Finding your style can elevate your look and create an aesthetic that works with your personality and makes you look good and feel good too. And when you feel good in what you wear, you can benefit from a boost in confidence and an overall better mood.
But personal style is something many people struggle to find their style and feel comfortable in what they wear. And a study by the Trunk Club found that 61% of Americans struggle with “wardrobe panic” and a crisis of confidence when looking for outfits to wear.
There are many reasons why people don’t have their style pinned down or cannot find something they are comfortable with. Low self-confidence, fluctuating weight and changing body shape, finances, and trying too hard to emulate others rather than focusing on their own thoughts and feelings, to name a few.
If this sounds familiar, this post has some suggestions on how to start developing your personal style and getting a look that works for you.
Look at What You Already Own
What do you like and don’t like, and what type of events are your current clothes suitable for? By discarding all the clothing you aren’t really fussed about or don’t make you feel good when wearing them, you can get an idea of what it is you do and don’t like. You can then base your personal style on this.
Try Before You Buy
Next, spend some time looking at or even trying on different clothes. But, and this is an important one, don’t buy anything yet. Simply see what is out there, what looks good on you, or what you would like to try. This can give you a better idea of the different materials and fits, how they look on you, and, more importantly, how you feel in them. Throw the rule book out of the window, push thoughts and societal pressure out of your mind, and experiment to help you get one step closer to figuring out your style.
Don’t forget; this gives you the opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone where lighting is concerned to try on things you might have otherwise considered or felt too shy to wear. You don’t have to buy it, but trying it can open you up to new ideas and possibilities and give out different options or make it a staple for your unique style and look.
Look For Inspiration
Take to fashion blogs, fashion sites, models, fashion houses or even your favourite celebs to help you create a lookbook of ideas and styles you like and would want to emulate. While you don’t want to copy a person’s style completely, taking inspiration from key points such as having a signature piece like dramatic earrings or an oversized purse or pairing a well-fitted blazer with various outfits can be a good idea, as can choosing a theme for your style such as relaxed, casual, work smart, 50s style, hippy chic, boho and even Parisian chic to give you some style ideas.
Start with A Capsule Wardrobe
Typically, a capsule wardrobe comprises a few essential pieces you can mix and match. For example, a jacket, jeans, and basic tees that can be mixed and matched in different colour options. A little black dress and a pair of shoes that can work with different outfits. From here, once you have your basics, you can add key pieces that can work well with your base items to help build a style quickly that you feel comfortable wearing.
Experiment with Colour and Patterns
Colours and patterns don’t need to be brash and in your face unless you want them to be. It can be as discreet as wearing a coloured top under a plain blazer or a plain block colour dress with a bold pattern in pleats, it can be choosing coloured accessories or even jazzing up a little black dress with coloured tights, for example. Start small when adding colour and patterns, then push yourself to incorporate more colour as you become more confident with your style and choices.
Don’t Forget The Accessories
We touched upon using accessories to create a common theme in your wardrobe and style and to add colour, but you shouldn’t underestimate the importance of accessories to complete your outfit. While we’re not harking back to the early noughties with the large oversized statement belts worn over dresses, jeans and skirts alike, we are talking about using jewellery to compliment an outfit, earring a hat to finish off a look, pairing your outfit with a bag or using a scarf or jacket to seal the deal.
There are many accessories you can use to help you build your look and finish your style off, and inquiring about the importance of accessories in relation to your style can be a massive mistake.
Don’t Rush It
Finishing your style won’t come overnight, or in a few days; it will come in time. Try not to rush this process and allow yourself the time to get a feel for what you like, what you feel good about and what does and doesn’t work for you. Start small by swapping your sweats for jeans or a dress once a week, or if you already wear dresses, try a different style one day before returning to your usual choice. This way, you will know what you like instead of being overwhelmed by too many choices and options in the mix.
Pick Key Pieces To Style
Do you have items in your wardrobe that you don’t wear as you have no idea how to style them? Well, now is your time to let them shine. Pull them out and have them somewhere you can see them. Then look at building an outfit around that piece. Once you have everything in place, you can try out the outfit and see how you feel about it. If you don’t like it, sell it or donate it and look for another piece or even ask friends for their suggestions on styling it and how you look in the clothing you have chosen to wear. This way, you use elements you know you like and already own to experiment easily.
Sorting your wardrobe out to help you overhaul your look and style can be massively beneficial to helping you feel good about your outfit choices and avoid the dreaded wardrobe panic next time you need to find the right outfit for an event.