It’s back to work and back to school. Raise your hand if you want to walk in the door as the new and improved version of yourself! … Yeah, me too.

The truth is, 91 per cent of us won’t stick to our New Year’s resolutions. As humans, we’re prone to shooting too high and not giving ourselves adequate room to land. Sadly, a mid-oughts movie makeover scene is a recipe for a wardrobe of impulse-buys in real life.

The good news is makeovers aren’t just in movie world! These three local stylists who have made professions out of helping women dress as the best version of themselves. From their wealth of knowledge comes these three, totally doable, style resolutions for 2023.

Bye-bye impulse buys!

Amy Abrahams (Wear the Damn Dress)

I’m coming through the other side of a lockdown-inspired online shopping explosion and realised I have a lot of items I like, but simply don’t wear. So, my 2023 style resolutions are:

• To be deliberate with what I add to my wardrobe. Know what I have and consider how new purchases work with what’s already there. In short, less shopping on a whim!
• Hiring fancy frocks for events rather than purchasing ones I won’t get an opportunity to wear regularly (or ever again) to help reduce my wardrobe clutter.
• Practise styling what I have already! Taking the time to put together new combinations of pieces I have. It’s surprising what can go together when you have some time to experiment, and it’s like getting a whole new wardrobe!

Enough basics, let’s spice it up

Kimberly Hunt (The Style Side & Canberra Outlet)

I want to fill the gaps in my wardrobe this year with higher ticket items that I have saved for, researched, and taken my time to curate. Over the last few years, I have filled my wardrobe with strong denim pieces, wearable basics, and bold outerwear, but when building outfits in recent months, I find I’m missing the show-stopping accessories to bring it all together.

High-quality comfortable shoes, interesting yet functional handbags, and layers of fine jewellery: these details are the icing on the cake, and in 2023, I’m ready to make that icing more luxurious, creative, and unique.

Ditch the black

Tracey Davis (Tracey Davis Styling & Canberra Outlet)

Sometimes it’s too easy to throw on an all-black ensemble in the morning. True, it’s timeless, but it can also be severe against my ageing skin. Instead, I pledge to wear more colour in 2023, as brighter and lighter colours are proven to help you feel uplifted, energetic, and optimistic.

I use Canva’s online colour wheel to inspire unique combinations, which in turn has helped revive old pieces in my wardrobe I’d long forgotten about. My current favourite combo is yellow and lilac, but if that’s too bold, introducing colour through accessories is a great place to start.

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