34 Comments
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miss sophie's avatar

I love the tips here on the 'build-a-bear' approach to shifting a go-to outfit to something new! It takes the overwhelming feeling out of it and organically inspires you to try things out. Completely agree on choosing any purchases (esp spendy ones) carefully with the repeatability factor in mind 😊

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Kelly Williams's avatar

Build a bear!! The best reference ever.

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Angie Uh's avatar

I just wrote about this too on my substack and feel it’s such a great way to get over the overwhelming feeling of “what to wear”! It is such a subtle mindset shift to not have to reinvent the wheel each day and I find it helps you get clearer on your personal style as you are focused more on new ways to style what’s already in your closet! Love! ❤️

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Kelly Williams's avatar

I just went and read your post!! So glad we found each other 👯

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Angie Uh's avatar

yes, me too!! I have been loving your writing and look forward to your posts in my inbox 🫶

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Treska Stein's avatar

Yes to switching one thing! So good

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Mia O’G's avatar

Definitely going to be trying the switch one thing! I’m often wearing the same outfits or not knowing what to wear. Thank you!

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Kelly Williams's avatar

I'm SO glad you enjoyed this! *hugs*

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cassidy's avatar

Alberta Rose of Taking Style Personally did a similar thing back in april called the style relay ! https://open.substack.com/pub/takingstylepersonally/p/the-tsp-outfit-relay?r=4w7gr&utm_medium=ios super fun little challenge and i loved seeing everyone’s outfits from it each day ! she posted on insta and had a hashtag to showcase each day (not sure how to tag her substack or I would!)

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Kelly Williams's avatar

I'm new to Alberta Rose but now that I'm on her substack I am a HUGE fan. She brilliantly showcases a style relay (perhaps better than me!). Thank you for sharing!!

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cassidy's avatar

also love your taste in accessories!! such good inspo here

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ET's avatar

Did this this morning when I had to be out the door an hour and a half earlier than normal and wanting to look cute/polished but feel comfortable for the event - THANK you! Just swapped my black pants for a pair of dark rinse jeans on one of my favorite outfits and it felt more summery and casual, would not have thought such a small shift (pants are the same color family/saturation and cut as the black pants) could make for a different feel but this looks so much more summery :) thank you for saving me before I could consume any caffeine 🫡🫡🫡

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Kelly Williams's avatar

👏👏👏 SO GLAD THIS HELPED!! I have been doing the same thing this week; simple tweaks to either the exact same piece or just the same silhouette in different iterations! Turning off overthinking brain= the best!

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Elle Sundberg's avatar

Brilliant! And as I am currently procrastinating getting ready for work I think I’ll go try this tip out!

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Kelly Williams's avatar

I’m constantly surprised at how I’ll stand in the closet feeling like I don’t know what to wear when a Substack tip helps me 😂

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Kelly Williams's avatar

And, obviously, not always MINE 🙃

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Krissy Walsh's avatar

Totally trying the switch one thing trick this week! Love it!

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Kelly Williams's avatar

👏👏👏

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OFELIA's avatar

I love the idea of switching one element. I often rewear the exact same outfit because I love it so much but I'll have to try this out. I also recently started experimenting with different ways to button my button downs. It sounds so simple and almost like "duh" moment, but I noticed it helps change up the look a bit. I loveeee outfit repeating and if I'm ever known for anything, I hope it's that!!

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Kelly Williams's avatar

Gah! I want to be just like you. I have always felt too precious about myself to repeat and that’s silly! Channeling my Ofelia to do more switch-one-things this week.

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OFELIA's avatar

You're making me blush!! I want to be cool like you!!

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Josanne  Glass's avatar

So I just realized, that without trying or even been aware I was doing it, have done the switch one thing out for the past several days!

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Kelly Williams's avatar

Bravo Josanne! I think summer is the perfect season to embrace it; we don’t have the time to be creating whole new outfits on the daily!

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Sogole Kane's avatar

This is so good and I’ll just add to this. I saw something on TikTok the other night about “do I love the outfit or do I love the skinny” and it hit me so hard! I’m very happy in my size 8 body but it made me think so hard about whether or not the actual outfit was calling to me in a Pinterest shot or the woman’s body wearing it. Mind. Blown.

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Kelly Williams's avatar

YES!! I love that! Someone wrote recently Cute Girl or Cute Body and I want that tattooed on my arm. Don’t be tricked into cute body!

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Grace's avatar

Allison Bornstein also talks about this in her book, and I remember I should do it after I’m already in my sweatpants 😆

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Kelly Williams's avatar

😂😂😂 writing this to you from my sweatpants!

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Teresa Wu's avatar

switch one thing!—genius as ALWAYS

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Kelly Williams's avatar

Thank you! Honestly I think I'm always just self-conscious that people will notice but NO ONE WILL KNOW.

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Josanne  Glass's avatar

And really, who cares if they do🙃

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Style In Process's avatar

Great advice! I generally love repeating outfits, so it is a way to switch it up for me!

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Kelly Williams's avatar

Once I started documenting my outfits I became so much better at repeating outfits (or silhouettes) and it has made my life so much better!

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Caitlin's avatar

Ohhhh will definitely be using the ‘switch one thing’ trick! I tend to get overwhelmed with which styling option to pick for a certain item on a given day (can’t wear em all) so that switch-stack really chills me out. Thank you for the tip!

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Kelly Williams's avatar

RIGHT? It's takes all the pressure off to think "oh I could take what I wore yesterday and make one tweak." I'm glad you liked it.

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