We often think we have nothing to wear because the items in our closet are not conspiring to make us feel the way we want to feel. For many, the amount of clothing is not an issue. Instead, it’s often about understanding how combinations and certain pieces work together to elicit different emotions that match what we want. When we want it.

So here we discuss the IGS and the ANTONYMS. Stay with me, this will be a good one.

These thoughts dance around in my head as I drive to the train station, but then my brain paused to mentally calculate my arrival time. And I resist the urge to pull up the train app to confirm the schedule. Resist it, I tell myself. Distract myself with my IGS and Antonyms. Anything to not pull up the schedule. Why? Because there’s not a thing I can do about it. If you tell me the train is in 20 minutes, but it takes 25 minutes to get to the station, then I’m in knots. Maybe I can make it, I think. Maybe if this freaking car in front of me will take their foot off the brake, maybe if I make all the lights, then maybe. But likely? Hardly.

In life there is Friction. And then there’s Friction. One is just angst and can sometimes be mitigated. The other makes our life interesting – if you choose to view it through that lens. I love the owner of the train station’s coffee shop – he has a small sign posted: “please do not conflate my speed of service with your inability to get to the station on time.” Sure, waiting is annoying, the anxiety of a missed train, but it’s often manageable in that we do have the option of planning better. If it weren’t for friction we could be living perfect lives, but at the same time, maybe a frictionless outcome means no independent coffee guy making his living. And then there’s that other friction, let’s call her Friction (B), the first being Friction (A). The kind when someone does things in a way fully different than you. Not what you expected and certainly not what you planned for. Sometimes it can really mess with your schedule or the outcome you had hoped for. And sometimes, maybe even more often than not, it keeps you on your toes and shatters your monotony. Friction (B) can lead to a wholly unexpected way of solving a problem or push you in a positive direction you would have never thought to consider.

Friction (B) can produce the same unexpected and great results when we consciously embrace it in our style. The angst as well as the interest, and even better when both happen at the same time. All truly interesting things in life come at the expense of a bit of initial discomfort.

I’m sure this is why when I dress, I crave the IGS and the Antonyms. These are the pieces or styling twists that rub and drop discourse right into your outfit. You may think I’m one who’s never met an acronym I didn’t like. YWBW (you would be wrong – I think I just made that up!?🤨). In actuality, I don’t like acronyms for the sake of it, they hold no place in my memory and just add to all the clutter already residing in my hippocampus. But I do love an acronym that sums up a difficult concept, serves as a simple reminder when you’re stuck, and more importantly, solves a problem.

IGS are your textures and shapes: Icky, Glossy or Sculptural. When building out your closet, it’s important that texture and shape exist, else you’ll have many items to choose from with little to actually wear. Why? Because when we get dressed, we often look to fulfill a mood – serious, fun, chic. If you view clothing as a function of mere skin coverings, then you’ll disagree with me here. And that’s fine. But if you’re reading this, I bet we’re on the same page.

Antonyms are your easy way of balancing the scale by simply adding the opposite emotion to anything that feels one dimensional. Just like the individual who craves a robust contrarian discussion, feeling “super pretty” will have you craving its opposite to round out your story. Various opposites could include ugly, nerdy, or edgy. Experiment and find the balance - adding in a piece aligned with one of those words will surely stabilize the outfit. I’ll remind you here that what constitutes balance is fully determined by you and it’s why these fashion gymnastics are best initially performed in your head before you go asking others for their thoughts…if you feel the need to do so.

SEEKING IGS:

ICKY - These are items that are highly tactile and produce a sensation. When you feel “flat” in your look, these items tend to give it a little more good bulk.

GLOSSY - Adding an element of shine changes the mood. This isn’t about good outfits or bad - every outfit does not require an IGS - as you can see below, the LEFT side has the high gloss, the RIGHT SIDE is matte. Understanding how these elements can manipulate your mood is helpful when your outfit “looks” good but isn’t yet making you feel the way you crave.

The outfits on the left are great. So are the ones on the right. Left has a glossy element, the right does not. Different moods for different days. See?

SCULPTURAL- Pieces that have high interest in their shape.

Sculpted pieces add modernity to any outfit…when that is what you seek. The sleek slim tops no doubt play well with a sleek trouser skirt, and that’s great when you want to feel streamlined and maybe super focused. But what if you crave something a bit more dynamic, or maybe not as serious? That’s what that sculpted piece in your closet is for - sharp pintucking that gives a decidedly structural shape. A different feeling for when you want to feel different.

And then the Antonyms. Employing the opposite to balance out the “too’s”. As in, I feel too….

Feel too …… sporty? Maybe you seek something more “creative”? Switch out the Seth Sneaker with a Sleek Heel with a clear strap. Did this do the trick? Maybe it wasn’t pure creativity you sought, maybe instead it was to feel more “polished?” Then add the Liam Blazer. You see, sometimes you don’t know what it is that you want to feel, but you can say how you do feel - too sporty. Start switching out items for the opposites and see if that gets you where you want to go. It likely will, I promise.

Feel too…serious, dark? Maybe you seek something brighter and more fun? Easy switch - and I know this may seem like a “duh”, but this is often where people get frustrated trying to articulate how they want to look. Saying what you want is always hard where saying what you don’t is seemingly not as difficult. Why? I have no idea, I’ll look into it, but for this discussion I think we can agree it happens all the time in the closet. For many.

So below, if you’re wearing the leggings and turtleneck, the trainers may make it straight up casual, gym like. Switch it for an office element like The Loafer, a more polished hard sole. The dress here? Maybe with a sheer hose and The Gold Sandal you feel too…..pretty - you’ll want to add strange with a white sock and Pump. You’re going out with friends, and the blazer with the skirt makes you feel too…work mode - adding a just bit of high sport in a Varsity Jacket changes the whole vibe. The addition confirms that you wanted to look polished and chill, something you couldn’t articulate straight out of the gate.

So, when you’re shopping next, reorganizing the closet, or kicking the wall in frustration, keep the IGS and Antonyms in mind. They create friction, the good kind. They’ll make you better for it, every time. Ok?