Stop buying “must-have” pieces you never wear. Use my Personal Style Blueprint—colour, cut, fabric, body shape & personality—to build a capsule wardrobe you love.
Ever fallen for a piece that looked incredible online or on the mannequin? then on you it feels wrong and ends up gathering dust? You?re not alone. A recent client brought me a slinky satin skirt that influencers rave about. It wasn?t terrible, but it never left her wardrobe.
Here?s the exact process I used to diagnose why, and how you can use the same steps to make confident, regret-free purchases:
1. Run Every Item Through Your Personal Style Blueprint
Your blueprint is your magic filter. It includes:
Your best colours
Style & cut (neckline, length, fit, details)
Fabric (type, texture, weight, sheen)
Body shape (where to balance and highlight)
Clothing personality (the vibe that feels like you)
How to: Lay the item on your bed and score it 1?5 on each factor. If it scores <4 on more than two, it?s a pass. If it?s a strong match, it?s a keeper (or worth tailoring) if it?s not then it probably is going to remain unworn and unloved
2. Colour First: Does It Light You Up?
Does It Co-ordinate With Your Existing Wardrobe?
If you haven?t already invested in a professional colour analysis then definitely think about this, I offer this service from my Brisbane based Colour Analysis studio.
The right colour tones for you will make your skin glow, eyes brighten and teeth look whiter; the wrong hues drain you, you can look dull, have a blotchy skin-tone or even look bulkier. Colour analysis allows you to create a capsule wardrobe of colours that not only enhance your skintone, but also co-ordinate with each other, allowing your wardrobe to flow and match.
How to (2-minute daylight test):
Stand by a window, remove distracting makeup.
Hold the garment near your face. Do you look fresher (yes) or dull/grey (no)?
If it?s a ?maybe?, could you anchor it with one of your best neutrals near your face (blazer, knit, scarf) or a lipstick in your palette?
3. Clothing Personality: Does the Vibe Match You?
My client?s satin skirt felt romantic/feminine, but her personality is bold/natural. The clash made her feel ?not herself.? and that skirt did not work with the rest of her bold/natural wardrobe, it was a unicorn rather than part of the family. It was fashionable BUT did not work for her personal style.
How to:
Jot three style words that feel like you (e.g., ?bold, natural, modern?).
Ask: Does this piece express those words? If not, can you style it to get there (e.g., add chunky boots/knit for ?natural?, a sharp blazer for ?modern?)?
Pro tip: If you must over-style it to feel right, it?s not right.
4. Body Shape: Balance Before You Buy
Satin?s cling highlighted my client?s fuller hips?exactly where she didn?t want the focus.
How to (mirror check):
Put it on and take a straight-on photo.
Circle where your eye goes first. Is that where you want attention?
For fuller hips/bum: look for A-line, bias-cut with weight, or drape; avoid ultra-cling and high-shine.
For fuller tummy: try wrap/ruched fronts, draped tops, column skirts; avoid tight waist seams in stiff fabric.
For straighter frames: add texture, pockets, belts to create shape.
5. Fabric & Shine: What the Camera Doesn?t Tell You
Shiny fabrics (satin, patent) reflect light and can magnify curves; whereas matte/texture soften.
How to (fabric test):
Scrunch the fabric in your fist. If it springs back and glows, it?s high-sheen (highlight zone).
Hold it next to a matte fabric in the same colour. Which one is kinder to your silhouette?
If you live in a hot climate like Brisbane? Choose breathable, fabrics that skim instead of cling
6. Length Mapping: Your Hemline Sweet Spot
For my client, maxi was elegant, midi looked frumpy, short just didn?t work and made her feel self-conscious and knee-length felt awkward. Once we mapped her best lengths, skirts became easy.
How to choose your best skirt length :
In front of a mirror, hold and clip the hem at mini/knee/midi/maxi.
Snap photos, then compare quickly on your phone?your eye will spot the winner.
Mark the best point (often just above or below the widest area, not on it).
Tailor hems to hit your sweet spot
7. Fit, Tailoring & Waist Placement
Two centimetres can make or break a garment.
How to (pinch test):
Pinch side seams: you can take 2?3 cm in, tailor it, unless that partially design of skirt or dress is designed to be loose fitting.
Check waist placement: high-waist elongates legs; mid-rise can be kinder to tummies, low waist can be disastrous for my ladies with a menopause belly.
Look at pocket bulk and fly construction, are these adding bulk to the tummy area or drawing our eye there.
8. Outfit Integration: The Rule of Three
A piece is only valuable if it plays nicely with others. Having a capsule wardrobe that mixes and matches allows your wardrobe to be much more flexible. Capsule wardrobes are not for everyone but a careful collated capsule wardrobe does allow you to own less items and create more outfits
How to:
Can you style it three ways with items you already own? (Work, weekend, dinner.)
Build one outfit formula around it that you can repeat with different colours or tweaks (e.g., maxi skirt + fitted tee + cropped jacket + trainers).
If you can?t make three outfits in five minutes, it?s not earning its space
9. The 7-Question Fitting-Room Checklist
Before you buy, ask
Is the colour in my palette?
Does the vibe match my clothing personality?
Is the fabric forgiving (or highlighting the wrong area)?
Is the length in my sweet spot?
Does it balance my body shape?
Can I make three outfits with it right now?
Would I wear it next week, next month, next year? (If not, why?)
If you get two or more ?no?s?, leave it.
10. Rescue or Release: Make It Work (or Let It Go)
Rescue ideas:
Add a matte, textured layer over shine .
Swap shoe options to lengthen the leg line.
Tailor waistband/hem; try a half-tuck or full-tuck to adjust proportions.
Add a belt where you are narrowest.
Release if: it still fails your blueprint or needs constant ?fussing.?
If you?re nodding along and thinking ?I want my blueprint,? I?ve got you:
Professional Colour Analysis (in-person or virtual): discover your exact palette for clothing, hair, makeup, glasses and jewellery so you look fresh and vibrant every day adn have a wardrobe of clothes in colours that coordinate .This can be done face to face in my Brisbane studio or virtually.
Full Day VIP Colour & Style Consultation: one transformational day to nail your colours, body shape, clothing personality, best lengths, fabrics and a capsule plan tailored to your lifestyle.
