Since I’ve been losing weight, I’ve been more aware of my wardrobe, specifically how it no longer represents who I am. I’ve accepted that buying clothes that don’t fit well or that don’t reflect my sense of style is okay because they’re on sale. But at the library this weekend, I picked up Issac Mizrahi’s How to Have Style and was quickly convinced that maybe settling for just okay isn’t okay at all.

Mizrahi says that a timeless piece that you love the way you look in is worth more than many pieces that aren’t flattering or that make you feel less than beautiful. My self-confidence is the casualty of my cheap wardrobe.

It’s too early to start investing in a new wardrobe, though. I’m still losing weight and working my way out of debt. But I can start thinking about the future, and that means reinventing my style.

To do this, Mizrahi says that you should create an inspiration board to determine what colors, shapes and eras influence your style. I decided to make mine digitally on Pinterest, and this is what it looks like.

Right away, I notice that this looks nothing like my current wardrobe. If you looked in my closet today, you’d see a lot of safe clothes in mom-appropriate shapes and slimming dark colors. When I saw my inspiration board in its entirety, I realized that I had been getting it all wrong. My size has limited my choices and my ability to feel confident enough to pull a daring look off. My true style includes vintage shapes, pretty ruffles, muted colors, girlie details, even a bit of an edge. My body has held me back from fully embracing my eclectic style.

Don’t get me wrong… Mizrahi covers fashion for the full-figured woman in his book as well and I have to say, his subject is completely adorable but she exudes a confidence that I don’t have yet. Mizrahi mentions that he’s never met a woman that doesn’t think she’s fat, but I do think there is a difference between owning it and letting it get to you. I know my comfort level, and I’m past it. To pull off your own style, you have to own what God gave you.

As I lose weight, I’ll be on the lookout for pieces that can size down with me – wrap dresses, skirts, easy-to-alter blouses – and will still buy on sale while working Dave Ramsey’s plan. But during this time, I’ll also be developing my sense of style – learning what I like, what I don’t like, what flatters my figure and what’s too trendy to waste time on. Then once I’m at my goal weight, I imagine that I’ll start building a wardrobe that reflects my own personal style. I can’t wait.