We’ve all made New Year’s resolutions and pinned aesthetic posts on Pinterest, hoping to embody that person as January starts. But, like with most of the population, life gets in the way of the “new year, new you” mentality, and you are stuck with half completed goals and the same kind of clothes from years past. 

But who says you have to wait until next year to start over? To dress how you want, be who you want? Nobody. 

As the middle of the year approaches, now is as great of a time as ever to reevaluate who you want to be and your own personal style. Search the internet, social media, and aesthetic blogs and start a folder, a board, or even a physical mood board (like the one pictured) to have a real-life representation of what you want. 

A lot of people think they will have to buy all new clothing and accessories in order to change their style, but that is far from the truth. 

Of course, if you have only ever bought the ultra-trendy clothing that goes in and out of style almost as fast as it is shipped to you, this might be a bit more difficult, but for most of us, that is not the case. 

As you create your board, and your new vision for the person you know you are meant to be, search up pictures of things you already have or plan to buy. Don’t just focus on clothing, but things you plan to do, or your favorite movie characters. 

To start my day off in the right mindset, I have my board right on the inside of my closet door. Even subconsciously, it sets me in the right direction.  I am reminded of the person I set out to be, so it helps in curating my wardrobe and styling my outfits. 

Personally, I think having it physically in front of me has been the most effective form of motivation, but if you prefer a Pinterest board or even the background of your computer, those serve the same purpose. 

If you want to make yours especially personalized, I would suggest first looking at influencers, people in your life you think have great style. Find images that describe that aesthetic, and then look at those keywords. 

For example, I realized I had grown out of my style and liked a more classic look with little hints of the 90s and European styles, so I looked up Charlotte York and took inspiration from social media videos surrounding Scandinavian fashion. While some styles may clash if you put them side by side, don’t be afraid to put several on your board and see what kind of outfit you can create. 

If you want to be the type of person who wears monochrome workout outfits or styles hoodies with trench coats, throw that on there. I have found this strategy also helps when I am picking out things while shopping or thrifting, allowing me to see what I actually need and will wear, as opposed to something that only looks good on a hanger or in a trendy video. 

Vision boards aren’t new and I didn’t invent the concept of putting it right in your room. But I will advocate for them as a way to fine tune your sense of personal style!