POV: Style CAN be learned. And this is how we practice.

ABMO. Always. Be. Making. Outfits.

One of the things I hate to see most in style writing is that old “you either have it or you don’t” trope. Grrrr. As with most cucumber cutting, “you either have it or you don’t” is a phrase often spoken by someone deeply fearful that their personal style is all they have to offer, that their ideas will run out, or that it’s a zero sum game. Versus the

Allison Bornstein

s and

Irene Kim (김애린)

s of the world who are deeply invested in teaching us to fish — even if that might mean we need them less (but ostensibly only, because — IRL never!) .

I’ve said it before, yes, I think only a few people have instinctive, genuinely original style.

The rest of us absorb, integrate, and learn over time to varying degrees of ability and interest. And we do that, I think by seeking out advice and inspiration. Often it comes in the form of visual cues only, say on IG. You see someone wearing something and you are suddenly AWAKE and ALIVE. And maybe you ask where these pieces came from, because you’re excited and a little desperate even (just me?) and you’re starting off very literally: I want what they have.

And then a world OPENS UP for you, a world of content that actually breaks down style and talks about it in terms of IDEAS. It might be

Anna Newton

and her amazing outfit formulas and breakdowns. Or Tibi Style classes or Amy Smilovic’s own IG with her drawings and explanations. (The good friction, etc.) Or Trinny Woodall’s deep dives into color and so much more in her weekly closet confessions, shopups, and outfit-of-the-days. And downnnnnnn the rabbit hole we go!

But here’s the thing. Reading, listening and watching can only take you so far. As with anything else, you’ve got to practice. As

Erika Veurink

said recently, it’s a muscle. Think about it. In virtually every other area of our lives, at the highest levels the skill might be natural, but the vast majority of us practice if we want to get good or get better — a language, a sport, a new technology even. You can’t just read about it and watch other people do it; you have to keep working at it.

And just getting dressed every day isn’t enough, any more than making yourself breakfast every morning is enough to learn to become an instinctive, confident chef who can throw together something satisfying from whatever’s in the pantry.

Enter ABMO (Always Be Making Outfits)

It starts with a mindframe adjustment. And that adjustment goes like this: As of this moment, there are no throw away outfits, and you’re not ever going to just “throw something on” in the traditional sense. You’re going to “make an outfit.” But it won’t take any significant amount of time; we’re talking a few minutes more. The two big places to begin are workout wear and hanging-around-the-house-wear. But there are other places to implement practice moments too. Let me show you.