I have about two weeks left for this fall’s capsule wardrobe, and I’ve reached the point where I’m getting pretty tired of wearing the same few outfits over and over again. It’s nice not to have to put much thought into what I’m going to wear, but on the other hand, I’m a little bored. I’m craving more variety and missing some of the items I packed away. Now that the weather has gotten cold, I’m wishing I had more sweaters to choose from. I’ve also had to attend more trials than usual this fall, and wearing the same two suits week after week is getting old.

So, in anticipation of having more choices available soon, I’ve been thinking more about fashion lately. What will I wear when I can wear anything again? What have I missed, what have I not missed, and what needs have I identified in my wardrobe? Limiting myself to a small capsule wardrobe for a while helps me to gain a clearer sense of what appeals to me and how I define my own personal style.

I didn’t used to have any sense of my style. I wore tons of different styles, colors, patterns, silhouettes, and brands — whatever was available that struck me as situationally appropriate, reasonably of-the-moment, and flattering. My casual wardrobe was completely separate from my work wardrobe, and I put little thought into what I wore casually. I really didn’t have a style at all, at least not one I could identify.

Sometime after becoming a lawyer, I started paying more attention to fashion. This initially arose out of a desire to simply look the part, to fit into a professional world that was very different from the world I’d inhabited in my youth. But as I read fashion blogs, explored different labels, and tried various styling tricks, I grew to see fashion as a creative outlet and a means of self-expression.

In time, I’ve developed a more defined sense of style. I know what looks good on me, what fits with my self-image and the personal brand I want to project, and what I consistently like. I know my practical priorities too, such as comfort and the ability to launder at home rather than dry cleaning.

Here are some of the preferences I’ve developed. They’re flexible and will probably continue to evolve, and they leave some room for adapting to trends. Nevertheless, these criteria strike me as important components of my personal style.

• I prefer jewel tones over pastels.
• I favor cool tones over warm tones.
• I prefer ivory or cream rather than bright white.
• I gravitate toward solids rather than prints, although I like the occasional subtle or classic pattern.
• I like higher necklines. V-necks are flattering, but they can’t be too low. I don’t like showing cleavage or constantly adjusting my neckline.
• I favor sleeveless or three-quarter-length sleeves over short sleeves. I also like elbow-length sleeves on the right top. Full-length sleeves are fine too, as long as they can be hemmed or cuffed to fit my short arms.
• I generally prefer gold over silver.
• I lean toward simple, sleek accessories and away from maximalist statement pieces.
• A few black items are nice, but I don’t want black to be the dominant color in my wardrobe.
• I avoid brown. Taupe is fine, as is cognac.
• I tend to avoid pink as well, but bright, bold shades of magenta or fuschia are okay.
• I’ve grown comfortable with slim-fit pant styles and will wear them (for a while, they were about the only option), but I look and feel my best in wider leg styles. I prefer straight-cut or mini-bootcut styles over true skinny styles.
• For dresses and skirts, I like the hemline to fall in the range of just above the knee to just below the knee. I rarely wear mini, midi, or maxi lengths.
• I generally prefer structured and tailored looks to flowy or oversized styles.
• I want my shoes to be comfortable. I therefore prefer lower, blockier heels over stilettos (which, fortunately for me, fits with current trends), and I like a polished flat. I look for quality shoe brands that are sturdy and comfortable.
• I’ve always gravitated toward pieces with a classic, slightly vintage vibe.

Having these parameters in mind makes shopping much simpler because I can easily rule things out and home in on what best fits my style. I don’t have to waste time and resources getting distracted by every cute item that’s on sale. Developing and refining this set of criteria has gone hand-in-hand with Project 333 to bring greater efficiency and simplicity to my wardrobe.

How do you define your style? What components do you consistently seek out or avoid? Tell us in the comments.

PS: I recently read this piece (originally from 2011) and thought it provided an interesting take on minimalist wardrobes. What do you think?

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