Inspiration from Magazines
Finding your style through inspiration from magazines
One thing I’ve noticed a lot when I talk with people about decorating homes or choosing outfits is that most people don’t know what they like. I hear “is this okay?” or “this is what everyone’s doing now, right?” all the time. What really is okay is being yourself. Wearing what you like and what makes you feel comfortable. But how can you do that if you don’t know what you like? My suggestion is look for inspiration. I am always on the hunt for good ideas. I see them every where. On my walk, book design, online, other people. One of my favorite places to look is in magazines. I have a specific way that I organize it all and thought it may help you too.
As I’m looking through my magazines, I pull pages out. (Don’t worry, there are some that I never ruin!) I keep those pages in a pile or in a file folder. No organization, just a mass. Every once in a while, when the mood strikes, I look back through them. If I can’t remember why I pulled a page, then it gets recycled. The rest are organized into categories. Each category has a corresponding file folder, and I keep those folders in a tote bag. I like this approach because they are portable. I can organize or look through them anywhere that I can tote them. I like having that versatitliy and freedom. When I am looking for inspiration for a specific area, I pull the appropriate folder and look through it. I separate anything that catches my eye, and those pages go into a clear zippered pouch.
Pulling these pages and then looking at them as a group really gives you a sense of what you’re attracted to. You could take it deeper and spend time analyzing what that is and why, or you could just use them as a visual guide. Really you don’t have to understand, especially right away, why you love what you love. The important thing is to become familiar with what you love. That will lead you to your personal style and that will lead you to having the confidence to buy things that you love, regardless of if they are ‘okay.’ Objects that reflect your style turn into heirlooms that tell your story and hold your memory for others.
