When our minds are cluttered with influencers, ads, and must-have lists, it’s easy to forget that getting dressed can be a joyful experience. Your outfit doesn’t have to just “work”—it can make you feel something: confidence, nostalgia, peace, or delight. So how do you build outfits that speak to your soul? The answer lies in tuning into what lights you up.

Here’s a 3-step process to start dressing for joy:

1. Make Your Joy Board

Start by creating a “joy board”—a collage of images that stir something inside you. You can do this on Pinterest, a physical corkboard, or even a folder in your camera roll. Don’t limit yourself to fashion. Include:

• Book covers or art that made you smile as a child.
• People whose style or presence you admire.
• Movie or TV costumes you can’t stop thinking about.
• Textures, colors, or prints that make you feel cozy, wild, grounded, or beautiful.
• Scenes in nature, architecture, or art that give you a spark.

This isn’t about “curating” a perfect aesthetic. It’s about paying attention to what delights you, comforts you, or feels like you. A still from an old Studio Ghibli film, your grandmother’s picnic tablecloth, the color of desert sand at sunset—it all counts.

My example:

For my joy board, I hopped onto Pinterest and pinned images that made my heart flutter a little. A theme started to emerge: I’m drawn to natural beauty with a touch of magic. 

2. Pull Inspiration for Individual Pieces

Now, zoom in. What do you notice about the details in your joy board?

Are there textures that repeat—soft knits, crisp cottons, flowing silks? Do certain colors or combinations show up again and again? Maybe it’s honey gold with sky blue, or charcoal paired with plum. Maybe you see playful polka dots, dramatic sleeves, vintage collars, or architectural lines.

Let yourself be surprised. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut of buying the same few things on repeat. But your joy board might remind you that you love chartreuse, even if you’ve never owned it. Or that you’ve always been drawn to ballet flats and ribbed cardigans, even if you thought they were “too preppy.”

You might find inspiration for how to layer pieces—like a cropped sweater over a maxi dress, or a blazer over a hoodie. Look for unexpected combinations and shapes that make you feel alive.

Take note of these ideas and turn them into a “joy list”—a few keywords or concepts to guide you next time you shop your closet or browse for something new.

My example:

Looking at my joy board, I see patterns that hint at clothing silhouettes: cloud ridges like pleats in a midi skirt, lush flower petals like puffed sleeves, and the feel of open hills and winding paths echoing relaxed silhouettes. The palette is dusty but warm: muted blues, mossy greens, linen whites, and sun-touched golds. 

Mae Threads’ Kalliope Floral Dress leapt out at me—it captured the airy wildflower feeling I kept pinning. The Bria Pleated Cardigan also reminded me of that layered, windswept softness that shows up in those countryside paintings I love.

3. Anchor with Tried-and-True Basics

Joyful outfits don’t have to be outrageous. In fact, some of the most effective ones are surprisingly simple.

Once you’ve identified the pieces that spark something inside you, pair them with basics you already love. That favorite pair of jeans you feel great in? It’s the perfect backdrop for the vintage scarf that reminds you of your aunt’s old garden. Your go-to black t-shirt? It might be the anchor for a whimsical skirt that’s been waiting for its moment.

Anchoring playful or emotional pieces with more subtle basics creates balance. It also makes your outfit feel wearable and confident—even if part of you still thinks, Can I really pull this off?

The key is contrast: balancing loud with soft, nostalgic with modern, structured with relaxed. This is where personal style starts to take shape—not from following rules, but from experimenting within your own comfort zone.

My example:

After falling in love with the romantic feel of the Cordelia Button-up Blouse—which reminded me of vintage storybooks and wildflowers—I grounded it with my favorite light-wash jeans and leather flats. Easy. Balanced. And the Imogen Relaxed Pant pairs perfectly with a neutral tee and basket bag. It gives me the feeling of walking along the cliffs on a misty morning—effortless and peaceful, like something from my Joy Board made wearable.

Dressing for joy doesn’t mean every outfit has to be magical. But when you start building your wardrobe with intention, and tuning into what sparks something inside, you’ll find yourself reaching for clothes that feel like a celebration of you.

Use code dressforjoy to get 10% off your entire order!

Let yourself feel something. And then get dressed. Find some joyful pieces at Mae Threads.