As I approach another birthday this week, I have put some time in to reflect on the past year. Things I liked about the year. Things I didn’t. Are there any changes or goals I want to set for myself moving forward as another year gets added to the calendar? While I continue to think about the latter, there are two things I can say I really did well this past year. One is making working out a priority in my life each and every week! The other is really committing myself to my own personal style.
When I started this blog over three years ago, I put a lot of pressure on myself to keep up with the latest fashion and style trends. The need to consistently post fresh content in my feed. After all, that is what most style bloggers do! In the process, I spent money on items that I later would regret purchasing because they really were not me. I would walk into my closet and be disappointed with what was in there. It was not until I did a major closet clean out last year, did I finally start feeling good about wearing my clothes again.
But cleaning out my closet was only the first step. We all know it does not take much to fill it back up! The real work is maintaining a closet of clothes that reflect your personal style. So what does it take to find your personal style?
How to Find Your Style
I love this quote from Rachel Zoe, “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak”. Style is more than just wearing clothes. Style is your fashion personality. And it is something to embrace not shy away from. Because style should embody your uniqueness and make you feel confident with who you are.
Your style can also change as you grow and reflect the changes you experience in your life. I remember loving my style in high school and college but then completely losing a sense of it when I became a mom. So if you might feel you are in a lull with figuring out what your style is at this point in your life, I am sharing some tips below to help you get back on track!
Determine What Pieces You Love
Once you have weeded out the items you don’t love and wear, determine what it is that you like about wearing the clothes you kept. Why do you love putting it on? Why does it make you feel good? Do you feel like yourself when you wear it? Figure out why you love it and then have those pieces be the standard for future purchases.
Choose A Palette
The colors you wear often reflect your personality. What colors are you drawn to? Do you like warm, neutral tones? Darker hues such as black? Bright colors and pattern? Once you have a cohesive pallet down, the core of your style should follow those hues!
Highlight Your Favorite Features
We all have different body types and what may look good on one person may not be the best fit for us. It’s easy to fall in love with a dress or top on someone else but then be disappointed with how it looks on us. So determine your favorite features. Then decide what pieces of clothing play to them. And then when you are thinking about making a purchase, ask yourself if it highlights your favorite assets!
Dress For Your Lifestyle
I would love a closet full of Manolo Blahnik shoes. But I would be surprised if I threw on a pair of heels a dozen times a year! Instead, my closet needs to handle my on the go lifestyle that goes hand in hand with being a mom. Sleek sneakers, boots and slide on sandals are more aptly in line with my lifestyle.
Be Honest With Yourself About Trends
This has been a big lesson for me. Just because it is “in” right now, does not mean it is for you! Let’s take “dad sneakers” for instance. They are a huge fashion trend right now. And I love a great sneaker! But I do not like the look of a dad sneaker on me (while I still may admire others who can pull them off effortlessly). However that does not mean all trends should be ignored. Style is determined by what makes you feel comfortable and confident. There are plenty of fashion trends that may play well into your look. Cheetah and leopard print is still trending. I love having this pattern in my closet to complement many of my navy pieces!
Find Your Style Icon(s)
There is nothing wrong with drawing inspiration from someone else, especially if it is someone whose style you consistently love and gravitate towards. Jot down some of your favorite style icons. From there, gather images and outfits of looks you love and dedicate a Pinterest board to them. Once done, find the common elements among them.
My style icon has always been Kate Moss and I do have a Pinterest board dedicated to her. I love that she wears basics so effortlessly but usually has an edgy twist added! One of my favorite images of her is wearing the Hunter Boots with denim shorts at a muddy musical festival!
Write Down the Adjectives that Describe Your Style
Once you have gone through some of this process, see if you can now write down some adjectives to describe your style. Here are a few that come in mind:
- Edgy
- Minimalist
- Boho
- Sophisticated
- Preppy
- Classic
- Tailored
- Feminine
- Relaxed
- Sporty
- Elegant
- Effortless
- Polished
I will leave you with a final quote from Ralph Lauren:
“Style is very personal. It has nothing to do with fashion. Fashion is over very quickly. Style is Forever”
Let me know how you feel about this post! We can dig deeper into it! I can create questionnaires and mood boards for different style personalities, etc.!
You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest
Thanks for stopping by!
L, M