8 Ways to Define Your Personal Style
Everybody has a personal style, even if they don’t know it yet. However, it does take a little work to identify your personal style and to build your closet to reflect that style. If you’ve just been randomly buying clothes with no regard to your overall style, it’s time to change your approach. Here are eight steps to help you identify your personal style and shop for clothes that work with it:
- Evaluate your closet.
Even if you’re not 100 percent happy with your closet in its current state, there are bound to be certain pieces that represent your personal style. The trick is identifying them. First, go through your closet and get rid of anything that’s old or that you haven’t worn in a while. You’re trying to identify what your personal style is now, not what it was 10 years ago. Then go through your closet again and pull out any signature pieces that you wear again and again, as well as any items that you own multiples off (such as flats or striped shirts). These items are the base of your existing personal style.
- Choose your wardrobe foundation.
Every wardrobe needs certain foundation pieces, such as a white button down and dark wash jeans. This includes not just outer garments but also panties, bras and shapewear as well (which form the literal foundation of every look). If you don’t have those pieces in your closet already, then prioritize acquiring them. Look for staples that will be versatile but still suitable to your personal style. For example, if you prefer a more bohemian look, then you might choose a looser, more casual button down style than someone who tends to dress more preppy.
- Identify your aspirational pieces.
When you’re going through your closet, keep an eye out for pieces that you love in theory, but aren’t quite comfortable wearing. Maybe it’s a bright color, or a loud print, or a more revealing cut. Whatever it is, pull out those pieces and evaluate what you love about them and what makes you hesitate. In many cases, what keeps you from wearing them likely has nothing to do with fashion rules and everything to do with getting inside your own head. Focus on what you love about the pieces and try to make a point to wear them more often.
- Find your style inspiration.
Browse Pinterest, Instagram and other social media sites to help you figure out what styles resonate with you. Celebrities and designers are an obvious starting place, but beauty and fashion bloggers are also a great source of inspiration (and many of their looks may be more accessible to you vs. expensive designer pieces). Identify the pictures that most encapsulate your ideal personal style and save them to your phone so that you’ll always have them on hand whenever you go shopping for clothes.
- Identify the vibe you’re going for.
Look over your personal style mood board and see if you can think of a couple of adjectives to describe the look you’re going for. Maybe it’s bohemian, or vintage, or preppy, or sporty, or any number of other looks. Figuring out how to describe your overall aesthetic will make it easier to narrow down your options when you search for clothes, especially when online shopping. If you can’t think of how to describe your look, then ask some more fashion-forward friends for help.
- Add in statement pieces.
You don’t have to restrict your closet to wardrobe staples in black and white. Once you’ve got your foundational capsule wardrobe put together, you can add in statement pieces that bring more of your personal style to your wardrobe. These pieces can be literally anything: shirts, pants, jackets, dresses, shoes and so on. Throw on one of these statement pieces and it will instantly transform the rest of your versatile staples and make your outfit look truly unique. The statement pieces are where you put the “personal” in personal style.
- Make some style goals for yourself.
Just like with other areas of your life, you want to push yourself a little bit when it comes to your personal style. Select a couple of areas where you’d like to take a few more fashion risks (whatever risk means for you!). This could be wearing heels more often, or adding more bright colors and prints to your wardrobe, or trying on more form-fitting clothes. Don’t think about other people when you make these goals. Just focus on you and how you want your personal style to evolve over the coming months and years.
- Don’t forget accessories.
Accessories really can make or break an outfit, and even the most casual athleisure will be instantly elevated by sunglasses, jewelry, boots and a handbag. Try going through your accessories using the same process that you did for your clothes, choosing foundation, statement and aspirational pieces. Before purchasing a new accessory, make sure that it fits in with both your personal style and the clothes you already own. If you have to buy a whole new outfit to go with that pair of red shoes, then they’re way more likely to end up sitting in the back of your closet instead of actually being worn, which is a total waste.
Finding your personal style can be really empowering and make you feel more confident about both your clothes and yourself. Finding your personal style does take a bit of work, but it’s so worth it for the end result. Follow these eight steps to start identifying your personal style today and take the first leap into your fashion journey.
