The beauty of being a Creative Pragmatist lies in your ability to demonstrate that you are a complex, thinking individual who is grounded and understands fundamentally who you are. Your personal style. And since we are individuals whose moods may change, moving along the CP scale, then it really settles the mind to know that the items that you own can move with you on the scale. One day you may feel you want to emote more. Lean in to your creativity, be more experimental. Another day you may just want to double down on a comfort zone that feels incredibly stabilizing. When you can be all of these things, in one closet, with a clear sense of your personal style, then that’s really good on many levels. It means you buy less, you buy more focused, and you ultimately wear what you own. A lot. Acquiring the right tools slowly and thoughtfully means you will always be able to build the outfits that communicate your style. Ok, maybe not always - because shit happens and we will all still have a closet melt down every now and then. But you’ll melt far less. I will show you. 

All different areas on the CP scale, but undeniably all the same person. Just giving off a slightly different vibe. The white crispy nylon Stella pant - the tool in the closet that gives texture and ease. Sweatshirts, teeshirts, sweaters - they can all feel a bit average if always mixed with flat textured bottoms. Crispy nylon gives the good friction and interest. Having elements like the yellow cardigan, the chic neutral blazer or the oversized chocolate cashmere sweater allow you to mix and match and create different feelings. 

Those interesting fabrications for bottoms, like this Italian athletic knit, gives you lots of flexibility to build along the scale.

A. An intense sweater and shoe builds the “ton” of “one, ton, none” - strong yellows, blues and red all play at the same level of intensity settling the eye.

B. Balanced out with a navy sweater, the intense blue pant mixed with the Zebra Rudolph takes on a subdued moment. The shades of blue calm. Right in the middle of the CP scale.

C. This is how we travel. Highly pragmatic - everything here is plane ready - the jacket that comes off easily, shoes that don’t hold up the security line, and materials that are super refined but so appropriate for 5,000 feet up in the air. 

D. Mixing colors in the same spectrum really speak to an ease with creativity, the epitome of never feeling as if you are trying too hard. Not thoughtless but definitely effortless.

E. The blazer is the reliable tool, every time, that gives the good balance. Sport/refined; chill/serious; creative/pragmatic. All at once. A blazer in a neutral but not overly expected color really works hard.

F. Playing with proportions in a range of neutrals gives depth. I get so annoyed with promotions of people wearing all these blacks, whites and grays in the same fabrics in basic shapes looking chic. Look closer, the model is usually a full on 10 out of 10, the location is incredible and the lighting Oscar worthy. Because the reality is when you get those basic styles on you in those tired fabrications, well you will feel tired and basic. So, when you lean in to pragmatism, doing it with a range of good neutrals in a mixture of fabrications and proportions will be super interesting. And then you feel interesting. It is circular that way. 

The bottom line is that in one closet you can have range without ever losing your sense of style. Knowing your through line is critical, it’s what keeps you from going off the rails. And remember, I’m not speaking about good or bad style here. Ever. What I know is that when you can consistently communicate who you are through your clothes then it feels great. And the right tools will help you do that.