The uncomfortable truth about style resolutions is that they have roughly the survival rate of a gym membership purchased on January 2nd. Come Valentine's Day, that capsule wardrobe Pinterest board sits buried under screenshots of spring trends. "Find my signature style" has quietly devolved into panic-buying another black top.
The closet purge happened. You've watched the organization videos. You've invested in matching hangers. And yet, every morning, your hand reaches for the same black trousers, the same three tops, the same jacket that "just works."
In nearly every client's wardrobe I encounter, there's a consistent pattern: beautiful, expensive pieces with tags still attached, hanging like monuments to the lives we thought we'd be living by now. A silk dress waiting for yacht parties that never materialize. A beaded clutch anticipating galas that remain stubbornly theoretical. Designer heels standing at attention for a lifestyle that exists primarily in saved Instagram posts.
This dental advertisement once caught my eye, and I can't shake it off from my memory since: It got me thinking: we might consider we notice everything everywhere all at once, but our minds actually play favorites, prioritizing one features while completely overlooking others. Have you ever wondered what people notice first about you? As it turns out, science has some fascinating answers. Research shows that humans form their initial impressions in a mere seven seconds — seven seconds! — and surprisingly, these snap judgments tend to stick. According to a 2018 study published in the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, first impressions can last for months and significantly influence how others interact with us. The 7-Second Timeline: What Catches the...
