💌 Style Mail: The struggle between "I don't need anything" & "I want to toss my entire wardrobe!"

Why it feels worse in the summer & what you can do about it

If you’ve ever thought “I just want to toss it all & start fresh” with your wardrobe, you’re not alone. And this feeling can be amplified in the summer - it’s hot, you’re going on trips, you’re attending outdoor events, you’re showing more skin, etc. And getting dressed (and feeling cute) seems that much harder.

But then you go into your closet & realize you have enough clothes. So, buying an entire new wardrobe probably isn’t the answer (and believe me from experience - it’s a lot of work!). So, what can you do when it’s halfway through summer & things aren’t feeling right?

First, take a breath. Second, figure out what the problem really is. Maybe you’re just missing cute shoes to finish off your outfits. Or you want to dress summery, but not in a tank top & shorts. Or you just need no-brainer outfit ideas (because all your energy is being sucked up by the news cycle).

So, here’s what I recommend: breathe again - because it’s just clothes. And then take a look at my client-tested advice to feel stylish in the summer (without tossing your whole wardrobe).

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🗒️ Style Notes

If you have a hard time completing your outfits, you may be missing something. Because, while you don’t need a whole new wardrobe, a new piece (or two) may breathe life into what’s already sitting in your closet.

These are 5 things that I recommend to my clients every summer.

When you’re running late. Or you don’t have any energy. Or the dress that you planned to wear is in the hamper. You need some easy outfit formulas to save the day.

Here are 5 super easy summer outfit ideas (that are probably sitting in your closet).

It may feel like getting dressed for summer is all about tank tops & shorts. Or strappy dresses. Or miniskirts. But it doesn’t have to be.

Check out these outfit strategies for when you want to keep cool, but you don’t want to show too much skin.

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🕶️ Style Tip

Before you toss something from your closet - have you thought about upcycling it? Upcycling can be as simple as turning your jeans into shorts. Or it an be a little more complex (but still totally doable), like creating a top or a skirt out of a dress.

I recently had an amazing upcycling experience with Unshattered. I had a coat that I loved, but it just wasn’t working for me. So, rather than letting it sit in my closet (doing no good for anyone), I shipped it off to Unshattered. We met via Zoom to chat through details, exchanged a few emails & now I have an amazing bag that I love.

Unshattered is a non-profit organization that creates bags from upcycled materials, with the goal of ending the addiction relapse cycle. The bags are handcrafted in NY by women who are thriving in recovery. You can work with Unshattered to create a custom bag from uniforms, wedding gowns, coats, tapestries, shirts & more. And you can shop their website for tons of bags that are currently in stock.

P.S. Unshattered gifted this bag to me - but I’ll definitely be creating another one soon!

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☝️ One more thing

Have you been enjoying Style Mail? Then forward it to a friend! I’m always happy to help more people demystify the notion of style & just enjoy getting dressed more.

And if you have any feedback, let me know. Tell me what you love about Style Mail, what you’d be okay without & what you’d like to see in the future.

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