After an unexpected few month break due to debilitating health issues, I’m delighted to be back with a fantastic episode featuring Anika Krueger! I’m biased, but especially excited to share this episode as Anika is not only a great writer, but actually a listener of this very podcast—as such, very qualified to weigh in on the concept of “intuitive dressing”. We also discuss her great series Style Notes, what’s on her do-not-buy list, and more.
Enjoy!
Maureen: You’re listening to Intuitive Style, where we believe that everyone has style.I’m Maureen McLennon Welton. In conversation with fantastic guests, we explore how to tap into our style intuition so that we can dress authentically and live fully.
Today’s guest is Anika Krueger, writer of NO WARDROBE. Anika is an uber-stylish corporate girly by day, personal stylist by night. We love her style analyses and the way that she makes high street look high end.
Anika, welcome to the show.
Anika: Hi, Maureen. Thank you so much for having me. So glad to get to talk to you.
Maureen: You’ve such an early supporter of the concept of intuitive style and of the podcast, and just in general the idea of intuitive dressing. I would just love to hear from you—what is your definition of what it means to dress intuitively? What does this concept mean to you and how does it show up in your life?
Anika: I think it’s so funny because I feel like from the outside my personal style doesn’t appear intuitive at all. It’s really minimal. I dress with a really limited color palette and very few details. My style is defined by clean lines, neutral tones, and really simple silhouettes.
I feel like most people associate intuitive style with really playful, experimental, expressive looks, but that’s so not me. And I feel like the same applies to my home and my lifestyle. Everything is really minimalist—my apartment is really simple, really uncluttered, and filled only with things that make sense to me.
Also with my interior decorating, I use really neutral colors. So both my wardrobe and my environment are always really edited and very curated—almost the opposite of intuitive.
But I’ve realized that my intuition actually guides me toward this simplicity. It took me years to accept that my true style is that simple—and maybe kind of boring in a way—but my intuition expresses itself through calm and clarity. I like order. I like harmony. My brain and emotions feel best in simplicity.
I recently had this epiphany that, for me, intuitive style actually means choosing what supports my nervous system. Does that sound weird? I need to wear clothes that feel like me and match my emotions that day. Dressing intuitively simply means aligning how I feel with how I present myself.
So yeah, to sum everything up, it’s choosing what supports the version of myself I want to be and what supports my nervous system.
Maureen: Well, we can end the podcast right there. No, I mean, that’s so incredible. And I agree with you on every point about the misconceptions—what we think intuitive style might look like versus what it actually feels like.
Intuitive style isn’t an aesthetic; it’s a preference. It’s a way of choosing. You were talking about your nervous system and how clothing supports it. Can you walk through an example—maybe a time when you tried something more colorful or wild and felt it didn’t align, versus something you really enjoy wearing? What’s the difference in feeling for you?
Anika: Off the top of my head, I don’t necessarily remember a specific example because every time before I leave the house I actually check whether something supports my nervous system or not. But I do remember this massive teddy fur coat I got probably two years ago. I felt so visible—so seen—on the street, and I couldn’t handle that at the time. That’s probably a good example.
Maureen: Yeah, that’s a great example. I can think of that too—sometimes something just feels loud, and it’s not the kind of attention you want.
Anika: Exactly.
Maureen: You mentioned that before you leave the house every day, you do a nervous system check. I need more information. What is this?
Anika: I mean, I do lay out my clothes before I leave the house because I leave really early in the morning for work. But mostly, I just look in the mirror and check: what’s on the agenda today? How do I feel today? And most importantly, how do I want to feel today?
Then I do a little check—does my outfit represent that? Let’s say I’m wearing a leather jacket, but I don’t feel very strong that day, or I chose something that makes me feel more visible than I want to be. Then I’ll just change it or make little tweaks.
Maureen: So the idea is choosing something that represents how you’re feeling on that day versus just in general—or maybe both?
Anika: Yeah, yeah, both probably. I also—and I think I’ve talked about this on Substack before—I always feel like I want to have a cohesive look throughout my personal style. So that’s actually referring to what you said about emotions in general or representation in general.
Maureen: Yeah. Yeah. What do you think it is about that idea of being cohesive that resonates with you? I know I do, and so many other people do. What is it about that that feels good to you?
Anika: I think my Style Notes on Substack actually give away that I’m quite analytical. And also, I think that reflects my more perfectionist side. I feel like that’s probably the reason.
Maureen: Yeah, yeah, that’s super fair. Let’s talk about that.
So, okay, I think another misconception that I’ve experienced with intuitive style is that it’s somehow the opposite of being analytical. I think for me—and from what I’ve heard from you—they’re actually very intertwined.
With your Style Notes, if I can summarize, you analyze a really cool person and their style, and you see what it is about that which works or resonates with you. So I’d love to hear your take on how being analytical relates to being intuitive. Do you think they’re opposites? Do you think they fit together? How does that work?
Anika: Yeah, I actually think they do fit together, and they intertwine. I feel like on a subconscious level, I would always be analytical. But then this intuitive or emotional side that we’ve talked about also plays a role in that.
I think I always have style formulas and patterns in the back of my head—even things I’ve probably already discussed on my podcast or in my style notes. And then my intuitive style actually plays with that.
So they kind of intertwine—my more perfectionist or analytical side and my intuitive side. In the end, I think it’s a sum of both of those that makes me get dressed.
Maureen: Yeah. Can I share how I see they relate and see what you think?
Anika: Okay.
Maureen: To me, it’s like if you think about a trained interior designer or a trained artist—yes, you can absolutely be completely self-taught and create something totally new. And also, a lot of artists learn techniques by studying people they look up to or artworks they’re inspired by.
When you think about someone who’s learned how to sculpt marble, for example, that’s not something you just pick up one day and nail on the first try. Someone probably had to teach you techniques.
So I see it as a study—it’s a study in something we’re clearly passionate about, which is getting dressed. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with studying what other people are doing in order to interpret it for ourselves. I think it’s just a deeper way of engaging with the topic.
Maureen: And I think it’s—I don’t think that mimicking or taking pieces from what someone else is wearing is ever going to look or feel exactly the same on us anyway, because we are unique individuals. Our personality and all of that really impacts how it feels. So I see it as a way of engaging deeper in a topic that we care about. How do you feel about that?
Anika: I love that idea. I mean, actually, when you mentioned the trained interior designer example, I immediately thought of a trained dancer. A trained dancer also trains—they have routines, they have training sessions—but in a way they have to bring emotion into it once they start dancing and moving.
So of course there’s choreography once they’re on stage, but there’s so much intuition in the way they dance and move. And yeah, I love that you’re also a supporter of the idea that you can copy other people but still remain true to yourself or true to your intuitive style in the end.
Maureen: Yeah. Well, I think we should touch on perfectionism then, because to me, being analytical isn’t the same thing as being a perfectionist. They’re related, but not the same. I’m curious about your thoughts on this.
To me, perfectionism is where you take analytics too far and you’re like, “Oh, if it’s not exact, it’s not worth trying.” How do you think about analytics?
Sorry, I should have asked you first—I got excited.
Anika: No, no, that’s okay. I feel like I’ve never thought about it that way. They were always intertwined for me. This analytical side always had almost a bad association or connotation for me.
But actually, analyzing something can support your idea of something, or just serve as research. And I like that you separate those two or differentiate between the two ideas. Perfectionism per se is not something bad, and being analytical is also not something bad. But I like that you actually separate them.
Maureen: Yeah. I mean, I think I can give an example. I love your Style Notes series, right? And it encouraged me to write my own version—I couldn’t help it. I saw yours and I was like, “I have to do one like this.” I was so excited by it.
That emotional response made me want to do this highly analytical thing. They’re very intertwined. And then the difference I see is this: if I analyze someone’s style and recreate it, my version will look different—spoiler alert, it always will.
If I then automatically say, “Different is bad. I failed. This wasn’t worth trying,” that’s where it tips into perfectionism. That’s where it becomes, “I shouldn’t even bother dressing like the people whose style I like. I shouldn’t even bother wearing the clothes that excite and energize me, because on me it won’t be right. It’ll look bad. My body will make it look bad.”
That’s where it becomes unhealthy—this pessimism that stops us from even going for the things that excite us.
Anika: I love your take on that.
Maureen: Does that resonate with you? Have you ever had that experience?
Anika: Yes. I think whoever I look at within my Style Notes, I always—and that’s why I do that little section at the end—ask, “What do I take away for my own personal style?” And it’s always something really abstract.
I think it’s important to see patterns rather than saying, “Okay, this outfit consists of a white shirt plus black jeans and boots.” But rather, what’s the vibe behind the outfit? What do I like about it? And how does it make me feel, rather than focusing on the elements or the specific pieces in the outfit? Not “how can I copy that person best,” but “how can I make my own version of this?” or “what about this look or this personal style would benefit my own style?”
I think it’s important to see patterns rather than saying, “Okay, this outfit consists of a white shirt plus black jeans and boots.” But rather, what’s the vibe behind the outfit? What do I like about it? And how does it make me feel, rather than focusing on the elements or the specific pieces in the outfit? Not “how can I copy that person best,” but “how can I make my own version of this?” or “what about this look or this personal style would benefit my own style?” - Anika Krueger
Maureen: Yeah, no, I love that. I think we have to let the emotional and analytical sides coexist. I think they’re better together—that’s my take. I would love to talk next about how you decide what to buy and where—and how you decide what not to buy and where.
Anika: That’s really funny, because I feel like my personal style is actually defined by what I decide not to buy and not to wear. Because it’s so curated, edited, and minimal, I’m not an impulse shopper. I buy very intentionally.
I have a really clear vision of what I want to buy and how I want to dress. I gravitate toward pieces that already feel like they’re hanging in my wardrobe. And that often leads me to buying upgraded versions of things I already have—pieces that are really aligned with my personal style and also with practicality.
I keep a list that I update regularly of things I don’t want to buy—almost like a reminder. And that’s something I do not only with my wardrobe, but in life in general. I love reflecting on past decisions, not in a bad or unhealthy way, but more like, “Don’t buy that weird thing again,” or “Remember last time you sold 20 logo shirts?” It’s more in that way.
Maureen: Okay. I think what can be really hard is knowing what we do and don’t like. One thing you said is that you buy things that feel like they’d already be hanging in your closet. I don’t expect this to be an easy answer, but how do you build that trust? How do you know when an item feels like it’s missing?
Anika: Oh, that’s a good question. I think it’s kind of like the Marie Kondo thing—it sparks joy. You can’t really put your finger on it.
I try things on, and if it feels like a true addition to my wardrobe, like an extension, then it feels right. And that brings us back to intuition. I think I’m someone with a really strong gut feeling. Sometimes I feel it first, and the explanation comes later.
It’s about trying something on and doing that little check-in: “Okay, that’s it,” or “That’s not it.” Sometimes I can point to why—the length, the silhouette, the material. And sometimes I can’t. You just hang it back. And I also think you have to remind yourself and build a kind of style confidence—with your personal style and with the more practical side of having a wardrobe. You go shopping, you have a feeling about something, and you trust yourself enough to say, “That’s not the right decision today—or ever.”
Maureen: Do you have a sense, just ballpark, of your success rate? Like, for how many things you try on, how many do you actually end up buying?
Anika: Oh, that’s so interesting. That’s such a good question. Sometimes I try things on just to see—to push a little outside the box. But the rate of things I actually buy is quite low.
I’m not someone who loves shopping and tries on a million things. I’m more like, “Okay, I want to see how that feels.” Sometimes I try something on purely out of curiosity. I recently went to Amsterdam and we went into, I think, Filippa K. I tried on this really beautiful coat that was very cinched at the waist. I just wanted to see how it looked on my body. And I think I should do that more often. That would probably be really good for my intuitive style—letting it grow a bit and allowing my personal style to evolve.
But yeah, to come back to your question, the rate is pretty low for things I try and don’t end up buying.
Maureen: Hmm….I try so many things on—so many—and then I buy, like, one thing. I don’t know. I think there’s sometimes a size component that makes it more complicated, like fit, when your body isn’t really designed for certain things.
But even when I was in more clearly straight sizes, I still tried on a lot and didn’t end up buying much, or it didn’t stay long. For me, that goes back to the idea of how analytical and emotional fit together. I need data to respond to.
I’m collecting data when I try things on, when I browse online, when I compare measurements. All of that data helps me decide what’s worth ordering and what’s not. And then from there, I keep what I can keep.
It sounds like you have a different approach—you know what you want to try on, and you feel pretty confident it’s going to work. And then it does.
Anika: I mean, sometimes—especially in this day and age with online shopping—it’s been a tough day and you order something, and suddenly two or three things are in your basket that probably aren’t supposed to be there. But yeah.
And actually, you inspired me to do this more often—spending a day with a good friend and just browsing. I don’t think I necessarily take the time to do that, but I should. And I think there’s no right or wrong approach here.
Maureen: Totally. And just to be clear, when I say I try on a lot of stuff, it’s usually because I have a very specific idea of what I want, and I’m trying on different versions of the same thing.
I’m not trying on things I know I don’t want. For example, I don’t wear yellow, so I’m not trying on yellow. But if I want a gray sweater, I’ll try on quite a few of them.
Anika: I completely understand. It can be hard to find the right version, but I think it’s worth trying.
Maureen: It is. Yeah. Very interesting. Very interesting.
I also wanted to go back to something you mentioned—you said that when you buy something, you want to extend or enhance your wardrobe. I love that idea. Can you say more about what you mean by that?
Anika: Yeah, this is probably also a bit of a perfectionist idea, but in the end, I want my wardrobe to represent only what makes sense to me. I’m really intentional about what goes in, like I said.
Maureen: Can I check if this is part of what you mean? You don’t buy just to buy—everything has a purpose. Do you buy multiples of things? And if you do, are they very different? How do you know something is extending your wardrobe versus just making things easier? What’s the difference between ease and extension?
Anika: I actually don’t buy multiples. I feel like my entire personal style journey is based on upgrading versions of things. Like, let’s take your gray sweater, for instance. For me, it’s oversized blazers. Ten years ago, I started collecting oversized blazers, and I always sell one and then buy an upgraded version that fits my—probably also trend-led—idea of an oversized blazer at that time.
So “enhancing” or “extending” a blazer really means buying upgraded versions rather than buying multiples. If you look at my personal style over the last ten years, it’s always been oversized blazers, loafers, ballet flats, coats, trench coats—just in different versions.
I sell a lot of clothes secondhand and really try to keep only the things in my wardrobe that I truly love. And I completely understand your idea of trying different versions of a gray sweater.
Maureen: Yeah. And when you say “enhanced version,” you mentioned that sometimes that can be trend-led. Is that mostly what you mean, or is there another element?
Anika: Yeah, I think it’s mostly—sadly—trend-led. At the moment, it’s exaggerated shoulders, very textured fabrics, that really strong silhouette, like The Frankie Shop, to name a brand.
But I also think intuition and the emotional side guide me, too. I’m not only buying enhanced versions because of trends—I’m also buying for a personality that has grown so much over the last ten years. I’ve become more courageous about buying more quote-unquote fashion pieces.
I used to be much more of a people pleaser, and now I’ve realized that people don’t really care what you’re wearing. That’s also what makes something like an oversized blazer feel like an enhanced version.
Maureen: Yeah. Yeah. No, that’s awesome. I’m with you.
Let’s talk about something you mentioned earlier—looking at your wish list. Do you have one?
Anika: I actually don’t have a wish list. I have a not-to-buy list. I love the idea of a wish list and the satisfaction of checking things off, but I only have a not-to-buy list.
Maureen: So what’s on it right now?
Anika: All right, let me check my notes. First—no surprise—sneakers, except maybe one elegant Samba version. Short jackets that don’t cover the hips. I always gravitate toward them, and I always sell them. It goes back to what we talked about earlier—I feel very seen in short jackets, and it’s not comfortable for me.
Logo shirts and sweatshirts. Shoes you can’t walk in—I commute to work and have a 30-minute walk every morning. I tried shoes I couldn’t walk in until last year, and I’m smarter now.
Maureen: Yeah, that’s good.
Anika: The last three are colors: khaki green pieces, warm beige pieces, and dark gray pieces. It’s very specific, but it’s so helpful to have that guidance.
Maureen: Mm-hmm. It’s funny—those three colors are also colors I don’t buy. Yay.
Anika: So what would be on your not-to-buy list?
Maureen: What is on my not-to-buy list? Long jackets.
Anika: Interesting.
Maureen: Because it’s not really required by the weather here. I do have two long jackets, but that’s plenty.
This might be a cop-out, but also things I don’t like. Sometimes I’ll buy something because it’s practical or comfortable or “good enough,” and then I have a hard time styling it. It takes up so much brain space in a way that things I genuinely like don’t. Those feel effortless.
So yeah, my biggest rule is: if I don’t really like it, please don’t buy it.
There’s a lace shirt that looks really cool under a dress. I ordered the dress and I’m keeping it—I really like it, I’ve already worn it a bunch. But the top…I liked it in theory.
I have to send it back because I know I don’t actually like it. It’s not the exact right one, whatever it is. And if I keep it, it’s going to be a whole headache. So I’m sending it back.
Anika: Perfect. Yeah, that’s actually the idea of “sparking joy” that I mentioned before.
Maureen: Yeah. Exactly. As easy as that.
Anika: Yeah.
Maureen: It can be hard, especially when you have a really specific idea in your head of what you want to accomplish, and something is close—but it’s not it.
Anika: True.
Maureen: Okay, so we’ve talked a little about how you feel in your clothes on the emotional side. What about body awareness? How things feel on your body—the texture, the fit. How does that influence what you decide to buy and wear?
Anika: I think it influences me both subconsciously and consciously. I’m really grateful to say that my body feels more like a friend—it gives me signals. And I know not everybody can say that.
For me, body awareness is less about sizing or silhouettes and more about the emotional side, the nervous system side we’ve talked about. Of course, body awareness plays a huge role in what I decide to buy or wear, especially combined with the emotional side of getting dressed.
Whenever I feel like I need support in the morning, I’ll wear something in a stronger material—like a heavy leather jacket or a textured oversized blazer with exaggerated shoulders.
We’ve also talked about visibility versus invisibility. When you feel very visible, you become extremely aware of your body and very self-conscious. In that sense, body awareness probably plays the most important role when I get dressed, combined with the idea of supporting my nervous system.
Maureen: When you talk about feeling exposed, what does that feel like? Is it fear? What does that sensation actually feel like?
Anika: Not necessarily scared—more like, “Okay, everyone’s looking.” It’s totally uncomfortable.
Maybe it’s like a distraction. Yeah. A distraction, but also anxiety. You’re just very aware of the fact that you’re wearing something specific. You feel sensitive.
Maureen: Yeah. Absolutely. I get that.
Maureen: So we’ve talked a little bit about how you feel in your clothes, more on the emotional side. What about body awareness? So this would be how things feel on your body—the texture or the fit. How does that influence what you decide to buy and wear?
Anika: I think it influences me both subconsciously and consciously. I’m really grateful to say that I actually feel like my body is more of a friend—it gives me signals. And I know not everybody can say that.
For me, body awareness is less about sizing or silhouettes and more about the emotional side, this whole nervous-system aspect I’ve talked about. Of course, body awareness plays a huge role in what I decide to buy or wear, especially when we talk about the emotional side of getting dressed.
Whenever I feel like I need a bit of support in the morning, I’ll wear something in a stronger material—like a heavy leather jacket or a textured oversized blazer with exaggerated shoulders.
We’ve also talked about visibility versus invisibility. In that sense, you become very aware of your body and very self-conscious. So body awareness probably plays the biggest role when I get dressed, combined with the idea of supporting my nervous system.
Maureen: Yeah. And when you talk about feeling exposed, what does that feel like? Is it fear? What does that sensation feel like for you?
Anika: Not necessarily scared—more like, “Okay, everyone’s looking.” It’s totally uncomfortable.
Maybe it’s more like a distraction. But also anxiety. You’re just so aware of the fact that you’re wearing something specific. You feel sensitive.
Maureen: Yeah. Absolutely. I get that.
Okay, let’s talk about how your style has changed. I know we’ve talked a little bit about how a lot of elements have stayed the same, but are there any memorable phases you can think of?
Anika: Yeah. I think my personal style is so closely connected to my personality that any major life change has been a reason for my style to evolve.
The first one that comes to mind is university. I moved to a bigger city, and my style evolved during that quote-unquote blogger era. That was the first time I really had to filter style influences.
I was chronically overdressed—oversized blazers, loafers—while everyone else at uni, in this really open-minded, casual city, wore Converse, jeans, and T-shirts. My early style was very vintage, retro, hipster, and very overdressed.
Then it transitioned into more of a minimalist phase—almost a Gandhi minimalist style—even more minimal than today. That was also during the capsule wardrobe era. I never fully did a capsule wardrobe, but I came very close.
Then, in my early law career, when I started my first law job, my style truly felt like my own. Around that time, someone very close to me became really ill, and getting dressed for work became an emotional anchor.
No one at work knew what was happening in my personal life, and getting dressed—really dressing up—was the biggest and most grateful distraction. It helped me support my emotions and keep it together.
After that, all major life changes just built on that evolution—breakups, moving cities.
What’s funny is that the city I live in now is the first place I’ve ever truly felt at home. People dress up, but in a very authentic way. I don’t have to wear Converse just to fit in, and that feels really nice.
Maureen: Yeah, I was actually hoping to talk about that. I think there’s a very real tension between wearing what feels good to us and wearing what feels good relative to the people around us.
There can be a divide between what feels like it represents our personality and what we’re seeing around us. So when you were at uni and everyone was wearing Converse—did you feel more comfortable in loafers, or did it depend on the situation? How did you navigate that mismatch?
Anika: That’s so interesting. I don’t think I had the confidence back then to wear the loafers and feel good. I wore a mishmash—I’d wear the Converse with the blazer.
I tried to adapt to a level that felt acceptable but never actually felt good.
I’ve become much better at not doing that. For example, casual events where you don’t really know anyone—I used to dress way down for those.
Actually, Substack really helped me with that. It kind of taught me that it’s okay to dress the way you want, even if the crowd isn’t into fashion or dressing up. That’s not a reason to adapt.
Now I’m more confident choosing the loafers—but I used to absolutely choose the Chucks instead.
Maureen: Yeah, that’s super fair.
So what advice would you give to someone trying to build a wardrobe that feels intuitive and authentic to them?
Anika: I love that question. I’d say: take it seriously. I actually have to remind myself of that too. Fashion is often considered superficial, but it’s not.
View it as something important to you and see it as a holistic process. Take your emotions and your confidence into consideration. Take time to discover not only what you want to wear, but how you want to feel.
Also, discover what your values are. That circles back to the Converse-versus-loafers discussion—just be unapologetic about who you are.
Grow into a version of yourself you like, and then dress accordingly. Take your time figuring out what that means for you.
I also think it’s helpful to see your wardrobe as a space of happiness. That sounds cheesy, but really—fall in love with fashion, celebrate it as something important, something you do for yourself.
In the end, it’s how you show up in the world. It’s the first thing people see about you. I always have to remind myself that it matters because it influences so many areas of my life.
Maureen: Great advice.
Well, thank you so much. Where can listeners find you?
Anika: First on my Substack—it’s called No Wardrobe. The original idea was that I wanted to sell my entire wardrobe and build it from scratch.
My Instagram is anika.ricarda. People can also find me on Indyx—I’m a personal stylist there. The link is in my Instagram bio and on Substack.
Maureen: Awesome. I’ll make sure all of that is linked in the show notes. Thank you so much.
Outro
Intuitive Style is produced, edited, and hosted by me, Maureen McLennon Welton. Our theme music is by Tim Reed and Jacob Welton.
In case you missed it, Intuitive Style the podcast is an offshoot of Intuitive Style, the newsletter. Head over to Substack, and search Intuitive Style to read the newsletter—which covers reflections on personal style, guest features, and encouragement that there is no wrong way to get dressed.
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