Defining your look can be intimidating, but it's much less scary when you have simple steps guiding you along the way.
Style should make you feel good about yourself.
It's time to discover and live your style.
Knowing your own personal style will help you create a wardrobe you truly love, and its much easier when you have a strong wardrobe foundation. A strong wardrobe foundation will serve as the building blocks to your personal style. You don't have to follow fashion trends, but always be true to your personality. Your style will evolve over time depending on various factors relating to your lifestyle. It's important to be clear on how you want to present yourself to the world. We all have those days when you feel you can take on the world, you feel beautiful and confident. Take note of what you were wearing, this look will help you understand your own personal style. Style refers to your particular way of expressing yourself. Style is timeless and you don't need to follow trends to feel fabulous. Is there something that people always compliment you on? Wearing clothing that will emphasize your personality will always be stylish no matter what is trending. The first step is to understand what you really love, then you can start to identify what makes you feel confident. Do you gravitate towards timeless classic looks? Do you feel more comfortable in tailored, minimal pieces? Do you love a look that's between sophisticated and edgy? Or is the look more carefree and fun? You first have to think of what makes you feel you and then you will be able to develop your own signature wardrobe.
Style Confidence is finding a personal style that makes you feel like your best self.
Some people find it offensive to think that the clothes you wear can affect how confident you are. This definitely rings true to me as when I put on one of my favourite outfits, I feel I can take on the world and when I am wearing something out of my comfort zone I don't feel myself. Therefor I doubt myself.
So I was wondering if what we wear influences who we are and how we think and act?
How can what we wear on the outside affect how we feel on the inside?
1. Our favourite sweater always makes us feel comfortable, cozy and relaxed.
2. When you wear those favourite shoes, you hold your head up high and feel confident.
3. We all have that favourite go to dress, you know the one you always grab.
4. Wearing a blazer makes us feel professional.
I think our physical qualities are our unique strength, by embracing them we will find the confidence that was always inside us. When it comes to qualities we all want to posses, confidence tops most women lists. Confidence is more that just healthy self-esteem, its involves our self worth. The biggest part of feeling confident in your clothing is whether you feel authentic in them. It's easy to get caught up in this constant improve yourself culture. You outfit may alter how you approach and interact with the world. It's no secret that assembling an outfit is like selecting a social armour, and that what we wear has power over others as well as ourself. The clothing we wear is a statement, a reflection of yourself.
Some people find it offensive to think that the clothes you wear can affect how confident you are. This definitely rings true to me as when I put on one of my favourite outfits, I feel I can take on the world and when I am wearing something out of my comfort zone I don't feel myself. Therefor I doubt myself.
So I was wondering if what we wear influences who we are and how we think and act?
How can what we wear on the outside affect how we feel on the inside?
1. Our favourite sweater always makes us feel comfortable, cozy and relaxed.
2. When you wear those favourite shoes, you hold your head up high and feel confident.
3. We all have that favourite go to dress, you know the one you always grab.
4. Wearing a blazer makes us feel professional.
I think our physical qualities are our unique strength, by embracing them we will find the confidence that was always inside us. When it comes to qualities we all want to posses, confidence tops most women lists. Confidence is more that just healthy self-esteem, its involves our self worth. The biggest part of feeling confident in your clothing is whether you feel authentic in them. It's easy to get caught up in this constant improve yourself culture. You outfit may alter how you approach and interact with the world. It's no secret that assembling an outfit is like selecting a social armour, and that what we wear has power over others as well as ourself. The clothing we wear is a statement, a reflection of yourself.
Finding your unique styleThere are so many other questions you can ask yourself when trying to figure out what your personal style is, it is important to have a wardrobe that represents who you are. Who's style do you admire? What are your favourite items in your closet? Look at your clothing, do they make you feel good? Is there a pattern to your own style? Examples: Trendy, Classic, Boho, Rocker or Casual. Are you wild or more conservative? Do you prefer business formal or casual ? Is your wardrobe elegant or fashion forward? Fashion is always changing and evolving, I find it helpful to appreciate the fashion icons that have come before us. As you can see my personal style is a mixture between elegant and classic. Not sure what you style is , I find you can look to the style icons of the past, Examples are; Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O , Grace Kelly. and Coco Chanel Coco Chanel: She is timeless and you will see her fashion inspiration everywhere Audrey Hepburn: Had such glamour, she was the wearer of the most famous little black dress. Jackie Kennedy Onassis: She was the epitome of class and style. When I think of her trends that come to mind are pillbox hats, tailored coats and strapless gowns Grace Kelly: Red lipstick, button down shirt and gold jewelry were her signature look. I would call her Classic Elegance. There are so many other icons that can help you find your style and get inspiration from. Janis Joplin: ultra cool chic hippie style Cher: For a bohemian icon, in her mini dresses and fringe vests. Brigette Bardot: Edgy sexy and flaunts her curves Jane Birkin: Effortless elegance or casual chic Edie Sedgwick. Trendy, sexy mod look Diana Ross : Sexy and a glamorous diva Debbie Harry: Her cool rock'n roll hip style Katherine Hepburn: She blazed a path for menswear inspired looks Looking into the past can give you ideas to help you find your signature style. These women were trailblazers in every sense of the word. These fashionistas of the past are the reason we have so many styles to choose from. It will be allot easier to build build your wardrobe you love once you have a version of who you are. Get inspiredAfter discovering what style you like, start finding other people who's style you really admire. Look at Celebrity street style pictures or look on instagram at influencers. Here you will be able to find inspiration on how to pair pieces that you already own. Think about what makes you feel like yourself and embrace it. Reliable StaplesThis is where a capsule wardrobe is important. I read once that we only wear 20% of our wardrobe. No matter what your personal style is, every wardrobe has to start with a closet staples. These are called foundational pieces for a reason, because they're the basic framework to build upon. Closet staples are versatile pieces that can be worn in different ways and in different situations. A closet built on a selection of items will make day to day dressing easier. Staples are; a little black dress, classic blazer, simple T-shirt , a pair of jeans that fit your body perfectly, dress shirt, pencil skirt ,black dress pants, cardigan sweater, trench coat, simple black pump, ballet flat, bootie and sneakers. These are a collection of mix and match basics and are easy to style.. Start with a crisp white button down shirt as its the perfect piece that every women should owe. It looks polished and can go easily from a casual day look to the evening. A staple wardrobe is built over time. Do a style AuditGet to know the contents of your closet. Looking through your wardrobe will help you figure out your style. First put the pieces in your closet that you never wear into a pile. Which pieces make you not feel good about yourself when you wear them? Has it been hanging in your closet unworn for more that a season? Is this out of style? This is a process that will help you determine what to keep and what to toss. Holding on to these pieces will hold you back from evolving into your own personal style. If these are in good shape, not stained, donate them and get them out of your closet.
Look through your closet for inspiration and pull out your favourites. Why do you love these? Are they casual, dressy or classic. Use this as a starting point for your wardrobe. By doing a closet audit and figuring out what your signature style is, it will make the process of putting together your daily outfits effortless. Having a signature style means you know what works for you and how you put it together.Dressing for Success
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Signature StyleYour personal style should be reflective of your likes and lifestyle. It's important to remember that your style is constantly evolving. When you develop your own personal style you're creating your own image and your wardrobe will help you express yourself. Your personal style shows the world who you are and what you like. First you need to figure out " What style truly speaks to you?" This is when I suggest taking a look at Instagram. There are so many fabulous fashionista's. Most of us are a mixture of different style icons. I always suggest not to limit yourself. Its normal to be apprehensive of change and the unknown, but it doesn't mean it should stop you from trying on or getting a piece you really like. Next choose your signature piece, mine is a blazer. When you look in your closet you will have an excess of a certain item, this is your comfort zone. These pieces make you feel comfortable, confident and is the foundation that you can build on. As long as these items fit you and work for your lifestyle I say that you have figured out your style. If you had to describe your style in one word, what would it be? Build your wardrobe slowlyOnce you establish your own personal style, it is best to have a long-range approach to building your wardrobe. Build your wardrobe slowly and add pieces season too season. Then introduce a few up-to-date pieces that reflect your style. This won't happen overnight, but its worth it to do it right. It is so important to purchase quality pieces that you love wearing and rebuild your wardrobe that is perfect for you. Just like fashion trends, life constantly changes and our wardrobe should be a reflection of who we are and how we want to portray ourself to the world. Trust your instincts, wear what makes you the best version of you.Don't buy an article of clothing that you don't feel good in because its trendy. Its going to hang in your closet until you finally decide to throw it out or give it away. When you go shopping if you don't like what you see in the dressing room mirror, you won't like it any better once your home. Don't buy something on a whim because you need something at this very moment. Take time when you're trying on clothing, the only person you need to please is yourself. A successful signature style is one you'll love for years and years, so focus on what makes you feel fabulous and perfectly you. I find when you get fashion inspiration, you can change your look depending the look you're trying to achieve.Highlight your personal styleTailor looks to suit you signature style. There is always a wide variety of trending styles, so you can easily select those that really meld with your personal sense of style. Remember to just be yourself. Being yourself is the most important rule. You can get inspiration from someone else and then change it to make it your own or change it up to fit your personality. Its important to always feel confident and comfortable in what you wear. Creating your Personal Look-bookWhere do you get your inspiration, for those days when you feel uninspired when you open your closet. Let's look at us in our 20's. We experiment with our personal style and look to current fashion trends. In our 30's, we tend to get comfortable with our look. But with life changes we don't put ourself a priority. In our 40's, is when we start to look for inspiration. I look to stylish women my age and started my own look book. Your look book will help you shop your closet and get rid of the pieces that don't serve you. This will guide you to create your own personal style vision. Now in our mid 50's, 60's and up, it's the time of instagram influencers. It's now easy to see stylish women and how they put their looks together whether casual or dressy . As a stylist I always get clients to take a look at women from the past and present who's style you admire. This is a starting point to finding your own personal style. I get inspiration daily from women of all ages. When you look at an outfit, what is it that you like or dislike about it. Can you imagine yourself wearing this outfit? If the answer is Yes, take a picture of this outfit. If your answer is NO, then move on. Keep in mind there is a difference between disliking something or just being afraid of something new. Because style is so visual, I suggest creating a visual board/Look-book as you then will see what pieces and looks that you're drawn towards. Once you have this visual board done start going through your closet and pick out pieces that match. With a look book you can get inspiration and add your own personal twist. Take your look book when you go shopping . You will find you can imitate these outfits in any price-range to fit any budget. |