Tips to Develop Your Personal Style

Developing your personal style is most definitely a journey. I don’t even want to look back at some of my old pictures before I discovered what worked for me! Major Embarrassment, party of one. Needless to say, I know how difficult it can be. I also know how easy it is to get caught up in what you may feel you’re “supposed” to wear. Trends and fads are easy to adopt but hard to feel like your own. That’s why it’s very important to find what works best for you. These tips will help you center yourself, figure out what you like, and ultimately help you create a personal style that is as unique as you are.

Find your inspiration for your personal style

Find Your Inspiration

The only way to truly get started is to jump right in. When it comes to developing your personal style, look to others. When you scroll through Instagram or TikTok, who stands out to you? Of your favorite TV shows or movies, whose outfits do you ooh and aww the most? Look at what they are wearing – does it make you want to buy something similar?

The best way to start honing in on what your personal style could be is to simply look at what other people are already doing and wearing. It makes the process ten times easier because it doesn’t involve you buying anything. As you start to determine the general framework of your style, you can then draw inspiration from those who may fit the mold. If you can look at something wearing an oversized tee and slouchy pants, and you can definitively say that you don’t like how it looks, GREAT! You have just started weeding through some options.

Determine How You Want to Look

I highly recommend downloading the LikeToKnow.It app specifically for this reason. This app is designed for people who love to window shop, hone in their personal style preferences, and ultimately look for product recommendations from creators they trust or admire for their fashion. You can even follow me on the app for daily looks to see if my style fits your preferences.

Next, establish a general description of how you want to look. Are you more casual, or more corporate? Do you prefer pants or skirts? Do you like bright colors or muted tones? This will help you to set the foundation of your unique style. Try to articulate this style into words too. Choose words that paint a picture of the way you want to feel in your clothes. If you can, write them down and do a bit of a mind map. If you can do this then you will soon find that you are able to come up with powerful adjectives that form the image you are trying to create. Want a unique idea? If you have a denim jacket, you can even buy a Bernina sewing machine to create your own embroidered patches.

Use LikeToKnow.It as a way to browse other people's personal style for inspiration

Build a Visual Guide of Your Personal Style

I am constantly using the Save Post function on Instagram for exactly this reason. Even though I have a good sense of my personal style, I still am continually developing it. And when I see a cute outfit either from a creator or a brand, I save it. I may never buy that same exact thing, but it helps me visualize something similar when I shop my favorite stores and while I thrift.

Creating a collection of images that reflect your sense of style is very important. Another great resource to browse and save outfits other than the LikeToKnow.It app is Pinterest. Pinterest is a great platform and the algorithm is great if you want to learn your preferences and come up with personal recommendations. The great thing about doing this is that it helps you to come up with a good idea of what you think works and what doesn’t. That way you can go on to create a solid vision for what personal style you want to adopt in the future.

Your personal style should make you feel confident!

Know What Works for YOU

Easier said than done right? After you have done all this browsing, saving, and people watching, it’s time to start taking action. This doesn’t have to mean buying anything and everything you see. But it is time to spend some time in the dressing room. Start trying on those things that you think work well for your body type and your personal preferences. Better yet, many stores offer great refund policies. For budget-friendly shopping, Shein is a good option. And for higher quality, try Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack. Both brands have phenonmenal return policies that I have used multiple times. Sometimes what works on the model won’t work on you and that’s ok. Or something you thought would be right up your alley ends up feeling wrong when it’s finally on your body.

I also frequently shop at thrift stores to keep my wardrobe sustainable as well as cost-friendly. The only downside of thrift stores is that more often than not, you can’t try on the clothes. This is where your knowledge of your sizes needs to really be honed in on. If you can go in to a thrift store feeling confident about what will fit you and what won’t, you will dominate your personal style game!

Finish Developing Your Personal Style

If you start this journey with an honest assessment and put the work in to develop your personal style, you will be shocked at how well your closet will start to come together. Remember to reflect on the times when you have felt empowered. What were you wearing? What made you feel good? Because at the end of the day, your wardrobe should be an extension of who you are. It should showcase your features and it should also add to your personality. If you can acknowledge what has been serving its purpose and what hasn’t, this will help you to make better choices in the future!


What to Wear to an Elton John Concert

So you are taking a trip down the yellow brick road – how fun! The next big question now stands – what to wear to an Elton John concert? Well seeing a mega star like Elton John deserves an outfit to match. Needless to say, Elton has already given us a great lookbook of outfits that will sure to inspire anyone putting together an outfit for one of his amazing concerts.

So what should you wear?

First you will want to focus on some of the major themes that Elton is known for:

  • Sequins
  • Bright colors
  • Outrageous patterns
  • Big sunglasses
  • Feathers

You won’t need all of these elements to make an amazing outfit for an Elton John concert. However, don’t let that stop you from exploring your options!

What to wear to an Elton John concert

All of these picks come from a combination of Nordstrom Rack, Amazon, Shein, and Saks Off Fifth. Nordstrom Rack is great for finding high quality shoes. But Shein is affordable and a great alternative for finding more outrageous pieces without breaking the bank.

Attending an Elton John concert is a once in a lifetime experience. Not only with incredible music but also to see his iconic, flamboyant style. As you prepare for the concert, use this blog as inspiration. Remember to consider the venue, weather, and your personal style preferences. Whether you opt for a bold and flashy outfit or a more subdued and casual look, the key is to choose something that makes you feel comfortable and confident. By following these tips and guidelines, you’ll be sure to rock your outfit and make the most of your Elton John concert experience. So put on your dancing shoes, and get ready to have a blast!

Read more style guides on Donna Gail Blog.


A complete capsule wardrobe for 2023

A Complete Capsule Wardrobe for 2023

Fashion is ever-changing. But capsule wardrobes aren’t! You may have heard of a “capsule wardrobe” also referred to as “closet staples.” They are pieces of clothing that will transcend fast fashion and will be a part of your wardrobe for years. As such, the pieces that you select need to be high quality to ensure a long lifetime. Here are some recommendations to ensure a high quality capsule wardrobe in 2023!

Capsule Wardrobe 2023

The key to a completely well rounded closet is to pick colors and styles that do not go out of style. Most generic colors will suffice as a staple color. It’s more of the more specific colors like neon yellow, hot pink, mint, lilac, etc that are not considered capsule wardrobe colors. These kinds of colors move with seasons and with current fashion trends. Whereas colors like black, white, royal blue, deep red, tan, etc are solid choices no matter what year or season.

As for styles, you’ll want a long coat, a blouse, regular tee, a pair of jeans, a sweater, and a cardigan. Essentially, you just need one of each more popular type of clothing. Remember, these things will be with you for years. That being said, the only way to ensure that they stand the test of time is to purchase high quality or luxury pieces.

Where to Get Closet Staple Clothing

A brand that focuses exclusively on offering high quality, closet staple pieces is FibFlx. It stands for “fiber (premium fibers only) + flexible (staying resilient in chaotic times)”. Their clothing brand was created to simply life and focus on what’s really important – making simplicity through versatility. Fibflx is literally helping you pick a capsule wardrobe closet instead of following quickly fading fashion trends.

These are my favorites from their site:

Everything on their site is made through sustainable practices. And their high quality products make it easy to understand their price point. Their highest prices are for their long jackets and you can expect to pay around $330 for those. However, they average about $100 per piece for most of their catalog. Obviously, that is a very large commitment to just one piece of clothing! But if you keep it for five years, that’s an average of $20 a year. Which, if you buy a low quality product, could very well cost you $20 per year to keep replacing it. Buying a high quality piece of clothing once is much more logical than buying a lower quality with a lower life rate.

Fibflx Coupon Code

For an extra special bonus, I have a Fibflx coupon code for you! Use the code DGB15 for 15% off. Use the savings to keep updating your closet until you have your very own complete capsule wardrobe! You can find this, and other popular coupon codes, on my Sales and Coupon Codes page.

Fibflx sponsored this blog.


A full list of Shein Disney Bounds outfits

A Full List of SHEIN Disney Bounds – January 2023

I have written so many Shein Disney Bound blogs and, with it, provided a great list to choose from. However, it’s time to update the list! And this time, I am focusing on park-friendly outfits. By park-friendly, I mean that you can easily and comfortably wear these into any Disney park. But don’t think jeans and a t-shirt. These Shein Disney outfits are for those who love looking cute in the park. Who love making Disney content. Who always attend Dapper Day every year. Sound like you?

If so, then here is a MASSIVE list of characters for your next SHEIN Disney outfits:

Marie from the Aristocats

Dare to be classy during your next park day with this cute Shein Disney Bound of everyone’s favorite lady.

Captain Hook

We love a good villain gender bend Disney Bound! To mimic Captain Hook’s hook hand, you could always get a silver glove for one hand.

Colette

Next time you find yourself on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, you will need this perfectly on point outfit.

Russell from Up

This is a great outfit for summers in the parks. Especially when you prefer function over flare. Be sure to do a character meet and great with Kevin!

Jane from Tarzan

Jane’s outfit closely resembles Belle’s. The key to make the distinction is to have the purple bandana. And having a monkey plushie would help too!

Gaston

You’ll love this Shein Disney outfit as much as Gaston loves his reflection. And I’m sure he would agree.

Tiana

Tiana is FINALLY getting the love she deserves in the park. Not only with a brand new ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, but with a new restaurant at Disneyland too!

Mickey Mouse

We all need a classic character to Bound every once in a while. And it doesn’t get more classic than the main mouse himself.

Rapunzel

I know what you’re thinking. “A corset isn’t park-friendly.” But this is perfect for Dapper Day. Or for those who like dressing up while in the park!

Spider-Man

I am seriously adding everything to my cart as we speak. There could not be a more perfect Shein Disney Bound for Spider-Man than this.

Belle

Belle’s defining accessories are going to be books and roses. Be sure to have the classic rose-colored pop of color to make the distinction!

Ralph from Wreck It Ralph

Wreck It Ralph is definitely an underrated movie. Give it some love with this Shein Disney outfit!

Aurora

One of the most famous scenes in Sleeping Beauty is the “make it pink, make it blue” scene. You can use one of these sets or both to create some really fun transition content. Or you can mix and match them!

Ironman

Playboy, billionaire, fashion icon. Turn heads while you’re saving the world. Getting apperloth items are great for superhero Disney Bounds.

Merida

Remember that your Disney Bound essentially comes down to how you accessorize. Make sure your Merida outfit has some sort of bow and arrow accessory!

Black Panther

If that isn’t the perfect shirt for Black Panther, then I don’t know what is. Keep it simple with mostly black with some slight pops of silver.

R2-D2

Again, this shirt SCREAMS R2-D2. And although the listed items come from Shein, I personally would opt to get the exclusive R2-D2 Loungefly from 707 Street to complete the look.

Although all of these Disney inspired outfits are from Shein, this is not your only option. I make most all of my Disney Bounds by purchasing clothing at the thrift store. If anything this list should serve as inspiration! Use the collages as a reference point to find what suits you. And better than that, be sure to check your closet first before shopping for something new. Disney Bounding can be a rather expensive hobby so being resourceful will help you in the long run. Not to mention that I made these collages with the intention of using different items for every single character. But in reality, when I make my Disney outfits, I am constantly reusing the same pieces in different ways. And you should too!

Need more inspo? Read even more Disney Bound outfit blogs!

Affiliate links are included in this blog.


The Perfect Fall Travel Capsule Wardrobe

Are you struggling to create a perfect fall travel wardrobe capsule this year? Fall requires you to dress up warm and flaunt your fancy jackets. You may be tempted to carry all of your fancy fall outfits. But your wardrobe only has limited space! So what do you need to pack?

Fall travel capsule wardrobe. These essential pieces will help style your closet for ears to come.

What is a travel capsule wardrobe?

Simply put, a travel capsule wardrobe are clothes that will never go out of style. Otherwise known as having a “staple closet”. You could put these items into a time capsule and if someone opened it decades later, they would still be in style. They usually involve solid colors, classic prints, and simple structure.

Putting together a travel capsule is a daunting task. It challenges you to only pack essential pieces of your wardrobe into a limited space. However, his doesn’t mean that you should compromise on your style!

Creating Your Travel Capsule

Your travel capsule should consist of simple yet sophisticated pieces of clothing that complement each other. Don’t forget, you’ll need clothing, accessories, and footwear. Wearing accessories and jewelry will always help to bring your outfit to life. If you are looking for timeless pieces, it is best to shop at top jewelers such as https://diamondexpert.com/diamond-reviews/best-jewelry-stores-in-houston/. Furthermore, you could put these items into a time capsule and if someone opened it decades later, they would still be in style.

Take a look at your wardrobe and pick all fall-friendly outfits. Plaid, slouchy, or earth-colored items will be what you are looking for. You can always shop for ideal pieces if your wardrobe still lacks the fall style. The trick is to shop for your pieces on wholesale clothing websites. You get the best deals for your wholesale boutique clothing as the prices are comparatively lower.

So let’s create a practical fall travel capsule wardrobe! Here are the essential pieces, and corresponding colors, that you should include in your fall travel capsule wardrobe.

1. Tops for your fall travel capsule wardrobe

Your travel wardrobe capsule should contain the following essential top colors.

  • White
  • Black tee
  • Hunter green
  • Mauve

You can never go wrong with a black or white tee for any day, any outfit kind of looks. Plain tees are easy to style and match. But be sure to add hunter green and mauve into the mix. You will help to compliment the beauty of fall even more with these two colors!

If your travel spans longer than expected, add a black long sleeve tee to your capsule.

2. A Jacket

Nothing screams sophistication more than a well-fitted and cozy jacket. For your travel capsule wardrobe, you’re only going to include one jacket as you need to save on space. So it has to be a staple of a jacket! Include either a solid black, or a brown plaid jacket. These two options have always stood the test of time for fall.

3. A Pair of Leggings

Leggings are great as they can be included with many outfits. Whether that be under a skirt or under a big, slouchy sweatshirt. Leggings are also comfy and cozy, making them ideal for travel. Pack a pair of light tan or black leggings to go in your fall travel capsule wardrobe. And since they are relatively small, you may even consider bringing both colors with you!

4. A Pair of Jeans 

Jeans are probably one the most versatile pieces of clothing you can own! You can dress them up or dress them down with ease. White, blue, or khaki jeans are a great addition to your travel capsule wardrobe. But if you’re low on space, keep it to a pair of distressed blue jeans.

5. Shoes

The shoes make the outfit, so make them good picks! The absolute must styles are:

  • a pair of formal heels
  • a pair of sneakers or other casual, no-heeled shoe
  • a pair of boots or booties (Nordstrom Rack has the best options for these)

The colors you should consider getting are black, brown, and one patterned pair of shoes. This could mean cheetah or leopard print, camo, a shoe with a graphic on it, or even textured like a cowboy boot. Fall involves a lot of solid colors and layers. Having a pair of printed shoes can break up that monotony and also add pizzazz to your outfit!

6. A Sweatshirt

Slouchy sweatshirts are your best friend in fall. You will need:

  • a knitted sweatshirt
  • a colorblock sweatshirt with fall colors in it like brown, rust, or green
  • a thinner, turtleneck sweatshirt

Colors should be up to your personal preference! All of these options should be able to wear under a jacket if it gets a little colder. There is a lot of layering to do in fall!

7. A Scarf

A scarf is another way to add printed or textured colors to your outfit. If everything else is solid colored, even down to your shoes, a scarf can be that last piece of the puzzle for your outfit. Although infinity scarves are the easiest to get on and off, unfortunately they would not make it in a capsule wardrobe. They have come in and out of being in style for awhile. Instead you will want to stick wit the traditional two-ended scarves. You should get one cream colored scarf, and at least two different pattern-printed scarves.

Finishing your fall travel capsule wardrobe

Creating a wardrobe that lasts can sometimes be expensive. That’s why the best way to update your wardrobe on a budget is to stay as true to timeless pieces as much as possible. Just remember that a capsule wardrobe, especially one for traveling, can be something that you pack up one year and unzip it 10 years from now and the fashion will still be applicable. Relying on great quality items will be the only way these pieces can last so long. Be sure to shop brands that you trust. Although the price tag may be daunting to begin with, the life span of the piece is what will help make it a true closet investment.