Blog Post – Find Out Who You Are And Then Do It On Purpose!
I have been reading a lot about Fashion psychology this month – so many interesting theories have been popping up on my social media feeds and as we know, the more you look at them, the more the algorithm shows you … so I have been down a few “rabbit holes” so to speak.
There have also been some interesting conversations with customers this week about how the colours you choose to wear can influence not only your mood but also that of other people that we come into contact with on a daily basis which is a big deal when you think that on average it takes less than 7 seconds for someone to have formed an opinion about you – even before you say anything!
As an example of this, I find that when I wear red, my children tend to be
argumentative, drivers are less likely to let me out at junctions when the traffic is busy and generally people can be a bit “angsty” in their approach if red is a colour they find antagonising. Therefore, I only tend to wear red when my mindset for the day feels up to dealing with how other people respond and if I don’t feel up to it, then I wear something different instead!
Ideally we should all wear the colours of clothing that we find uplifting and that give us not only a mood boost (dopamine dressing) but a confidence boost too. If you have had a colour analysis session you will know which season of colours suit you best helping you to feel fabulous whatever your morning mood and if you haven’t had your colours “done” speak to your Tortue Consultant who can help you find the colours that suit you.
It’s not just the colours we wear but the type of clothes that we wear too. As adults, our own style can sometime mimic the styles/colours of clothes that we wore as children and that is because clothes carry emotions and memories for us and as we age we learn what we like often based on how others have responded to the items that we have worn in the past and how those reactions have made us feel. We also like to seek out the “comfort factor” by wearing clothing that makes us feel safe (like that oversize soft cuddly jumper you like to wear to relax in front of the TV).
If you were ever teased as a child for wearing a certain colour/style you may find that you shy away from wearing that as an adult. One person told me that they will never wear green as their school uniform was green and they had an awful time at their school when younger – another told me that they would never wear aqua blue as this was a uniform shade that they had in workwear at a very stressful job which is really interesting to consider how our brains programme themselves into our likes and
dislikes.
Adding your personality into the mix can also influence the type and colour of clothes that you choose for yourself.
Extroverts are more likely to wear clothes that follow trends and prompt interaction with other people, whereas introverts are more likely to wear clothes that help them to blend into the background and not draw attention to themselves.
If you suffer with anxiety you may find that you are more likely to choose clothes that help you to manage your emotions which may be based on choosing relaxed styles and soft cosy fabrics that help you to feel safe.
It’s all fascinating stuff - especially if you think that a lot of the time we don’t give much thought to what we choose to wear. When you strip back the layers of why we choose to wear what we wear it’s pretty mind boggling to think about all the many choices our brains are making subconsciously without us sometimes realising.
When it comes to building a capsule wardrobe that works for you a starting point is to think about which clothes you already own that you keep going back to and wearing on repeat as these should form the basis of outfits where you can add one or two pieces to mix and match in to give your outfits a refresh.
To quote Dolly Parton “find out who you are and then do it on purpose”!
Having a “uniform” for every day life that you can dress up or dress down will help you to avoid having too much clutter in your wardrobe.
A great base for most people in their everyday life outside of a formal work environment is opting for a great pair of jeans that works best with your body shape that you can mix and match with tops/knits and a blazer/jacket to complete the look.
At Tortue, we have a range of styles and cuts in our jeans so that you can find the right pair of jeans to suit. We also have waist adjusters on the inside of the waistband so that you can make subtle adjustments to get that perfect fit.
Our smallest sizes of jeans are designed with a petite frame in mind and usually feature a shorter inside leg than the lengths stated for the remainder of the sizes in that style. Clever hey?
Jane Flared Jeans in Light Denim come in sizes UK4 to 20. They give a contemporary silhouette which helps to elongate the legs. The high waistline also has belt loops and this denim blend contains a little elastane for stretch and comfort. There are contrasting patch pocket flaps – an ideal way to rock the double denim look that is loved in France but in a very subtle way.
Charlie Girlfriend Jeans in Chalk colourway come in sizes UK4 to 22. These are the modern essential that’s perfect to wear going into the sunnier days. With funky stitching on the rear pockets in a contrasting thread they give a little “edge” to your outfit. The straight leg style skims without clinging and there are gold tone buttons to fasten as opposed to the traditional zip and button fastening.
Juliette “Mom” Jeans are available in a Medium Denim or Latte colourway in sizes UK4 to 22 giving a relaxed silhouette which is versatile enough to pair with everything from a plain or striped shirt to a soft knit – a timeless foundation piece which our team are enjoying wearing in a size up from our usual for a roomier relaxed feel.
Ines Wide Leg Jeans in sizes UK6-20 are a Dark Denim option which have been so popular they have all sold out in record time! However, the great news is that our supplier is currently in production making more which are expected to arrive late April/early May so please do contact your consultant if you would like to place a pre-
order to secure yourself a pair. With a high waist, these jeans are fitted across the hips, super comfortable and a contemporary ‘culotte style’ of jean keeping you bang on trend too!
If you are a fan of a wider leg, the Wide Leg Jeans in Medium Lightweight Denim are available in sizes UK6-20. These feel more like a relaxed trouser than a traditional jean. With a high waist, a removable belt and an elasticated waist at the back they are comfortable and easy to wear – great if you like the idea of jeans but don’t like the tightness of a thicker denim then these are the jeans for you! They are very long as part of their design so are ideal worn over a platform trainer or with a heel for the best effect.
Last month my blog had some fab beaded tank top and jacket options all of which will look fabulous with any jeans. However, if a tank top is not your thing then there are many other options open to you too.
For a classic French “mariniere” look made popular by Coco Chanel our Long Sleeve Breton Top in off white with Navy Stripes is an absolute icon. This Breton style look never goes out of fashion and is always synonymous with Spring. Our Tortue take on this classic design features two buttons on one shoulder – a cute little detail that just elevates this piece to something a bit more special. Crafted from 100% cotton and available in sizes UK6 to 24 it’s a piece that forms the perfect layer beneath a blazer or jacket and perfect worn on its own with tailored shorts in the summer for marine style chic too!
Keeping with the stiped top theme, this Cream and Brown Striped T Shirt is a trendy twist on the classic Breton style top. A thicker jersey material ensures durability and the round neckline is an easy to wear style. The sleeves are folded and finish on the shoulder with a delicate shoulder pad inside. Don’t worry – we’ve not gone back to the 80’s power dressing look from Dynasty!!! These little pads are great for giving you structure to your complete outfit especially if you have sloping shoulders. When you pop a knit over the top your silhouette is just tweaked that little bit giving you a bit more presence and posture – it also looks great worn under a plain white shirt worn undone too!
When you want a short sleeved top that is a bit thicker than a t shirt, this Short Sleeved Jumper in Ecru is available in sizes UK6 to 24 and will be a piece that you will come back to time and time again. Designed with a contemporary straight cut and a crisp ribbed trim at the neckline and hem it delivers clean lines for your silhouette. The gently dropped sleeves add to the comfort factor – again, it’s great as a layering piece beneath a jacket or wear on its own with your favourite jeans and a pair of funky shoes. It also works great for office wear too – simply pair with smart trousers and blazer or beneath a 2 piece suit.
Keeping the clean lines, this Plain White Straight Shirt is available in sizes UK4 to 24 and is a great alternative to wear open “shacket” style over the short sleeved jumper. It looks great with the sleeves rolled up and can take you easily from “office wear” chic – to “weekend off” chic too! Crafted from timeless poplin material for elegance the side seams have buttons which can be undone to create that comfort fit and movement over the hips. Simply add bright colours by way of accessories such as a belt, jewellery or brightly coloured scarf to elevate your look with jeans or pair it back over a vest top/cami for lazy Sunday morning “hygge” style relaxing with your favourite book and a mug of hot chocolate!
Hopefully now that we have entered into Meteorological Spring and the buds are starting to appear on the trees, the sunshine will appear a bit more for us and the nights will draw out a bit more. Not too long to wait now for the clocks to go forward which will make a huge difference to brightening up the days too which always makes me happy.
On 20th March it is the International Day of Happiness. Whatever you choose to wear, the best accessory you can always go for is a smile and as Dolly Parton says “if you see somebody without a smile, give ‘em yours!”
Enjoy!
Angela x
