My Style Goals for 2025

I was inspired by Angie at YouLookFab (or shall I say “influenced”?) to write a post about my Style Goals for 2025. While I’ve never set specific style goals before, taking the time to reflect on what works (and what doesn’t) felt like a fun and helpful exercise. From refining my wardrobe staples to experimenting with trends, I’m sharing the goals I’m setting to keep my style feeling fresh and authentic. I’d love to year yours!

I feel like I’m finally in a place where I can say I’m happy and confident with my personal style. Of course, with my job, my wardrobe is always evolving, but overall, it feels functional and cohesive. While I wouldn’t say it’s ever truly “finalized,” I can walk into my closet and feel confident that I have something for any occasion my life might throw at me… with one exception. (More on that below!)

Isabel Hoodie (M) // PAIGE Leenah Ankle (29) // Gola Torpedo Sneakers (8)

Most of my days are spent working from home, running errands, or meeting a friend for lunch. Gone are the days of attending school and band events and running kids around town, now that both of my girls are in college and my son is working full-time.

Fitness is a regular part of my routine, with gym workouts, Pilates, and daily neighborhood walks. I also have regular mani/pedi appointments, and I see my chiropractor and other specialists for various reasons. While these occasions don’t call for fancy outfits, I still like to feel polished and put-together when I’m out and about.

Beyond that, I have a weekly Bible study I like to attend, Sunday church services, and lots of dinners out with Paul, but rarely do we go anywhere that requires anything dressier than jeans. All that to say, my life is very casual these days. If I don’t prioritize my style for my own enjoyment, it would be all too easy to convince myself it doesn’t matter and fall into a rut.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

I’ve been noticing a subtle shift in my style preferences toward more elegant, refined looks as I settle into my 50s. (I’ll be 53 this July!) While I still enjoy incorporating sporty styles to add variety to my casual wardrobe, they don’t feel quite as authentic anymore, and I’ve found myself gravitating less toward the edgy pieces I used to love.

FRAME Le Slim Palazzo (29) // AllSaints Orten (8) // Hammitt VIP // similar boots

For example, leather jackets used to be a fall/winter staple for me, and I’ve hardly worn my new AllSaints Orten Leather Bomber Jacket this season—or the Treasure & Bond one that I’ve had for a few years, which I saved because it’s a little longer and warmer. I’m not sure if that’s because current trends lean more toward quiet luxury, or if it’s my personal style evolving—probably a mix of both.

I feel like this is part of the natural progression of life, as our bodies change and we start to look and feel older, but I also don’t want to err on the side of being too safe and set in my ways. That’s something I want to keep in mind as style goals for 2025 and look ahead to refreshing my wardrobe for Spring.

I’ve made quite a few additions to my denim collection this year due to weight fluctuations. While I’m holding steady with my trusty size 29s in some styles, I’ve sized up to 30 in others and retired a few pairs that just weren’t working for me anymore.

I was happy to reintroduce grey denim to my closet this season, after a short hiatus. It’s such a nice way to add variety without changing up my denim uniform. And I also discovered Pistola denim—a more budget-friendly brand that still meets my high denim standards. My favorite style is the Lennon Boot Crop, which I wore a lot in the fall with sneakers and flats.

J.Crew Daphne Topcoat (6) Vince sweater (M) // MOTHER Weekender (29) // Veronica Beard Lisa (8.5)

While I’ve experimented more with the wide-leg denim trend this year, I keep coming back to my tried-and-true favorites: the MOTHER Weekender flares for heels, and slim straight ankle styles like the MOTHER Dazzler and AG Mari for flats. I’ve actually moved most of the wide leg jeans out of my closet. I just don’t feel as happy wearing them as I do in other silhouettes. I can strike the right pose for a mirror selfie to make them look great, but when I catch glimpses of myself throughout the day—or see photos—I’m rarely satisfied with how they actually look.

The one exception is the PAIGE Leenah, which I have in several colors and washes. They’re like the unicorn of wide-leg jeans, with a streamlined silhouette that almost passes as a straight or flare, depending on the angle. I’ve also held onto one pair of the PAIGE Anessa and plan to reassess those this spring.

PAIGE Anessa (29) // Sam Edelman sandals (8) // KUT from the Kloth Amanda (S)

Other major wardrobe updates last year included my athleisure/activewear, thanks to some recent additions from the Athleta sale, and my undergarments. I finally decided to give up on joggers and admit that I really don’t like how they look on me, so I got rid of all but one pair (which I haven’t worn since having that epiphany, so they may not be long for this world!) Instead, I added more leggings to my closet, and I feel so much better wearing them for Pilates, gym workouts, and daily walks. I also added the Athleta Altitude Fleece Lined Pants and Rainier Bootcut Pants to my winter wardrobe, which can double as casual wear when I want an alternative to jeans.

And at the encouragement of a friend (you know who you are!), I recently updated my bra collection with a couple of styles from Bravissimo. I still like my Wacoal Embrace Lace T-Shirt Bra and Chantelle Basic Invisible Memory Foam Bra for wearing under t-shirts, but after trying a bunch of non-molded cup styles, I settled on the Millie and the Coco. I really like the shape they provide under tops and sweaters.

Finally, Angie’s inclusion of a hair goal in her style post really resonated with me. I mean, if you think about it, hair really does play a key role in personal style. After years of dealing with thinning hair, I’ve finally been able to grow mine out a bit this year with the help of beaded weft extensions. I don’t use them for length as much as for extra thickness, and it’s made a huge difference.

I’ve always felt prettier and more confident with longer hair, so I’m thrilled to finally be able to wear it long again. As I get older, I may not want to keep it quite as long as it is now, but I’m enjoying this length for the time being. I also plan to keep coloring my hair close to its natural color for the foreseeable future. I don’t think I’ll ever want to let it go gray, but we shall see… It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, after all!

Before I share my style goals for 2025, let’s discuss my style guideposts…

My Style Guideposts: Modern, Polished & Understated

A couple of years ago, after listening to this podcast, I spent some time reflecting on my style guideposts—three words that describe how you want to look. I landed on these three words to define my personal style: Modern, Polished & Understated. This has been incredibly helpful as a guide for both shopping and putting outfits together. When something feels “off” to me, it’s almost always because it doesn’t align with all three of these descriptors.

Modern: I chose this word carefully, and I list it first because it’s my non-negotiable. To me, modern goes beyond simply being current—another word I considered. While I certainly want my style to feel current and up-to-date, modern takes it a step further. To me, to look modern means subtly leaning into what’s next rather than following trends once they’re everywhere. It also pushes me to avoid looking overly conservative or too safe, which can be my default tendency. I’m not a major trendsetter either, but I like to keep an eye on what’s happening beyond my immediate surroundings, and try things out as they start gaining momentum but before everyone is wearing them.

Polished: I considered using elegant or sophisticated for my second word, but they felt too stuffy for how I want to look on a daily basis. Instead, I landed on polished, which to me means prioritizing quality over quantity and incorporating luxe fabrics and thoughtful details into my everyday outfits, even the most casual ones. Fit and proportion are also key to achieving a polished and refined look.

Understated: This was the hardest word for me to land on, and I spent a few days thinking it over. Ultimately, the word understated ties into my “less is more” philosophy in life. I’m drawn to clean, uncluttered surroundings, and that preference carries over to my style. I’ve never been one to want to stand out in a crowd or look overdone, and I tend to err on the side of removing an accessory rather than adding one too many. I considered the word minimalist, but that felt too extreme. Understated feels more accurate—it reflects my desire for simplicity and subtle elegance without taking big risks or veering too far outside my comfort zone.

My Style Goals for 2025

I feel like I’m in a good place with my style, although looking at the photo above, I realize that it may not completely align with the style guideposts I’ve set for myself. I’ve always been drawn to a subtle boho vibe, as reflected in these light-wash flares and Birks, which has me wondering—should my third word be relaxed instead of understated?

‘Relaxed’ might strike a better balance with ‘polished’ and create more juxtaposition in my style words—something I find integral to my personal aesthetic. It’s definitely something to think about… And that’s the great thing about style guideposts—they’re not set in stone. They can evolve as your style shifts or as you gain a deeper understanding of how you want to look.

With that said, my overarching goal for this year is to refine my style guideposts and lean into what I know works for me. I still plan to experiment with new trends—keeping things fresh is part of the fun (and let’s be real, it’s also part of my job!) But I also want to challenge myself to stay true to what flatters my body type and aligns with my personal style when deciding which pieces earn a spot in my closet. That’s my biggest challenge, and one unique to my line of work, I realize. But I think it’s good to be transparent about that. I try a lot of clothes, but very few make it into my personal closet.

As for the specific things I want to add to my closet or do differently this year…

Add a couple of pairs of non-denim pants to my closet for each season. This is the “exception” I mentioned above, when I said I could get dressed for any occasion my life might throw at me. While I rarely need them, there are occasions when a dress doesn’t feel right and jeans aren’t appropriate. My style guideposts (especially “polished”) make me feel that owning a few pairs of non-denim pants is essential for those times when I want to look more elevated. My go-to black pants are too small for me now, and that style (even a size up) doesn’t work for my current body, so finding a new pair is a top priority for 2025. I’ve already ordered a few to try!
Find new go-to white jeans. Last year, I didn’t wear white denim as much as I usually do in the summer, and I’ve missed the variety it adds to my outfits. Plus, I truly love white jeans—they’re so fresh and crisp and clean, and easy to dress up or down.
Find straight ankle jeans to alternate with my MOTHER Dazzlers. I’m still looking for added variety to wear with sneakers, although I think the PAIGE Leenah Ankle I just found at Evereve might fit that bill.
Wear more dresses. I’ve never considered myself a “dress girl,” but as I get older, I find myself liking them more—especially in spring and summer. Dresses are probably the easiest way for me to add variety to my looks, since I tend to rely on jeans for my other outfits, and I feel like dresses are easier to wear than non-denim pants.
Try to style my outfits, rather than just wear them. This may sound like a strange thing for a “fashion blogger” to say, but I tend to be a plain Jane and throw things on and go. I want to get better about the little details like scrunching my sleeves, tucking or front-tucking, adding a “third piece”, and accessorizing in more creative ways. Speaking of which…
Make better use of accessories and fashion jewelry. As I mentioned earlier, I tend to under-accessorize. While I like the understated aspect of my style, I worry that I sometimes cross the line into boring. And along those lines…
Experiment with wearing a sweater over the shoulders as an accessory. Every time I see this look, I love it, but I always forget to try it when I’m getting dressed or styling outfits for the blog. I think it would add a nice detail to my simple looks while staying true to my style guideposts.