It’s all too easy to scroll through Pinterest or Instagram (or TikTok probably but I wouldn’t know), see an outfit you like and think, “That’s what I want to wear/look like this season.” Then once you end up with the item, it doesn’t make you feel how you thought it would.
So this year I’ve been approaching my style less in terms of how I want to look and more in terms of how I want to feel.
My focus this fall is on reinvesting in what I already have within my wardrobe. This means getting excited about the season ahead and thinking about it in terms of how I can work with what I have to bring some of autumn’s seasonal joy to life.
This is where a mood board can be a really useful exercise because the point of building a mood board is to curate a series of visuals that evokes a state of mind. It can then serve as a gentle guide for the season and offer inspiration as to how you approach each day through your style and mindset.
If this is of interest to you, read on for my process and to see the mood board I curated for the season!
In the past I’ve found that mood board exercises can result in a collection of images that ultimately feels out of touch with who I am, so I don’t end up following through on it.
Instead, I now try to focus less on outfits and specific items and more on the feeling each image inspires. Then that’s what I try to weave into my life and style for the season.
There is no one way to build a mood board. You can save images in a folder on your phone, use Pinterest, print out or tear photos from a magazine and pin them on the wall (my favourite way). You don’t even need to use images, instead, you can create your mood board using only descriptive words.
In this case I’ve done a bit of both. I thought about the words that come to mind when I think of my ideal autumnal day (with a little help from the thesaurus). Then let my inner graphic designer out to play and used photoshop to craft a collage.
SO HERE’S MY PROCESS
1 / SET THE MOOD
You can do this literally, by clearing some space, grabbing a glass of wine or a tea, putting on some music and even lighting a bit of incense or a candle to help yourself ease into the exercise. Grab a pen and your favourite notebook, then when you’re ready, start by considering the following question:
HOW DO I WANT TO FEEL THIS SEASON?
Think about the spirit you want to be in. What weather and activities do you want to feel prepared for? How would you want to come across if you met yourself?
Make note of a few words that come to mind for you. Don’t overthink it, just go with whatever comes through naturally.
For example, my words are:
Warm
Capable
Unencumbered
Resilient
2 / SET THE SCENE
Next, I think it’s important to invoke the senses. To consider how smells, textures, tastes and sounds might influence how you feel throughout the season. Consider the palette, colours, fabrics, and scents that will play a part in your fall style.
Jot down some thoughts on the following question:
WHAT WILL MY SENSES EXPERIENCE THIS SEASON?
Close your eyes and let your imagination guide you. It’s okay to embellish and romanticize the scenes and senses in your mind. It doesn’t have to be completely literal. In fact, it should excite your imagination and inspire the feelings you want to experience.
Do you want to feel like Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail or maybe more like Audrey Tatou in Amélie? Are you leaning into a Dark Academia vibe or more of a Cottagecore mood. There are no right answers to concern yourself with, it’s your mood board!
For example, in an ideal autumn my senses might experience:
SIGHT - Rich, warm neutrals, like the rusty reds and soft browns of fallen leaves, with lots of muted greens like morning fog over the trees.
SOUNDS - Outside - Crunchy leaves underfoot, boot soles on gravel, rustling trees, birds chirping and squirrels chattering. Axes chopping wood, hammers on nails, wood boards clattering. Inside - Records playing, crackling fire and rain on the roof.
SMELLS - Firewood, pine trees, old book pages, fresh coffee, and just a hint of diesel (it means tools are running and work is getting done!).
TEXTURES - Nubbly wool, chain knit cashmere, soft flannel, ribbed cotton, thick socks and pebbled leather. Cool breezes off the lake.
TASTES - Baked apples and cinnamon sugar, rooibos tea, roasted garlic and toasted seeds on everything.
3 / CURATE YOUR VISUALS
Now it’s time to find some images that evoke the words and senses you’ve described. My suggestion is not to overdo it with images though. Try to keep it under 10 and if you can only find 3-5 that feel 100% right or within the time you have, that’s okay! Less is better and can actually be more evocative and offer more clarity than a whole wall of images.
You can see the fall mood board I curated below. I love how it came together because it feels authentic to me right now and has me excited to experience the season as I am instead of feeling daunted by trying to achieve some new version of myself.
When your mood board is complete then it’s time to look through your closet and pinpoint pieces that fit the mood. Make note of the outfits or the items that you’re most excited about and and arrange them in a place of prominence within your closet.
Now you’re well on your way to a stylish season and you know exactly what kind of main character energy you’re bringing!
I hope this approach is helpful and inspires you to give mood boarding a try. If you do I’d love to hear what some of your words or sense descriptors are in the comments! I’m also on standby for any questions you might have.
THANKS FOR TUNING IN!
Sincerely,
Lee the Bee
I think this is such a great approach, hopefully I’ll get myself organised enough to actually write it down, as I’m already thinking about my words/senses etc now 🙂