The Personal Style Playbook 001: Editing & Elevating
Welcome to The Personal Style Playbook!
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your wardrobe, frustrated by impulsive purchases, or unsure of where to even start when it comes to defining your personal style, this series is for you.
The Personal Style Playbook is my way of sharing the lessons I’ve learned on my own style journey: how to think more critically about fashion, how to become a smarter consumer, and ultimately, how to cultivate a wardrobe that actually reflects you.
Welcome to the first edition of the ‘PSP.’ Todays edition:
Editing & Elevating
So here’s the deal, if you actually want to refine your personal style and make better choices, you have to commit to this journey. You can’t half-ass it. You can’t start and stop when it gets inconvenient. This journey, requires effort, time, and a willingness to be honest with yourself. If you’re ready to do it right, keep reading.
The worst thing for your personal style is a congested mind. When your closet is overflowing, your laundry basket is never empty, and you’re staring at a sea of clothes you don’t even like, getting dressed feels like a chore. And when getting dressed feels like a chore, you get lazy. You reach for the same three outfits. You convince yourself you have “nothing to wear” (even though your closet is bursting). You end up in a style rut, not because you don’t have clothes, but because you have too much of the wrong clothes.
That’s where decluttering comes in. And yeah, I know, decluttering is not some groundbreaking concept. We’ve all done it before. But let’s be honest: most of us don’t do it well. We get rid of a few things, feel productive, and then immediately refill our closets with trendy impulse buys. And then the cycle repeats.
So what can we do to prevent this?
I think I figured it out, using the:
The Three Rack Method
The Three Rack Method, is a system i’ve designed to help you recognize your patterns, refine your style, and build a wardrobe that feels both effortless and exciting.
The key? Creating three distinct sections and not just in theory, but physically separating your clothes into three racks or zones in your room. This method helps you visually understand what you truly love, what you’ve been hoarding in slightly different variations, and what no longer serves you.
Step 1: The Three Sections
To start, go through your wardrobe and separate your clothes into three distinct groups:
#1 The MVPs – Clothes You Constantly Reach For
These are the pieces you always grab first, the ones that barely make it back into your closet because you’re so excited to wear them again.
They make you feel good, they fit effortlessly, and they don’t take much thought to style.
Once you have successfully done so, ask yourself why you reach for them and what similarities they share, ie colours, pattern or “aesthetics”.
#2 The ‘Same Item, Different Font’ Section
This is where you put all those eerily similar pieces you own, like five variations of a black turtleneck, three pairs of straight leg jeans in nearly identical washes, or multiple sweaters that have slightly different textures (one’s ribbed, one’s cable knit, one’s mohair).
You probably bought them because you genuinely like the style but forgot you already had something similar, or convinced yourself they were different enough to justify the purchase. Keep them in the middle and do not get rid of anything just yet!
#3 The Forgotten Pile – Clothes You Never Reach For
These are the pieces that have been sitting in your closet untouched. Maybe they don’t fit anymore, don’t match your current style, or were impulse buys that never quite worked.
Don’t put these into storage just yet—first, we need to analyse why you don’t wear them.
To make this process truly effective, physically separate these sections. You can get a few affordable clothing racks from Amazon or simply use different parts of your room to create clear visual distinctions.
Step 2: Analysis & Data Collection
Start with your MVP section.
Look at the clothes you constantly reach for and ask yourself:
✔ Why do I love these?
(And no, “because it looks good” is not a deep enough answer.)
✔ Do I gravitate toward darker colors? Pastels? Earthy tones?
✔ Am I drawn to texture (crochet, wool, leather) or do I prefer smooth, simple fabrics?
✔ Do I tend to wear uniform like basics or do I love statement pieces?
✔ What silhouettes am I most comfortable in? Oversized? Fitted? Flowing?
Write down these observations, you’re starting to build a profile of your actual style preferences, not just the version of your style you think you should have. Do this for every subsection of items (tops, bottoms etc. etc.)
Now, go to your ‘Same Thing, Different Font’ section.
Look at all the near duplicates you’ve collected and ask yourself:
✔ Which one do I instinctively grab first? Why?
✔ Do I wear one way more than the others?
✔ If I could only keep one or two, which would they be?
This is where you can start mixing in texture, color, and variety to elevate your wardrobe. If your MVP section is mostly neutral and lacks visual interest, pull textured, colorful, or patterned pieces from your Similarity section and integrate them into your main rack. For example:
✔ If you mostly wear solid colored basics, try incorporating a cable knit sweater, a textured jacket, or a subtle print.
✔ If your go-to clothes are mostly smooth fabrics, experiment with something ribbed, tweed, or silk.
✔ If your wardrobe leans neutral, pull in a pop of color that still complements your palette.
On the flip side, if your MVP section is full of patterns and bold textures, pull some neutrals or simple basics from your similarity section to balance things out. A clean, structured piece can help ground your statement items and make your outfits feel more intentional.
This process helps create a more dynamic, interchangeable wardrobe, making getting dressed feel fresh, without constantly shopping for something new. You basically end up with a look of a capsule wardrobe! (congratulations)
Step 3: Store Away Everything Else
Now, it’s time to confront the pieces you never wear and the similar pieces you don’t need anymore. Try each one on and ask yourself:
✔ Does it fit well? (Too small? Too big? Just… awkward?)
✔ Does it match my current taste? Or is it something I bought during a different fashion phase?
✔ Am I keeping it for an imaginary occasion?
✔ Is it damaged or worn out, and I’ve just been avoiding dealing with it?
If a piece doesn’t fit, looks unflattering, or just doesn’t excite you anymore, put it into storage. DO NOT donate or sell it immediately, because sometimes we need distance to make better decisions.
Step 4: The Wear Test Experiment
(not sponsored)
Now, the fun part: For the next 5-8 weeks, only wear and style pieces from your MVP section and the pieces you pulled in from the Similarity section.
✔ Mix and match creatively— try styling something differently than you normally would and try using more pieces together, you may find:
that yourself could be reaching for something in storage, if this happens, take it out and reintegrate it into your wardrobe.
If you completely forget about certain items in storage, that’s a sign you don’t actually need them and can then donate/sell.
But here’s the thing, sometimes, it’s hard to visualize new outfits just by staring at your closet. Instead of endlessly scrolling through Pinterest for inspiration, why not use your own wardrobe as your mood board?
This is where digital wardrobe apps like Indyx and OpenWardrobe come in. Personally, I swear by Indyx, its software is smoother, its data collection is better, and overall, it’s just a more seamless experience. Indyx lets you digitize your wardrobe by taking photos of your clothes laid flat, and AI will crop them for you. From there, you just add a title, select the item type (top, bottom, dress, etc.), and categorize its colour. It automatically saves into your digital closet.
Now, here’s where it gets fun: you can start creating outfit collages using your actual wardrobe. This means you can:
✔ Pre-plan outfits for events, vacations, or even just your everyday rotation.
✔ Visually mix and match pieces in ways you might not have thought of before.
✔ Get a clear overview of what you own, making it easier to identify gaps in your wardrobe.
I’ve been using Indyx for months, and I can’t recommend it enough. Having my wardrobe in my back pocket lets me plan outfits on a whim, and I’ve put together looks I would have never considered otherwise. Plus, if you ever want an outside perspective, Indyx even offers styling services from creators like Laini Ozark (for a fee), or you can just style yourself using their easy drag and drop outfit builder.
By actively wearing, styling, and experimenting with your clothes, whether in real life or digitally, you’ll start to see your wardrobe in a whole new way. And when you reach for something in storage, that’s a sign it deserves a second chance in your MVP rack.
The goal isn’t just to wear what you own it’s to wear it better, so you don’t go on another unnecessary shopping spree.
On Indyx, Ive made my closet public so you can follow me, I hope that one day I can become a stylist on Indyx and style some of you! Or we can make this another series where I style my subscribers.
https://opencloset.myindyx.com/user/sxnviasaskia2002
Download the app and add me, make sure to make your closet public though!
(not sponsored)
Why the Three Rack Method Changed Everything for Me
There’s something no one tells you about being overwhelmed by your own space. It’s not just about clothes or clutter, it’s about the weight of everything that’s out of your control. When your laundry piles up, when your closet’s overflowing, and when you can’t even see the floor anymore, it’s like your whole life is suffocating.
I’ve been there. In those dark moments, it felt like no matter how hard I tried, nothing was ever enough. I’d throw things away in frustration, trying to escape the chaos, thinking that would solve everything. But all I was doing was wasting time, throwing away pieces of myself I couldn’t even identify.
The truth is, it wasn’t about getting rid of everything. It was about stopping the cycle.
That’s when I realized that I needed a way to physically see my clothes in front of me, to feel them with my hands. For someone like me, who struggles to keep it all together when life feels like it’s falling apart, I couldn’t just declutter in my head. I needed something I could hold onto, something real, something tangible. And that’s how the Three Rack Method was born.
This method didn’t just help me get organized, it helped me get out of the hole I was in. The moment I physically separated my clothes into those three sections, something inside me clicked. For the first time in a long while, I saw everything with clarity.
I want to stress this: you don’t have to finish it all in a day. You don’t have to clear your whole closet in one go, or feel like you have to fix everything in one sitting. The beauty of this method is that it gives you small wins along the way. The act of creating these distinctions seeing your MVPs, separating out the duplicates, and noticing what’s been forgotten, it’s like taking a breath when you’ve been holding it in too long.
This method isn’t just for the neat freaks or the perfectionists. It’s for people who are struggling to breathe under the weight of too much. It’s for the ones who feel like their closet is a reflection of their inner chaos. It’s for the people who can’t figure out where to start, who don’t have the energy to start, but who still want to find some peace.
I know how much it hurts to face your own habits, to confront how much you’ve bought, how much you’ve accumulated just to fill a void. I know how shameful it feels to admit that you’ve let it get this far. But I promise you this: this isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. It’s about building something sustainable that doesn’t leave you starting from scratch every few months.
When you really start to see your wardrobe and your life more clearly, the weight lifts. You feel like yourself again. You feel lighter. And most importantly, you feel in control again.
That’s what I want for you. I want you to breathe. I want you to feel like you’ve got this. This is the first step. And it’s the only one you need to take.
Conclusion’s
You can’t build a strong personal style on a weak foundation. A cluttered mind leads to a cluttered wardrobe, making getting dressed overwhelming instead of exciting. That’s why decluttering isn’t just helpful, it’s necessary. The Three Rack Method not only simplifies the process but also forces you to think critically about your habits, helping you make better choices moving forward.
Every year, we grow and change, and our wardrobes should reflect that, not who we were five years ago, or what trends are telling us to buy. This is your reset button. Use it wisely.
In the next edition of The Personal Style Playbook, we’ll cover how to identify wardrobe gaps, My new styling methods and incorporating newer aesthetics smartly.
For the upcoming edition, I want to get you involved in a brand new way! I’ll be sharing my new styling methods that I’ve been experimenting with, and I want you to get a sneak peek of the content before it officially drops.
You’ll have the chance to test out these methods yourself, document your experience, and then share your feedback, whether the techniques helped you, if they felt natural to you, or if they didn’t quite work. This edition will be interactive, and your input will shape the way I approach styling concepts going forward. (it will be featured in the next edition)
To be part of this, make sure you’ve got the upgraded subscription so you can get the edition early, try things out, and join the conversation. You'll be able to give your thoughts on what worked for you and what could use some tweaking.
Don't miss out! subscribe today to be part of this exciting, hands-on experience and get early access to the edition!
Thank You So Much For Reading!
xoxo,
Daughter Of Discourse.
FAQ’s
Will the ‘PSP’ Be A Recurring Series?
Yes, im planing on expanding the playbook as a journal that showcases my journey into finding my personal style but also as an advice guide for anyone struggling.
Will the ‘PSP’ be a free accessed series?
The Personal Style Playbook is a paid series, not including the first edition. But think of it as an investment in your personal style, not just another style guide. This playbook is designed to help you break free from fashion ruts, shop smarter, and build a wardrobe that truly reflects you.
By subscribing, you’ll get exclusive access to in depth methods, styling challenges, and a private community where we can exchange ideas, answer your questions, and refine your style together. Plus, you'll have the chance to be featured in future editions! If you're ready to take control of your wardrobe and make fashion work for you, this is where it all begins.
How often will new editions of the ‘PSP’ be released?
I don’t have a strict schedule, but I aim to release new editions whenever I feel like I’ve learned something valuable that’s worth sharing. Quality over quantity!
Is This Geared Towards People With A Specific Aesthetic Or Taste?
Not at all! The PSP isn’t about pushing one style, it’s about helping you refine yours, no matter what that looks like.
What Are the Benefits of Being a Paid Subscriber?
Paid subscribers will get access to an exclusive Substack thread, where I’ll answer Q&A questions and FAQs directly. But beyond that, I want the Personal Style Playbook to be a truly interactive experience not just me giving advice, but us learning together.
Here’s what you’ll get as a paid subscriber:
✔ Exclusive Community Access: Join private discussions where we dive deeper into personal style, share insights, and connect with others on the same journey.
✔ Feature Opportunities: In upcoming editions, I’ll include subscriber input, I’d love to feature your thoughts on how you got there and your journey process.
✔ Style Challenges & Experiments: I’ll drop styling prompts and methods in the chat, things like, “Try this approach for a week and tell me how it worked for you.” Your experiences (with your consent) could be featured in future editions!
✔ Real Conversations & Feedback: This isn’t just about my perspective. If a method works for you, great. If it doesn’t, I want to hear why. Your insights will help shape the Personal Style Playbook into something even better.
The goal is to make this more than just a guide, it’s a collaborative space where we refine our personal style together