Style Workshop Week 2: Collect Inspiration
We’re entering an exciting phase of the process, stepping back from your current wardrobe to define your desired style through visuals and language. It’s no small task, and it might feel overwhelming at first, but let’s be real: if this were easy, you wouldn’t be here.
The key to tackling something big is breaking it down into smaller steps. Over the next three weeks, we’ll collect inspiration, edit it down, and then translate those visuals into your style words. By the end, you’ll have both a visual roadmap and a succinct description of your unique style.
Why do this now? Before we dive into shopping or a closet clean-out, it’s crucial to establish your style “north star”. This means setting aside preconceptions about what you already own or think you need and focusing on what inspires you.
This isn’t about reinventing yourself or creating a whole new persona. We are defining your aspirational style not your aspirational self. Instead, it’s an opportunity to refine and trust your own instincts. Your authentic self will naturally shine through this process.
The Lesson
Creatives of all kinds—designers, stylists, photographers, and even editors like Anna Wintour—have long relied on visual inspiration boards. These boards serve one essential purpose: to focus your taste.
Without an inspiration board, ideas and images can float around in your mind untethered. Putting these ideas down “on paper” allows you to evaluate them both individually and as a group. The goal is to ensure they come together like a harmonious chorus, fully aligned with your vision.
It’s also important to remember that the true value lies in the process of creating the board, not just the final product. Building it helps you refine and define your taste, step by step.
As you start collecting inspiration, choose a platform or tool that works best for you. Whether it’s physical clippings or digital saves, the key is to keep everything organized and accessible. However, we do recommend Pinterest for the following reasons:
It is a bank of inspiration in itself! You can search for images on the platform and the algorithm will suggest new ideas based on your previous Pins. The only trick is to avoid too much “Pinterest rabbit holeing”...more on that later.
It can be easily edited and updated. Next week, we’ll focus on refining your board, and over the years, you’ll almost certainly revisit and tweak it as things evolve. That’s why it’s important to choose a platform that makes updates easy. Did anyone else cut images out of magazines and glue them into a notebook as a kid? While there’s something satisfyingly tactile about that, it’s not exactly practical for making changes. Stick with it if it still works for you, but we’ll be leaving it in the 90s.
The Chrome Extension. Install the Pinterest Save Button Chrome Extension, and you can easily Pin anything from any website. This makes it easy to pull everything together in one place.
It’s easily shareable with your future Indyx stylist! If you ever book an Indyx styling service, you can simply link your Pinterest board, giving your stylist a clear visual of what you’re going for.
How to determine what you truly like vs. what you’ve been influenced to like
Once you’ve decided how to collect your inspiration, it’s time to focus on the what. The task is deceptively simple: start gathering images of things you like!
We advise you to trust your gut, or as Marie Kondo puts it, find what “sparks joy.” But we also recognize that intuition isn’t always foolproof, especially in today’s world, where media and marketing heavily influence our preferences.
Influencer marketing in particular is quite literally designed to make certain products or looks feel inescapable. The goal is to create an illusion of popularity, making you believe that everyone is channeling an off-duty Scandinavian model in oversized button-ups and tailored trousers—and most importantly, that you should, too.
So how do you figure out what genuinely sparks joy versus what you’ve been subtly conditioned to like? Try asking yourself a few key questions:
Is this particular look seemingly everywhere right now?
This isn’t necessarily a red flag, as your taste might genuinely align with a current trend. However, consider it a yellow flag, a cue to dig deeper.
On the flip side, if the image you’re drawn to feels “out of trend” or less in sync with what’s widely popular, that’s actually a positive sign that you’re tapping into your own intuition rather than external influences.
What exactly do I like about this image?
Ask yourself: do I like the outfit, or do I just like her?
Take a closer look at what’s drawing you to the image and try to articulate it. Is it the clothing itself and how it’s styled, or is it the overall vibe—the model’s body, hair, pose, or even the aspirational lifestyle the image conveys?
For the most part, focus on images where you’re attracted to the clothes themselves, not just the who or where. While the styling or setting may enhance the look, the goal is to identify clothes that speak to you regardless of the context.
Can I imagine myself wearing this outfit?
It sounds simple, but it is crucial. In order for it to be your style, you have to be able to picture yourself in the clothes! If the mere thought of wearing the outfit makes you feel anything but at-home, it may be better suited for your “fantasy self” rather than the real you.
And that’s okay! It’s perfectly fine to admire a style on someone else while acknowledging it’s not for you. Think of it like appreciating art in a museum. You admire it for what it is but don’t ever feel the need to bring it home and hang it on your walls. Personal style works the same way.
The Homework
The homework for this week is to build your style inspiration board!
What types of images to collect
Because we’re honing in on a style of dressing, most of your images should be sartorial. However, it’s perfectly fine—maybe even encouraged!—to include other types of inspiration that resonate with you. Art, movies, interiors, and other elements can all play a role. Sometimes outfit images can carry “baggage,”, calling on too many preconceived notions about style. If you’re feeling hesitant or second-guessing your choices, try switching gears and collecting a few non-fashion images to get unstuck.
When selecting outfit inspiration, keep an eye on practicality. Aim for images that reflect the level of formality you live in day-to-day. It’s fine to sprinkle in some more aspirational or extravagant looks, but if your daily routine involves running carpool, a board full of couture ball gowns probably won’t serve you super well.
If you’re ever in doubt, save the inspiration and keep moving. We’ll edit next week! At the start, it’s natural to feel like you’re adding too many images. But to narrow your focus, you first have to start wide. Yes, you’ll end up with more than you need, but that’s a problem for another week.
This process might feel frustrating at times, but it’s also in itself an exercise in strengthening your intuition. Don’t worry! With practice, you’ll naturally become more selective and find it easier to make decisions.
Where to find those images
A few rich sources of visual inspiration content include:
Pinterest: the platform will give you recommendations as you continue to search, it is important however to not rely solely on Pinterest as the algorithm may pigeonhole your taste.
Instagram: it’s not great for searching, but if you already follow creators who inspire you then this could be a good source to gather from
Tumblr: some say it's dead, and some say 2013 is making a comeback. Either way, there is no denying that Tumblr has a wide array of images. If you had a Tumblr in the past, we suggest taking a look, because if there are any images there you still love now, that might be very indicative of your authentic taste
Arena: if you know you know, this is where all the cool creative types are hanging out. This is a particularly good source for vintage images - which are nice if you’re trying to escape a barrage of more 2025 trend-influenced images.
Books and magazines: sometimes, old-school really is the best. Flip through coffee table books and old fashion mags for fresh inspiration
You!: Sometimes your best inspiration for future you is past you. Sift through your own camera roll to pull in any looks you love from the past. And if you aren’t already logging your outfits and selfies on Indyx, now is the perfect time to start! Future you will thank you.
We also get it: staring down an empty search box is hard. Here are a few suggestions of places to start:
Style Archetypes: Archetypes are generalized fashion styles that can often lean to the side of stereotypes, but nonetheless provide an easy springboard for ideas
Music, Art & Design: Trends aren’t just a flash in the pan. They’re often part of larger cultural movements. For example, "70s fashion" didn’t just happen overnight; it was heavily influenced by the free love movement from the decade before. Fashion designers have always turned to art and music for inspiration, like Christian Dior drawing from Claude Monet or Yves Saint Laurent channeling Mondrian. And in more recent times, Vivienne Westwood was inspired by punk music, while Gucci found its muse in Harry Styles. Fashion is basically a love letter to art and culture.
Fictional characters: TV and film characters are often known for their iconic fashion choices, with costume designers using clothes to help actors express who their character is. These instantly recognizable looks from movie and TV stills make for easy and fun inspiration. Shows with multiple female leads, like Big Little Lies, Sex and the City, or Friends, are perfect for seeing how fashion can reflect different personalities. Or, if you're really looking to dive deep, check out this list of the most fashionable fictional characters for a dose of style inspiration from the screen
Influencers and celebrities: We recommend saving this category for last, as jumping straight to current references - especially those who provide shoppable links for everything they wear - can lead to inadvertently copying someone else’s style instead of developing your own. This will likely leave you feeling bored or disconnected from your wardrobe in just a few months, because it’s not a real reflection of you. Authentic style comes from within!
A few starter search terms…
When searching, pair one of these descriptors with terms like “outfits,” “style,” “aesthetic,” “inspo,” or “fashion.” This combo will help you get the best results, and as you continue to search, refine your query by adding more specific descriptions. As you explore the results, pay attention to the suggestions you’re getting and adjust your search accordingly. For instance, “edgy fashion” might show clothing geared more toward teens. To get more tailored results, try searching for “edgy business clothing” or “edgy style 30s.”
This will help you start your journey, and with Pinterest’s recommended pins and related searches, you'll quickly fall down a rabbit hole of inspiration. But every now and then, make sure to take a step back and start fresh to avoid pigeonholing yourself too much.
This list is just the beginning! Soon, you’ll start finding inspiration everywhere, whether it’s from a new movie or spotting a stylish woman on the subway. Keep collecting inspiration as you encounter it in the world around you!
The Indyx Team’s Homework
In case it is helpful to visualize by seeing an example, below is this week’s homework as completed by the Indyx Team.
Courtney: https://www.pinterest.com/myindyx/courtneys-style-inspiration/
Therese: https://www.pinterest.com/myindyx/thereses-style-inspiration/
Erika: https://www.pinterest.com/myindyx/erikas-style-inspiration/
Devon: https://www.pinterest.com/myindyx/devons-style-inspiration/
Yidi: https://www.pinterest.com/myindyx/yidis-style-inspiration/
Kinsey: https://www.pinterest.com/myindyx/kinseys-style-inspiration/
Until next week…
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