Do You Keep a Fashion Diary?

A lot of people feel lost when they step into their closets. What matches with what? Does this clash? What am I supposed to do with green? The questions roll on and on, and while they might vary from wardrobe to wardrobe, they're all part of the fashion confusion issue. Have you considered trying to combat your fashion woes with a fashion diary?

While a fashion diary might seem silly to some, stupid to others, it can be really useful for those of us with “fashion amnesia.” More often than not, you have a small number of outfits that you adore and wear frequently, but the rest of your wardrobe gets totally ignored. This is where you fashion diary comes in: you can star or bookmark outfits you love, check the last time you wore them, and work up new combinations of favorite looks including your most-worn items, mixed up in different combinations. Are you daring enough to give it a go? Here are my tips for fashion diary success.

1. Be honest. Did you wear something totally ugly today? Jot down what it was and why you didn't like it, so you can have a glance and remember that this outfit was not for you. One easy way to remember the best and worst outfits is to highlight your outfits in different colors, so you don't actually need to read anything to see what was successful and what wasn't. It's easy, although you could also go for the spreadsheet look if you must.

2. Use an attractive journal. A hideous Mead notebook or spiral-bound monstrosity will not invoke quality musing, so try to find an inexpensive notebook with a colorful, attractive color. You'll feel drawn to it in the morning when you have a moment with your coffee, and in some ways, it's more therapeutic than writing in your journal and prying through your confused thoughts and feelings.

3. Make shopping lists in your fashion journal. If you write down what you need in your journal, you'll probably be happier for it. Take that journal along with you when you are shopping to check whether or not you have any of the items you like already (because you know this can happy), and to also find any gaps in your existing wardrobe. Keep a list in the back that you add to of wanted pieces, either investment or mainstays.

4. Get creative. Let's say that you've really started to get into your fashion journal. Do you know one way of getting yourself even more inspired to shop, be it for bargains or a splash piece from time to time? Grab a fashion magazine, mail-order catalogs, and other cool fashion publications and paste small clippings into your special journal to inspire yourself. If that's not enough, you can even you to the fabric store and get clips and samples of fabric colors you love, and that flatter you.

5. Tailor your journal to your needs. It's not easy to give suggestions for such a personal item, so try to make your fashion journal your own by playing with different ideas until you find something that works for you. Maybe it will be one of the above suggestions, or maybe it won't—the sky's the limit.