'No one warned me about the mid-30s style identity crisis. I can't be the only one feeling it.'

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Thirty, flirty and thriving.

A mantra coined by the cinematic masterpiece that is Suddenly 30, but something no one warns you about this decade, is the style identity crisis that seems to materialise overnight. 

All of a sudden your clothes feel like someone else's. You question everything you put on, and the thought of shopping fills you with dread.

Ksenija Lukich had a style crisis in her 30s. Image: Supplied.

When this happened to me, I put it down to motherhood.

With a four-year-old and two-year-old, life has changed dramatically, but upon further investigation, it's not just mums. Single women and DINKS (Dual Income No Kids) are also screaming into the abyss of their wardrobes. 

I know this sounds extremely dramatic, but after always feeling confident in my style, it really took me by surprise. I had simply outgrown the clothing of my 20s, and it was time to rebrand.

So if this is something you have felt, here's what I did to get back on track and start feeling like myself again.

1. Take stock.

Go into your wardrobe and pull out every item you haven't worn in the last year. Then, you need to be brutal. Try it on, if it doesn't work, donate it or sell on Depop (honestly, the dopamine hit of getting a sale is very addictive).

I have a tendency to be sentimental, so if there are pieces you can't bear to get rid of, pop them in a separate pile for storage. I kept a dress I wore on my 30th birthday, my first pair of designer jeans and a few other pieces that reminded me of my 20s.

You are then going to split the wardrobe into summer and winter items. I like to rotate out my clothes per the season, as it helps reduce the clutter. 

Watch: A fashion editor and a stylist both share how their style has changed after having kids. Post continues below.

2. Find your inspiration.

It's time for a good ol' fashion rabbit hole.

Scour socials, get pinning on Pinterest and search for people whose style you admire. For added efficiency, let AI do some of the leg work.

Upload photos to ChatGPT or Gemini and ask it to describe the aesthetic. You can also ask it to find content creators who fit those keywords. I used this prompt: 

"Using this image as a reference, describe the style aesthetic in three keywords/phrases. Then find content creators across Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest who fit that aesthetic. Focus on creators in their 30s."

If you're interested, mine were: elevated, casual, transitional and neutral centric. 

Image: Supplied.

3. Rebuilding your wardrobe consciously.

I would much rather buy one good quality piece over 10 poorly made ones. Quality doesn't necessarily mean expensive, either.

There are some excellent creators who review brands' construction, @catarinariley on Tiktok, is a great Aussie source. Cos and Seed get her tick of approval.

Finally, revamping your style doesn't have to happen overnight. This little blip in questioning your style is simply a sign of evolution. Say goodbye to your 20s, and hello to a more confident, fabulous 30s.

For more helpful style advice and shopping recommendations, subscribe to the weekly Nothing to Wear Substack, listen to the Nothing to Wear podcast or watch Nothing to Wear on YouTube.

Feature Image: Supplied.