How to Find Your Personal Style

Finding your personal style isn’t about chasing every trend that comes your way; it’s discovering what resonates with you and your style personality. The process will be trial and error and won’t necessarily involve buying lots of new items, so here’s a guide to help you find your personal style by shopping from your own wardrobe!

1. Assess Your Current Wardrobe

Start by taking a good look at what’s already in your wardrobe. Lay out your clothes and categorise them into what you love, what you wear often, and items that have never seen the light of day. This exercise is not just about sorting but understanding why certain pieces appeal to you. Do they make you feel confident? Are they comfortable or do they represent a particular aesthetic you are drawn to? This reflection helps in identifying the core of your personal style.

2. Experiment with Combinations

One of the fun parts of fashion is the ability to experiment. Try new combinations using your existing clothes. Mix and match pieces that you haven’t worn together before. Pair a blazer with a casual tee, or wear a bright scarf with a neutral outfit. This can help you see your wardrobe in a new light and may lead you to discover unexpectedly stylish outfits that you love! Remember, there’s no right or wrong in personal style; it’s all about what makes you feel best.

3. Organise a Try On Session

Set aside some time for a try on session where you try on different outfits. Take photos of each look to keep in an album on your phone and it’s a fun way to document your style journey. The best way for you to find out what you do like is to find out what you don’t and if you have items that haven’t been worn in a year, you more than likely won’t wear them in the next year (occasion wear as the exception).

4. Educate Yourself on Different Styles

While the aim is to shop from your own wardrobe, educating yourself about different styles can provide a fresh perspective and inspire new ways to wear your clothes. Read fashion blogs, watch style segments, and follow fashion influencers whose style you admire. This can help you define and refine your personal style without needing to purchase new items.

5. Play with Accessories

Accessories can transform any outfit. Look through your collection of accessories like belts, hats, scarves, and jewellery. Experiment with these to see how they can change or enhance your outfits and you will be amazed at the difference they can make. A simple addition of a belt can elevate a basic look and make it more ‘you’.

6. Embrace Tailoring

Not every piece of clothing you own will fit perfectly, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be part of your style. Consider tailoring items that aren’t quite right. Adjusting the length of a skirt or taking in a jacket can make a significant difference and well-fitting clothes not only look better, but they also make you feel more confident and comfortable.

7. Learn from Trial and Error

Embrace the trial and error process. Not every outfit will be a winner, but each one will teach you something about your preferences and comfort. Understanding what doesn’t work is as important as knowing what does. Every mistake is a step forward in your style journey.

8. Keep a Style Journal

Consider keeping a style journal to track what outfits work and how you feel in them. Note what you wore on days you felt particularly confident / received compliments. This can be a valuable tool in understanding your style journey and making better wardrobe choices in the future.

Remember, finding your personal style is a journey of exploration and it’s perfectly fine for it to change and grow as you do.