raglan sleeves

FITS TO TRY

Cowl neck

Dolman sleeves

Bootcut

t ro u se r l e ngt h

Harem

Full length

dres s /s k i r t l e n g t h

s k ir t t y p e

Ankle-length

Mini

Fitted

3/4-length

Above-knee

Straight

Knee-length

Knee-length

Full

Mid-thigh

Mid-length

A-line

Short

Maxi

Pleated

Hotpants

o t her

62

FITS I LIK E

63

13 // write a brand guide for your

personal style

Develop your own brand guide: a

go-to list of 10 to 20 brands that
align well with your personal style,
complete with lots of info on the
brands collections, sizing, return
policies and more.

One of the best ways to up your

shopping game is to put together a
little guide to your favourite brands
and stores with details on their collections and practical things like
shipping costs or return policies.
That way, the next time you need
a specific item fast or want to implement a bigger overhaul, you
already have a short list of brands
that you can focus on and know
your way around.

Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

Start with your current go-to shops

and brands, but then branch out
and try to broaden your selection
as much as possible.
There is space for 12 different
brands on the next few pages, but
feel free to print out additional copies if you need more!

To create a truly useful brand guide

you need to dig deep and collect
as much info as possible: Which
of the brands styles work especially well on you? Which can you
ignore? What is their sizing like?

64

bes t f o r

b e st f o r

a vo i d

a vo i d

no t es

no t e s

re t u r n p o l i c y

re t u r n p o l i c y

s hi ppi ng

my sizes

shi p p i ng

bes t f o r

b e st f o r

a vo i d

a vo i d

no t es

no t e s

re t u r n p o l i c y

re t u r n p o l i c y

s hi ppi ng

my sizes

shi p p i ng

my sizes

my sizes

65

bes t f o r

b e st f o r

a vo i d

a vo i d

no t es

no t e s

re t u r n p o l i c y

re t u r n p o l i c y

s hi ppi ng

my sizes

shi p p i ng

bes t f o r

b e st f o r

a vo i d

a vo i d

no t es

no t e s

re t u r n p o l i c y

re t u r n p o l i c y

s hi ppi ng

my sizes

shi p p i ng

my sizes

my sizes

66

bes t f o r

b e st f o r

a vo i d

a vo i d

no t es

no t e s

re t u r n p o l i c y

re t u r n p o l i c y

s hi ppi ng

my sizes

shi p p i ng

bes t f o r

b e st f o r

a vo i d

a vo i d

no t es

no t e s

re t u r n p o l i c y

re t u r n p o l i c y

s hi ppi ng

my sizes

shi p p i ng

my sizes

my sizes

67

14 // discover new item combinations

Are you in the mood for a mini

styling challenge? A two-page
worksheet to help you discover new
favourite combinations and see how
far your wardrobe can take you.

This worksheet is all about flexing

your styling muscles and coming
up with fresh new outfit ideas.
Use it whenever youre bored with
your current go-to looks or want to
figure out how to integrate a new
item into your wardrobe.
Heres how it works: Pick two item
categories that can be worn together (e.g. skirts + tops or dresses + shoes) and then select three
items from your closet for each category. Those six items and the nine
combinations you can create with
them in total, are your base looks
that you need to style.

Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

Challenge yourself to make each

combination look as great as possible using other items from your
wardrobe, accessories, hair and
make up.
For each look, note down how you
styled it and what activities you
could wear it for.
At the end, rank your nine looks
(use the box in the lower right corner) and give each of them your
final verdict: new favourite, wear
or avoid.

EX AMP LE
look
Paired with
Black suede jacket
Accessories
Rose-gold jewellery + wedge heels
Hair & make up
Low bun + red lips or soft gold eye
When could I wear this?
Drinks after work, dinner dates, etc.

ve rd i ct
Love it, new favourite!
Good, wear it!
Bad look, dont wear!

2
68

I T EM A

ITEM 1

ITEM 3

l oo k

look

look

Paired with

Paired with

Paired with

Accessories

Accessories

Accessories

Hair & make up

Hair & make up

Hair & make up

When could I wear this?

When could I wear this?

When could I wear this?

ve rd i ct

ve rd i ct

ve rd i ct

Love it, new favourite!

Good, wear it!
Bad look, dont wear!

Love it, new favourite!

Good, wear it!
Bad look, dont wear!

Love it, new favourite!

Good, wear it!
Bad look, dont wear!

l oo k

look

look

Paired with

Paired with

Paired with

Accessories

Accessories

Accessories

Hair & make up

Hair & make up

Hair & make up

When could I wear this?

When could I wear this?

When could I wear this?

ve rd i ct

ve rd i ct

ve rd i ct

Love it, new favourite!

Good, wear it!
Bad look, dont wear!

ITE M C

ITEM 2

Love it, new favourite!

Good, wear it!
Bad look, dont wear!

Love it, new favourite!

Good, wear it!
Bad look, dont wear!

l oo k

look

look

Paired with

Paired with

Paired with

Accessories

Accessories

Accessories

Hair & make up

Hair & make up

Hair & make up

When could I wear this?

When could I wear this?

When could I wear this?

ve rd i ct

ve rd i ct

ve rd i ct

Love it, new favourite!

Good, wear it!
Bad look, dont wear!

Love it, new favourite!

Good, wear it!
Bad look, dont wear!

Love it, new favourite!

Good, wear it!
Bad look, dont wear!
69

15 // style 10 perfect outfits

The perfect ten: Use this worksheet

to create a catalogue of at least ten
fail-proof outfits. With space to plan
out every detail from the main items
to accessories and variations.

For bad wardrobe days, for days

when you need to look and feel
your best or for when you just dont
have the time to think about what
to wear in the morning: Everyone
needs a set of go-to looks in their
repertoire.
This worksheet will help you finetune and record your very own set
of fail-proof outfits.

Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

First, get creative

and experiment. Refer back to your
style concept, incorporate new inspiration and perfect tried-and-tested combinations. Fine-tune each
look until you love it 100%.
Then, use the templates on the
next pages to record your ten best
outfits, including every single item
they consist of.

To make it easy to replicate each

look later, make sure you also note
down things like whether you rolled
up your sleeves or half-tucked your
shirt, and include a photo of you
wearing it.
Next, think about what kinds of activities you could wear your outfit
for, i.e. everyday life, work, going out, etc. Optional: Add some
notes about possible variations of
the look.
For that first set of outfits, really aim
high: Try to come up with the best
ten looks your wardrobe has to offer. Then, as you get to know your
wardrobe better and better, add
more outfits to your catalogue.

70

OU T F I T 1 / /
per f ect f o r

m ai n i t em s
(photo)

acces s or i es

hai r & m ake u p

va r i a t i o n s

OU T F I T 2 / /
per f ect f o r

m ai n i t em s
(photo)

acces s or i es

hai r & m ake u p

va r i a t i o n s

71

OU T F I T 3 / /
per f ect f o r

m ai n i t em s
(photo)

acces s or i es

hai r & m ake u p

va r i a t i o n s

OU T F I T 4 / /
per f ect f o r

m ai n i t em s
(photo)

acces s or i es

hai r & m ake u p

va r i a t i o n s

72

OU T F I T 5 / /
per f ect f o r

m ai n i t em s
(photo)

acces s or i es

hai r & m ake u p

va r i a t i o n s

OU T F I T 6 / /
per f ect f o r

m ai n i t em s
(photo)

acces s or i es

hai r & m ake u p

va r i a t i o n s

73

OU T F I T 7 / /
per f ect f o r

m ai n i t em s
(photo)

acces s or i es

hai r & m ake u p

va r i a t i o n s

OU T F I T 8 / /
per f ect f o r

m ai n i t em s
(photo)

acces s or i es

hai r & m ake u p

va r i a t i o n s

74

OU T F I T 9 / /
per f ect f o r

m ai n i t em s
(photo)

acces s or i es

hai r & m ake u p

va r i a t i o n s

OU T F I T 10 / /
per f ect f o r

m ai n i t em s
(photo)

acces s or i es

hai r & m ake u p

va r i a t i o n s

75

16 // build a travel wardrobe for any

trip

A quick one-page template to help

you map out a complete travel
wardrobe for any destination. Tailor
your wardrobe to your travel plans,
create a no-fuss packing list and
plan out your outfits!

No matter whether you are just going sightseeing for the weekend or
on a full 3-week beach vacation:
A little bit of pre-trip planning will
save you time, energy and valuable suitcase space.

a few complete outfits for the first

couple of days.
T ip: If you travel a lot, why not
build up your own catalogue of
travel wardrobes by storing all of
your wardrobe plans in one place.

Just like a capsule wardrobe, your

travel wardrobe should be 100%
tailored to your lifestyle, or in this
case: your travel plans and destination.
Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

Use the template in this worksheet

to create a mixable travel wardrobe for your trip and also plan out

Add the destination and length of your trip at the top of the page and find out what the weather will be like. Then, do this:

S T E P 1 In the table on the left, write out every activity youll be doing on your trip, e.g. sightseeing, lounging at the pool,
going out at night, and so on. Group activities for which you can wear the same types of outfits together. Next: For each
activity, estimate how many different outfits youll need in total and select one or two proportions.

S T E P 2 In the table on the right, list all item categories you need to create your proportions from step 1. Then, figure
out how many items you have to bring per category to allow you to create enough outfits for all of your activites (for longer
trips, refer back to worksheet 08 for help with this step). Lastly, choose specific items from your wardrobe to fill each slot.

S T E P 3 Plan out up to eight days worth of outfits (use one box per day or one box per outfit, however you like).
76

w here am i g o in g ?

f o r h ow l o n g ?

London, UK

4 days

20 - 25 C, sunny

ACTIVITIES
act i v i t y
sightseeing/
shopping

dinner/nightlife

TO PAC K
o u t f it s
4

p ro p o r t io n

i t e m ca t e go r y

details

daytime dress or shorts

+ drapey camisole +
loafers or flat sandals
+ optional cover up
(linen shirt)

day-time dress

patterned sundress

shorts

blue-white striped

drapey camisole

black + white

flat sandals

tan

loafers

black leather

linen shirt

white

high-waisted skirt

black wrap skirt + navy

sleeveless top

tan + navy/beaded

simple black + camel

evening dress

black chiffon

high-waisted skirt +
sleeveless top + heels

going to the
opera

chic but low-key evening dress + heels

heels
running shorts

grey

running (hyde

running shorts + t-shirt

+ running shoes

t-shirt

grey + light blue

running shoes

white

park!)

daytime look 1: patterned sundress + loafers

daytime look 2: shorts + white

camisole + sandals

daytime look 3: patterned sundress + sandals

daytime look 4: shorts + black

camisole + loafers

to go running at night: running

shorts/shoes + grey t-shirt

to go running at night: running

shorts/shoes + blue t-shirt

nighttime look 1: black wrap

skirt + tan top + camel heels

nighttime look 2: navy skirt +

navy top + black heels

nighttime look 3 (opera): black

chiffon dress + black heels

nighttime look 4: navy skirt +

tan top + camel heels

77

w here am i g o in g ?

f o r h ow l o n g ?

ACTIVITIES
act i v i t y

TO PAC K
o u t f it s

p ro p o r t io n

i t e m ca t e go r y

details

78

17 // upgrade your wardrobe

organization

The perfect closet is one that fits

not only the contents, but also the
dynamics of your wardrobe. Use
this worksheet to rethink how you
store every section of your wardrobe from your main pieces to
your underwear and sketch out
your ideal storage system.

How you store your clothes should

come as more than just an afterthought.
A great organization system will do
wonders for your style by supporting your creative process and the
unique structure of your wardrobe.
Plus, it makes getting dressed so
much easier in the morning

Sometimes all it takes is a little

DIY, some reshuffling or even just a
stack of plain boxes to add some
much needed structure.
Before you start, check out the
three principles of great storage
systems on the next page.

This worksheet gives you a chance

to re-examine your current storage
system, section by section.
Time
Difficulty
Creative
Practical

Whether you use it to plan out a

complete closet redo or just a mini
update is up to you.

79

Your items should be stored according to how often you wear them. Frequently used items have to be easily
accessible, special occasion stuff can be stored in harder-to-reach places like bottom drawers or top shelves.

Your closet should be tailored to the unique structure of your wardrobe. This means organizing clothes by the
role they play in your wardrobe instead of arbitrary characteristics. For example, instead of sorting your tops
by sleeve-length, create categories based on function, i.e. basic, key piece, uniform item, statement piece, etc.

ITEM PROTECTION
Your closet system should protect your clothes and not unnecessarily reduce their lifespan. For example, always
fold (dont hang) heavy knits to prevent them from losing shape, avoid wire hangers in general, ensure good air
circulation and so on.

Use the table on the next page to assess how you currently organize your clothes. First, add all of your major wardrobe
sections/item categories to the left column, for example: outerwear, gym clothes, everyday knits, statement tops, underwear
and so on. Then, row by row, work your way through the questions in the columns: how do you currently store that section,
how happy are you with that solution overall, how accessible does it need to be and how accessible is it currently?
At the end, brainstorm a few ways you could upgrade your current storage method for each section based on the three
principles of wardrobe organization above.
80

81

SECTION

current storage
method
high
medium
low
high
medium
low
high
medium
low
high
medium
low
high
medium
low
high
medium
low
high
medium
low
high
medium
low

ok
not good
great
ok
not good
great
ok
not good
great
ok
not good
great
ok
not good
great
ok
not good
great
ok
not good
great
ok
not good

current
accessibility

great

how happy are

you overall?

low

medium

high

low

medium

high

low

medium

high

low

medium

high

low

medium

high

low

medium

high

low

medium

high

low

medium

high

ideal
accessibility
alt er n atives

82

CURR ENT

I DEAL

Get some coloured pencils and draw out your current wardrobe set up as accurately as you can in the space below. Colour code or label the individual wardrobe
sections. On the right, plan out your new and improved wardrobe based on your ideas from step 1.

your style and your process

Style is a simple way of saying

complicated things.
Jean Cocteau

By now you know that the perfect

wardrobe cannot be cooked up in
a weekend. But, hopefully, after
working through this book you also
know that great style is not something thats reserved for the Emmanuelle Alts of this world, but something you can develop for yourself.
You can figure out what you like,
build a strong personal style and
feel confident in your skin and excited about getting dressed every
day. All you need is the right strategy, a handful of techniques and a
little motivation.
And remember: Running out
of ideas, feeling stuck or overwhelmed are all totally normal
parts of the creative process (ask
any writer, designer or artist). The
trick is to simply keep going.

If you feel like nothing ever suits

me, you havent found your personal style yet, so keep digging.
If building a capsule wardrobe
seems like an impossible goal,
continue working on your proportions, signature look and wardrobe structure. If you are having
a hard time putting together outfits
you like: Practice!
Eventually, things will start to come
together and youll have a refined
style and an amazing wardrobe to
show for your perseverance.

For lots more tips and articles on personal style, practical

minimalism and building the
perfect wardrobe, head over to
www.into-mind.com.

83

 2014 Anuschka Rees

All rights reserved. No part of this publication shall be reproduced,
transmitted or resold without the prior written consent of the author,
except for brief quotations as part of a book review.

84