Do you ever go to pick an outfit and feel like you don’t know who you are? Or even worse… have nothing to wear!? With gorgeous new pieces being churned out by our favourite brands weekly, paired with ever-emerging novel trends like clean girl, mob wife and brat summer (just to name a few), it can be easy to get lost in a whirlwind of design drops and new aesthetics. How do you put your finger on your own personal style when you are swimming in so much inspiration? Whether you’re summoning sophisticated and smart, prefer a preppy ‘fit’ or are better suited to breaking the mould, it is liberating to find your own style. Investing time into discovering this can help you craft a sense of identity, priming you to breeze through your day-to-night activities with confidence in your veins and consistency in your very own signature style.
Here’s some tips to help you to dress to impress … for yourself, before anyone else.
1. First, Look, Don’t Touch…
Take time to observe: What are people wearing? What do you like? What is an instant dealbreaker for you? And, are there any that you love and have considered trying, but think “I could never!” (spoiler alert – you can!)
Notice whose dress sense catches your eye the most. We all know someone who is one step ahead of trends and able to put a personal spin on every outfit. It’s like a sixth sense; some people have it, but I certainly don’t. So, this is where taking note of other people’s looks really helps!
2. Find Your Inspiration and Style Icons
Is there someone who consistently does it for you style-wise? Do you admire Sabrina Carpenter’s main character energy, or are you drawn towards the demure of an elegant icon like Victoria Beckham? Maybe you are more inspired by a Billie Eilish-esque streetwear layering moment, or are even intrigued by the accessories worn by the barista at your local coffee shop. Find who you resonate with and keep a handle on their looks.
To keep the inspo flowing, create a mood board, play around on Pinterest, and bookmark your favourite Instagram accounts for looks that you love. Before you shop, remember to refresh your mind with your previously saved looks!
3. Time to Experiment
Until you try something new, how are you going to know the real you? Take a step outside your comfort zone with different combinations and style choices. For some, experimenting might look like being more minimalistic, with basics on rotation such as a classic white boyfriend tee or a sleek trench coat. For others, wearing a statement scarf in different ways or testing a bold new colour palette is the way to go. You’ll quickly find what makes you feel good, and what’s not for you.
4. Curate Your Colours
In recent years colour analysis entered the chat, and it’s all the rage. In this simple process your features are analysed, including your hair, eye colour and skin undertones, determining which shades best suit you based on your unique profile (better explained in this TikTok). Knowing what colours complement you can help fine-tune your picks and flatter your features (and maybe even help cull the old wardrobe!).
5. Blend and Bend the Trends
Don’t feel like you must have one single style or “aesthetic”, especially just because it’s currently trending. As Aerin Lauder explains… “Just because something is on trend doesn’t mean you have to embrace it. You can look at it and admire it, but that doesn’t mean you have to wear black nail polish or red lipstick.”
In fact, sometimes ignoring the trends can actually help define your own style. Sure, you might want to emulate a trend or completely replicate your favourite outfit worn by a celebrity idol which is completely fine. But the point of creating your very own brand is to create something central to you. Why not combine two trends that you love to form your own perfect look? Don’t be afraid to colour outside the lines!
6. Declutter
A clear space is a clear mind. And you know what they say. One girl’s old clothes are another girl’s new outfit. Throw them on Depop or donate them to make space for your new look if you haven’t worn them in a while. This space can also give you better insight into what you don’t have for your new aesthetic. Does your wardrobe lack a crisp black blazer or a bold leather jacket? How would you know if you didn’t do a big cleanout?!
7. Personalisation
Remember, it’s your personal style. Make it your own. There are no rules. Cut your shirt into a crop. Wear cowboy boots with every second outfit. Tie up your linen button up or tuck it into your favourite skort. Accessorise with whatever you like. Style is a sense of self expression. As Iris Apfel said… “Fashion you can buy, but style you possess. The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years. There’s no how-to road map to style. It’s about self-expression and, above all, attitude.”
8. Beautiful Basics
Basics are the holy grail of any wardrobe. Why? You can style them however you like. A plain white tee can be the foundation of every outfit combination. Beige slacks can be worn to casual brunch with the girls, an office job, or a night out. Projects such as Project333 focus on the concept of a capsule wardrobe, which promotes a simplistic, streamlined wardrobe with fewer items, centred around basics and quality pieces. It definitely makes getting dressed in the morning easier!
9. Look Good, Feel Good
Is it really your style if it doesn’t make you happy? An outfit idea might seem incredible in theory, but unless you feel comfortable, then it won’t work. Go with your heart, and don’t compromise your confidence to fit a certain vibe.
10. Embrace Change
Your style naturally will change as you grow. I know for a fact that when I was eighteen, a splattered coloured midi skirt paired with a fluoro halter crop was the go-to for a night out which makes me physically shudder almost ten years later, as I lean towards neutrals and a few statement pieces. You might look back and absolutely hate what you’ve done. But no one gets it right on the first go. Have fun while figuring it out and give love to your previous eras!
At the end of the day, perfecting your style is not really as crucial as the poignant 00’s movies made it seem, littered with their humiliating ‘fashion blunders’ and high stakes fashion choices being a life-or-death decision. The Devil might wear Prada, but we can assure you Meryl Streep won’t come at you with daggers in her eyes in contempt of your experimental look. The whole point of figuring it out, is, well … figuring it out.
Finding your own look doesn’t happen overnight. It’s like keeping a precious houseplant alive. It takes time, energy and different strategies to watch it bloom. But when you find a look you love and you reach that sweet feeling of confidence, it’s the first step to your very own signature style. Who knows, you might even make it onto someone’s Pinterest board.
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