Closet Confidence

Creating a new fashion look can be a real challenge. Recently, I've tried to update my wardrobe with some new accessories. And I've learned new "trends" (fun but not always age appropriate) on the Polyvore website. It's allowed me to be creative and think of new ways to use the clothes I already own.

But sometimes I feel like I'm in a "fashion rut" and have been looking for ideas to improve my wardrobe.

Here are a few tips I recently saw on Redbook online:

1. Look in the mirror. Think about how you want to present yourself and how you can update your look. Maybe add some new colors or accessories.

2. Clean out your closet. Clearing clutter lets you assess what you need - and appreciate what you own!

3. Find a fashion mentor. Ask friends about their fashion ideas. Go shopping with friends or family, but if you're alone ask for ideas and advice from a store clerk.

4. Experiment. Step outside your wardrobe "safety zone." Some new things might work and others might fail miserably. But you will find new elements to make your own style.

5. Don't give up. And if you don't love it, leave it! Take back that new shirt if it doesn't look totally right when you get home. As your new look develops, you'll gradually see the clothes and makeup that are better for you. Develop your look and build your confidence!

In future Delight in the Sunlight posts, I'll be adding a few new "outfits" from my "Polyvore closet." It's become a fun hobby that challenges my design skills and fashion ideas. Plus, I get to see outfits created by other women (and some men) from around the world.

Of course, fashion can make you feel good about yourself, but true beauty comes from the inside out. I need to remind myself that fashion and makeup can take me only so far!

"Charm can lie, beauty can vanish, but a woman who fears the Lord should be praised." - Proverbs 31:30

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:76