Ampersand is a Chictopia seller who has been hand-picked by our editors to sell merchandise on our website.inspiration book
while i keep an abundant stash of inspirational files on my computer, i am a list and little notebook person and about twice a year i compile a sartorial tome like this to carry around with me.
i am constantly making little notes here and there about what influences me fashion-wise, and collecting everything in this book is a way for me to have everything in one place.
the whole project takes a few days and sometimes it feels like an obscene waste of time, but i have been hand-making notebooks and daily planners for myself for years and i just can’t seem to stop myself. i love books, inspiration books, notes written on slips of paper and collections of all sorts.
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i divide the notebook (i buy 3-pack moleskine notebooks) into two parts
shopping list
a checklist of what i need/want for the coming season, followed by the names of stores i frequent and what from the list i could possibly buy there. if anything, this list keeps me from buying things i don’t need and from spending way more money than i should.
inspiration
in a word file i cut/paste my saved fashion files and resize them to fit my book. then print and affix with doublesided tape. i arrange things according to similar styles and moods. i love flipping through this section in the morning when i’m deciding what to wear, or before i go shopping so that i have a few things in mind that i’d like to purchase.
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labels
nyc has some great paper supply/stationery stores. that’s where i got these decorative labels.
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shopping list excerpt
black drape cardigan
mens vest
skinny belt
AA basics
mid-heel knee boot
ankle boot with heel (just purchased!)
structured blouses
skinny jeans
I have a similar notebook - and I love having it to hand. Feels more real, more personal to be able to open a book somehow!