Style is the unspoken language that tells our story
Identify, define and embrace your personal style !
What exactly is personal style and why it’s so important?
Finding your style can be a process and it can take time. Some girls hit on a style of their own at a very young age while some women never do. But when you find your style, people will look at you differently and your attitude towards yourself will change.
Personal style it’s the overall image of an individual. In its broad definition, personal style covers so much more than clothes, shoes or accessories.
Personal style includes anything from your presence, your attitude, your availability, and your relationships to the way you think, write, act, walk or talk - all those define and emphasise your personal style.
Why do most people believe style is all about fashion?
Simply put, our brain is wired to judge the book by its cover, that’s why appearance matters so much in first impressions. We all judge a person by their clothes. Yes, we are this shallow! Some countless social studies and experiments prove we’re programmed to judge by appearances.
With that in mind, you should take advantage of this fact and dress your best as often as you can. I am aware that we all have our sweatshirt days and that’s ok. But it’s crucial to cultivate an impeccable image for yourself.
How to find your personal style?
There are a few aspects worth keeping in mind when you try to find or define your personal style.
- Lifestyle. Your lifestyle is more or less what defines your personal style. Do you work a 9-5 office job or you’re a yoga teacher? Are you a parent? Do you live in a big city or the suburbs? Your style and respectively your wardrobe have to be adapted to your lifestyle. When you find your personal style and start enjoying the benefits of having a functioning capsule wardrobe, dressing up in the morning will be a breeze and your life will be so much easier. Don’t take my word!
- Your body. Each body is unique therefore personal style becomes even more personal. While we can find inspiration in celebrities, influencers or people around us, ultimately is your personal touch that makes your style so yours. It’s extremely important to know your body type and to dress accordingly. Not all clothes fit all bodies. *infographic with body types*.
While we’re at it, I have a message for young women out there in particular: Love your body regardless. I know it’s not easy and you might get frustrated hearing this yet another time, I feel you, but find a way to accept your body and to embrace every imperfection. Always remember clothes are made to fit our bodies, not bodies to fit some stupid clothes, no matter the label.
- Your age. The advice here is not to “dress your age” but rather consider what clothes you feel good in. Trying to look younger by revealing to much or by applying too much make-up will only get you the label of amateur, just like dressing up too comfortably will make you look a decade older. It’s super important to decide beforehand what you want to communicate through your style and which age bracket would you like to be included in.
Here’s the ugly truth: People around you will judge, analyse and label you anyway so don’t give them reasons to do so.
- Your habits. If you’re not familiar with your habits (good or not-so-good) by now, then start tracking them. Notice what you spend most time on? How often do you work out, cook or do laundry? Do you have kids, pets or other obligations weekly? Do you work from home or commute to the office? Every activity in your day requires a different attitude, approach and probably outfit, that’s why planning could be a lifesaver.
- Your preferences play a crucial role in the way you act, dress and eventually the way you are. Never ignore your inner voice, after all your likes and dislikes will determine the uniqueness of your style.
- Trends. The easiest way to keep up with the trend nowadays is social media. While fashion trends are important and worth following I think personal preferences are above what’s hot or not. So follow the trends and stay in the know but don’t embrace or wear everything that comes straight out of the catwalk.
- Research simply means educating yourself about the style you choose to go with. If you’re completely new to the fashion world, start by following a fashion blogger or two, buy a Vogue magazine every once in a while, create a mood board and download Pinterest on your phone.
Your wardrobe and the way you look
By educating yourself I also mean get know what you’re adding or taking off your wardrobe. Learn a little bit about textures, colours, shapes and the quality of your clothes. Quality should always overcome quantity. Buy quality clothes that will last for years to come. You will not only save money but you’ll also not take part in the fast fashion industry that’s so toxic.
The first step into finding your personal style would be to start with the clothes you already have. Do not buy new clothes until you assess what you already have. So a capsule wardrobe is what you need at this point. Learn how to build one here. *link to my blog post*
If you’re not a minimalist and you have no intention of becoming one that’s fine, you can still start with the capsule wardrobe and build up your ideal wardrobe from there. A minimalist wardrobe will cover the basics and save you tons of time.
Once you have an idea of what’s in your wardrobe start doing some research. This step is so fun. Identify what clothes you feel good in, and also note what clothes look great on you. Start looking left and right at the stylish people in your life, what is it that you admire in their look? What pieces do you like the most? Have a look online at the celebrities, influencers or public figures you think are stylish. Heads up! Don’t let yourself be tricked by Photoshop. Get a fashion magazine or two, discover new accounts online that could inspire you, create a private Pinterest board and save outfits you like.
Create a mood board, on your computer or paper, doesn’t matter, add outfits, single pieces, colours, textures, materials, fabrics, names, brands, and designers.
Head over to our blog post Know Your Fabrics if you have any questions about the materials used in your clothes.
From now on choose every piece carefully. Every time you feel tempted to buy new clothes, look for quality and try to find them a place in your wardrobe. Don’t just buy a bunch of clothes because they look good in a store window, hoping you’ll wear them at some point. But before purchasing any piece carefully think about what are you going to match it with. Is it a colour that goes with something you already own?
Do you already have this piece or a similar design that will only take up space in your closet? Is it ethically produced?
If you’re not sure check Your little guide to ethical fashion to find out.
Over time you will find your feet and the whole process will become a routine. The sooner you start experimenting with outfits the better.
Pinterest and Instagram can help you a lot with creating daily outfits, there’s tons of inspiration. Don’t ignore the accessories, they have the power to brighten, enhance, complete or destroy an outfit.