We’ve all been there: choosing an outfit for the day and completely destroying your closet in the process, only to end up wearing something you half-tolerate and (most likely) feeling uncomfortable all day. Or maybe you’re shopping with no sense of direction and end up coming home with an empty wallet and a bunch of clothes you don’t love that much. Finding your personal style and being able to create that wardrobe you need to commit to it is something that we all strive for. Here’s where you can start:
Fashion vs Style: Knowing the Difference
One major reason that people struggle to find a sense of personal style is a tendency to focus more on microtrends than consistent aesthetics. A brutal truth that we all have to face before defining our personal styles is that certain things will look better on social media than they will in person, and that some people are better suited to particular looks than others. Take this with a grain of salt, of course- everyone has a right to dress however they please, but keep in mind that curating your style to preferences that are unique to you is guaranteed to elevate your look.
via @thomas.meacock on instagram
“Fashion is intended to come and go, hence the world’s fashion weeks and constantly evolving trends and labels- it’s something that’s handed to us like a tool in a set. Style, however, is intended to be created and sustained over time. It’s your own thing, meant to be developed using the fashion- the tools- that are presented to us throughout the years.” Read: Fashion vs. Style: Which Makes a True Icon in the Industry?
Visualizing Your Ideal Wardrobe
There’s a fine line between finding your personal style and acknowledging and/or taking on an existing style that you love. And the key to simply finding and being able to work with your personal style is finding a balance between both. Suppose you have a general idea of what you want your closet to look like. In that case, understanding your style is something you’ve probably already covered, but if you’re not sure what to shop and what to drop, start by finding a handful of names in fashion that you gravitate towards and take inspiration from them. By watching others style themselves, you can learn a lot about the mechanics of the industry.
via @imaaninoelle on instagram
Another favorite way of mine (and everyone else, who am I kidding?) to find your personal style is to use Pinterest. This seems ridiculously obvious, but we’re throwing it out there just in case. Regardless, the more you pay attention to your moodboards, the more you learn about the subtle things you like and maybe didn’t notice. Often, I’ll see outfits on Pinterest that I love, and when I look closer, I realize that a lot of the pieces aren’t typically something I’d buy for myself. Sometimes, seeing an item styled can help you learn how much you actually enjoy it and give you an idea of what your style might resemble more. Take it a step further and look at your own closet: you may already own a ton of pieces that curate towards your personal style but look different from the ones on your moodboards and social feeds when you wear them. This is an issue that we’ve all faced at some point and can stem from a few reasons, but the biggest is that, surprise, there’s a difference between wearing and styling the pieces in your closet, and if you need help doing so, observing is the best way to start.
Dissecting Your Closet
How well you’re able to develop your wardrobe based on your personal style will depend a lot on what you already own, so my recommendation would be to set aside an afternoon to evaluate your existing wardrobe. Once you’ve established what your style is, the process of dealing with the tangible part of it becomes infinitely easier. Go through your closet and treat it like a shopping spree. Try things on, imagine different ways to style them, and look at them from a fresh perspective.
What pieces in your wardrobe do you wear the most? Which ones do you feel the best in? Keep those; ditch the rest. Take note of garment details you don’t like- textiles, cuts, fits, etc. Getting rid of clothes can be difficult for an infinite number of reasons, but if you can narrow down and say goodbye to the items you know deep down you have no plans to ever wear again, you’ll immediately be more inclined to adhere to your actual style.
via @maria.calvet on instagram
Regular closet purges are something I not only recommend, but actually look forward to. Every few months, I put away a few seasonal items and pull my more weather-appropriate options from the shelves. But in the process, I take an extra two or three minutes to evaluate which items I didn’t wear a ton and/or don’t plan to wear again and get rid of them.
After consistently purging my closet, this usually only ends up being one or two items. Still, when getting started, you’d be surprised by how many clothes you might be keeping around for no good reason. And if you’re still not convinced, think of it this way: if you dissect and clean out your closet, you’ll have no choice but to only wear the things you really love because you won’t have the option to settle or compromise by a certain point. You’re welcome.
Shopping Your Style
Committing to your personal style starts with having a clearer vision of what you’re looking for when you shop. If you don’t already own a good collection of basics, start with those: a timeless pair of jeans, tailored pants, and a handful of simple tops that can be styled to fit any outfit. Invest in high-quality pieces that are flattering and will last instead of splurging on loads of cheaper and more niche pieces that will either fall apart or go out of style over a matter of weeks.
via @klaudia.paris on instagram
When you shop, imagine styling the pieces in your cart with three or four things in your closet that you already own. Take the time to try things on and see how you feel in them, and if you’re shopping online, pay attention to the size chart and make sure you’re actually ordering the correct size and fit for your body type.
Shopping for outfits as opposed to pieces will help you build a wardrobe that curates to your style as opposed to a closet full of clothes you only tolerate. That said, finding and committing to your personal style is no easy task and takes time and practice. But now that you have somewhere to start, we wish you the best of luck.
By Mackenzie Ostrowski
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