When I worked for a fashion catalog; one of the first steps we would take to plan the upcoming season, would be to build a mood board. A mood board (just in case you are not familiar with the term) is a collection of photos and items that represent the direction or aesthetic you want to go in, for the season to come. This by far, was my favorite thing to do. I’m a super visual person, and if I can’t communicate with words (because it happens) I can do it with a picture! Mood boards can be used for an infinite number of projects: design, décor, interiors, campaigns… you get the picture, right? When it comes to developing and creating your style, it applies just as well. This is when it becomes a Style Board. Creating your own Style Board, allows you to have a visual and a constant reminder of your style goals. I recommend focusing more on the mood you want to achieve rather than specific pieces or outfits. Remember, it’s more about the direction you want your style to go in, rather than the “destination”. You can create a digital one and save it on or your laptop and/or phone (you know, for those late-night shopping sprees) or go “old school” and make it on a board and display it in an area where you can constantly look at it – keep your eye on the prize.

How and where to start in creating your style board:

To start, I recommend breaking it down into a few easy steps. Even though this is more of a creative process, a little bit of structure doesn’t hurt. The steps are more like guidelines, to make sure you’ve covered all your bases on what you need to consider when building your board. The most important part is to have fun and enjoy the process. You can choose to do it on your own or invite a few friends over. It could be a fun girls night in project. Just remember to have snacks and wine!!! Wine or bubbly, really you can’t go wrong. Actually - I’m going to serve myself a glass while I walk you through this, please hold… Ok, let’s do this!

Step 1 - Choosing a Color Pallet:

When choosing a color pallet, one place I recommend starting with, is your closet. Scan your closet and look for repeat color offenders, lol. Are there colors that you have multiple items in? Is your favorite color represented in your closet? Chances are, you have a color pallet already. If you feel that the colors in your closet are all over the place, or your looking for a change – look no further than your Pinterest board. Scroll through your board(s) and look for similarities in color. I’m assuming you have one… who doesn’t, right? If you don’t, no worries, you can start from scratch. Do a quick color pallet search or style search and pin the ones you are drawn to. Then scan and look for repetition of colors. In my experience, a pallet should consist of 5 to 8 colors and they should all be able to play with each other. It makes it more manageable. For this post, I’ll keep it to 5, but if you want to do 6, 7 or 8, go for it. Now, for you color pallets, focus on colors that you love; your attracted to; make you happy; have worn before and look good in, or all of the above. Another tip: if you’re in between pallets or like colors on one but not all, pick and choose the colors you like and create your own. That’s what I did, keep scrolling and you’ll see what I did.

Step 2 – Finding Your Inspiration:

Inspiration in this case is more like your “Style Icons”. This can be a celebrity, an influencer or even a family member you feel has great style. Think about why you love their style? Is it the colors they wear; how they put things together? How they make you feel? Are there any resemblances between you and that icon? (same body type, skin tone, hair, look, attitude or is it just aspirational?) Who ever your style icon is, gather pictures of them in outfits you love or, again, are in the direction you want to go in. You want to capture their essence and place it on your style board. Gather as many photos as you like, but I suggest to keeping your icons between 3 to 5 and try to use photos that fit within your color pallet. The idea is to create a style pattern and make it look cohesive. Also, it helps with the overall aesthetic you’re aiming for. I have quite a few and it’s hard to narrow them down, but my top 3 Style Icons are: Eva Mendes (because I love dresses just as much as she does); Victoria Beckham (she has this natural cool vibe about her and it’s a bit eclectic, but polished at the same time – duh, she’s posh spice after all) and Jessica Alba (there’s this downtown girly vibe to her, that I love)… but if I’m completely honest, my ultimate style crush, my first fashion love, none-other than Miss Carrie Bradshaw herself (a.k.a Sarah Jessica Parker). A lover of heels and crazy, but memorable outfits. But she deserves a whole style board to herself. If you only have one Style Icon, than this would be a good example and so much easier! I ended up squeezing her into one of my boards.

Step 3 – Adding Word Association:

This may be odd to some but hear me out: if words can be used to describe you as a person; they can also be used to describe your style and eventually your aesthetic. For some this may be obvious and for others not so much. That’s ok, ideally you want to find words that mean something to you or words that cause an emotion, like “power house”. This could mean strong, go getter, unstoppable! Or you can make it more about the feeling, like “Playful”, which would be fun and colorful. There are lists you can find on Pinterest to help describe your style, like this one from Who What Wear, listed below. But remember to include those emotional words to add some character to your board. They can even be aspirational words as well. Your style board is a happy place and is meant to keep you inspired and on the path of great style, YOUR style.

Step 4 – Include Texture:

Texture is all about adding dimension to your board. This is where fabric and other materials come into play. If you are doing the “old school” board, this part is fun. It becomes an experience of some sort. It’s like a sensory game for babies, but this time it’s for adults! If you are doing a digital one, it’s still fun, because you can see the texture at a bigger scale, by zooming in on a photo. Focus on fabrics that you like, and you currently wear or that you would like to include into your wardrobe. This can be denim; cotton (in woven structure form like a button down top or in knit form, as in a T-shirt); linen fabric; silk or silky type fabric, etc., etc., etc. Other materials to include pictures of, is wood. If you’re into or your icon is into organic, natural accessories, like wooden cuffs or necklaces include those as well. Gold, silver or rose gold accessories are always a favorite. As well as any other material or metal you see your style icon wearing. This can also include prints, like stripes and polka dots, shoes and handbags.

BLUSH DRESS | DENIM SWATCH - similar swatch | STRIPE SHIRT | LEATHER JACKET

Step 5 – Your Lifestyle:

This is very important, this is where you “bring it home”! You want to make sure to include mementos (pictures, not too many) that represent your current lifestyle. There should be little hints here and there throughout the board that tie back into your day to day life. It’s a way to keep it realistic while still making it look aesthetically pleasing. If you have some aspirational photos on your board, that’s ok. Aspirational is good, it gives you something to look forward to. We also want to keep it attainable, attainable is even better. We want attainable! Feel free to add pictures of yourself on the board too. Have any candid shots of you working, doing an activity or sport you love, put in on the board. Hey, if you can’t hang out with your style icon IRL, at least you can do it on your style board! Fabulous birthday party pic in the making 😊

YOGA POSE | WHITE DESK OFFICE | GLASS DESK OFFICE | BLACK DESK OFFICE

Putting your board together

Putting your board together can be therapeutic if you are doing it by yourself or one heck of a good time if you’re with your friends… remember, wine, bubbly, snacks, girl talk (sigh, I love those moments) You can arrange it free handed and remember the days when you made collages in preschool… glitter included (no judgement) or you can go about it one of two ways… you know, keeping those aesthetics in mind 😉

Option one: The Layered Look

Take the size of your pictures into consideration. Anything on the larger side, can be used as a base; you can arrange them as a grid or alternate them up and down. Then take what you could consider as medium size and fill large gaps and slightly cover unwanted white space. Your smaller images can then be arranged to fill in any other gaps, holes and sometimes where corners of other pictures meet. It’s layer, upon layer. upon layer of fabulousness. Finally add your words of choice; your texture elements and your color pallet. The words can be “sprinkled” on top and the pallet can go to one side. Voila! Your Style Board is finished.

Option two: The Grid Look

This is pretty much self-explanatory. You arrange all your pictures or at least the ones that make the cut, into a grid. You can divide your board into two halves – one side has all your inspo images, including your word associations and on the other side you have your color pallet along with your textures and materials. Or 3/4’s of the board is all about the pictures and then you add your color pallet. Still layer in the textures and your words. This is more of a streamlined, almost minimalistic approach. It still looks nice and cohesive and your images receive the amount of love they deserve. It’s all personal preference.

And that, is how you create your very own Style Board. I hope you enjoy the process of creating your own board and be sure to let me know who your style icons are and why? Share with me in the comments below. Have you done a board like this before? What’s your favorite part? Would you add or take away a step? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

P.S. before I go; if you are in the process of revamping your style or trying to create your style (a.k.a. finding your style) make sure to check out this post. I walk you through some easy steps to achieve the style you want. Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe, if your new to the blog! Ok, now I’m going 😊 Until next time.

STYLE BOARD: CREATING YOUR AESTHETIC